Military Service in the U.S.

ConscriptionO the compulsory enlistment of people

in some sort of national service, most often military service.

O On 2 July 1980, President Carter issued Presidential Proclamation 4771 and re-instated the requirement that young men register with the Selective Service System.[65] At that time it was required that all males, born on or after January 1, 1960 register with the Selective Service System.

O The Selective Service System describes its mission as "...to serve the emergency manpower needs of the Military by conscripting untrained manpower, or personnel with professional health care skills, if directed by Congress and the President in a national crisis."

How does it affect you!O The Selective Service registration

form states that failure to register is a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment or a $250,000 fine.

O Not registering can also lead to loss of federal employment.

O Refusing to register can also cause a loss of eligibility for federal financial aid for college.

ChangesO The Selective Service System has

maintained that they have implemented several reforms that would make the draft more fair and equitable.

O Some of the measures they have implemented include:

O Before and during the Vietnam War, a young man could get a deferment by showing that he was a full-time student making satisfactory progress towards a degree; now deferment only lasts to the end of the semester. If the man is a senior he can defer until the end of the academic year.

O A lottery system would be used to determine the order of people being called up. Previously the oldest men who were found eligible for the draft would be taken first. In the new system, the men called first would be those who are or will turn 20 in the calendar year or those whose deferments will end in the calendar year. Each year after the man will be placed on a lower priority status until his liability ends.

What about Women???

O We’ll get to that.

ControversyO U.S. Representative Charles Rangel

argued in 2004 that poor men were far more apt to enlist for