Us millitary draft?

Question

I am very confused and a lil worried.. is there really going to be a millitary draft? and if so what are the details

Answer 1

Although I believe that today's youth would benefit from either military or public service out of the US, I don't believe it will happen. The following article is from military.com. I think it is one of the best unbiased ones I have read in a long time. Hope it helps to clarify this issue for you.

Are You Going to be Drafted?

From Rod Powers,
Nov 20 2006

Here we go again. Ever since the First Gulf War (1990), hardly a year goes by where we aren't inundated by rumors of re-instatement of a military draft. I wrote the first version of this article in 1999, because all of the services (except the Marine Corps) had missed their annual recruiting goals for several years in a row, and President Clinton had made the decision to attack Kosovo. Rumors of an impending draft were rampant.

I've updated the article every year since, when various situations caused the draft rumor to re-raise its ugly head. For seven years in a row, I've consistently predicted that a new draft was not imminent.

Earlier this year and last year the rumor flying around was that the Republicans were secretly discussing plans to re-instate the draft. Now that the Democrats have won control of the House and Senate, the current rumor which is causing folks to e-mail me is that the Democrats plan to bring back a draft.

Come on folks, at least let's be consistent.

I'm going to put my neck on the line and again predict that the chances of a draft happening in the foreseeable future are small. Here's why:

Draft Legislation. First and foremost, understand that the President, alone does not have the authority to re-institute the draft. In order to implement a draft, Congress would first have to pass a law to authorize it, and the President would have to sign the bill into law (or at least not veto it).

Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, Senator Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) and Representative Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) introduced bills into the House and Senate to require two years of military service (or community service for those who are medically unqualified) for every male and female in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26. In other words, a draft. Rangel's version had just 14 co-sponsors, and Holling's bill has no support at all. Both bills were quickly referred to committee to languish and die, as Congress had absolutely no interest in pursuing a draft.

The bills were just lying there, waiting to die in committee, when rumors began to fly that President Bush was "secretly" supporting the legislation. To help stop the on-going rumors about a draft, the House of Representatives pulled HR 163 out of committee (where it had been languishing untouched for over a year), and subjected it to a full floor vote on October 5, 2004. The bill was soundly defeated by a vote of 402 to 2 (that means it's forever dead, folks). Interestingly, even the congressman who introduced the legislation, Representative Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), voted against it.

With that vote, Congress made their feelings about a possible draft very clear.

An interesting point about HR 163, is that it certainly would have been "fair," as it required EVERYBODY (male and female), between the ages of 18 and 26 to serve for two years, regardless of physical ability or health (we'll find something for them to do). More about this idiocy later.

Not to be dissuaded, and even though he voted against his own bill in 2004, in May 2005, the good Congressman (Rangel) introduced the bill again (H.R. 4752). This version would have required a mandatory 15 months of military or public service for everyone (male and female), between the ages of 18 and 26. The bill was quickly referred to committee, where it died a quiet death at the end of the legislative year.

Ever stubborn, in February 2006, Representative Rangel once again introduced a modified version of the bill (H.R. 4752). This version would require mandatory public service (military service or civilian public service) for everyone (male and female) between the ages of 18 and 42! (He did this to protest the Army raising their maximum enlistment age for voluntary enlistment to age 42).

Don't worry folks, the bill was immediately referred to the House subcommittee on Military Personnel, where it has languished, without action, ever since. The bill has *ZERO* co-sponsors (which means that nobody else in Congress wants to have anything to do with it), and it will die in that committee at the end of this legislative year. The new (Democrat) Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, as well as the new (Democrat) Senate Majority Leader, Harry M. Reid, have refused to support Rengel's bill. Without Congressional leadership support, the bill has zero chance of making it to a floor vote.

Chances are, if the bill ever did make it to a floor vote, Mr. Rengel would vote against his own bill (as he did in the past). Rengel doesn't really want this bill passed. He just wants to see his face on TV.

I have no doubt that Mr. Rengel will re-introduce the legislation next year, and the year after that, and the year after that, as well. I also have no doubt that it will meet the same fate (no co-sponsors, no chance of passing) as it met in this and previous years.

The Bush Administration has stated over and over and over again that they have no plans to re-institute a draft; that they don't think a draft is necessary, and they don't believe a draft would even be effective with the type of military we have today. Ladies and gentlemen, they couldn't have made their views any clearer. The current administration is against a draft. They have said so, publicly, and loudly, at least 100 times.

Congress does not want a draft. They made that very clear in 2004 when virtually every Congress-critter (both Democrats and Republicans) voted against the bill.

Answer 2

That, my dear friend, is the $64,000 question. When the war broke out in Iraq, they had thought about starting the draft again. It got defeated. Now that we are still there and needing more troops to relieve the stress on the exsisting troops, it may come about, but without a fight from some congress members and civilians.
As for now your already registered, if 18, with the selective service board. Thats when you went to the post office and filled out the form. The only difference now is that no one has been drafted, physically, to be in the service.
Usually the details are that you have a selective service number. The board then will select between numbers 1 upto ? When your number comes up, you go to serve. There are different classifications on your card, that may get you a deferment..college, physical handicap, etc. But all in all they begin at 18 and work their way up to about 25. So if your between 18 and 25 and they reinstate the draft, your likely to go to the service..Usually the draftee goes and serves about 2 yrs. with a reserve committment.

Answer 3

When the U.S. miitary draft ended in 1973, the U.S. military became an all-volunteer force. Previously, in 1951, Congress had enacted a draft act that was accompanied by a UMT, or Universal Military Training, requirement (click on link contained in Source box below).

In my opinion, the UMT requirement, which was in effect when I reached my 18th birthday and registered for the draft, was a good idea. It enhanced the overall effectiveness of the U.S. armed forces by dramatically reducing the number of young men reaching adulthood who had no inkling of what the military experience was all about and how the U.S. military functioned in actual practice.

I would not oppose the consideration of a revival of the UMT concept, but I think some way should be found to enable it to be considered separately from any discussion of the possible need for raising troop levels in Iraq.

Answer 4

This is a very legitimate concern. As I am sure you are aware, the situation in Iraq is overwhelming our current military force. The 'surge' of 30-40,000 troops we are hearing about is nothing more than extra duty for those that have already seen 2-4 tours in Iraq. we cannot afford to let Iraq tumble into a state of TOTAL civil war (not too far now), yet we do not have the troop strength originally called for by Gen. Shinseki (400-500,000 ground troops).

The only choices currently available to us are:

1) Withdraw (unrealistic given the influence of Iran and Saudi Arabia on the Iraqi people)

2) Stabilize the Iraqi government (not going to happen without a VASTLY larger US ground force.

If you are concerned about how to avoid being drafted, there are many things you can do to make yourself ineligible. The most important thing you can do is actively protest the current situation. Get involved in any local demonstrations in your area, get noticed by the police, and if possible get arrested for non-violent resistance. Generally, passively blocking traffic as part of a demonstartion, can be enough to cause the police to issue you a ticket or take you to jail, but also is not a serious enough offence to ruin your future. If you were ever called before a draft board, you would then be able to effectively demonstrate your opposition to war.

Approximately 28% of our population currently supports the idea of the Iraq war. This group should be lining up at the recruiters office to prevent a draft. But if they don't there is no reason that you should go and fight for something you do not believe in.

Answer 5

They have talked about bringing back the draft, but every time it goes before congress it gets shot down. Currently they are in the process of testing the selective service system to see if it works in the event that the draft was brought back. The administration isn't really seriously considering bringing it back at this time though. Although, I think the draft would be a bad thing for the military...because the worst person to have next to you on the battlefield is someone who was forced to be there and doesn't really care. But, it could have positive influences as well. Todays teens and young adults have become lazy...relying to much on technology to do work for them. They are steadily headed to a less and less active lifestyle. The military promotes physical fitness and could be the kick that some people need to get off their asses and do something.

Answer 6

The Selective Service system hasn't been activated YET. Currently, our administration is saying they do not want to run a draft, as the all-volunteer military fits their needs and desires more than a military full of people who don't really want to be there.
Personally, I think they're going to have to restart the draft soon if they want to have this war with Iran. Bush is being pressured by Israel and AIPAC like crazy to kick off the bloodbath with Iran, but our military is currently far too stretched to effectively wage a war against Iran. Hell, we're not even winning against the Taliban or the Iraqi terrorists. The civil war in Iraq is just going to escalate further and further, and there's nothing short of total nuclear annihiliation that we can do to stop it.

Answer 7

They have been threatening for a while. What's happening is the Navy and Air force have too many people and the Marines and Army don't have enough. When I was in the Navy they offered quite a bit of money to go Blue to Green. I doubt that a draft will happen any time soon, but it is always a possibility.

Answer 8

It can happen. It's not just around the corner, though. The best thing we can do to avert it, oddly enough, is to demonstrate a unified and determined front in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Arabic world is quick to pick up on the perception of a faltering will, and the extremist factions will be emboldened to move forward on that basis alone. If that happens, don't be surprised to get a letter that starts, "Greetings from the President of the United States..."

Answer 9

My husband was a recruiter for the Marine Corps - Trust me - there will not be a draft anytime soon. I have a 16 year old son and I am confident it will not affect him. I know you will hear people saying it will happen but I have heard that for 3 years now from some of my liberal friends.

Answer 10

Not at the moment unless a world war heats up. Even if Iran continues to get out of pocket I think we have it covered. If they escalate I would venture to say you will see a world wide coalition. It's time for other countries (UN) to start stepping up. I wouldn't worry about a thing, there are some good thinkers in our government...

Answer 11

My guess is that President Bush will push for it in 2007. The Conscription Act of 2007. He will ask the Military how many people they need, and that is how many people they will draft.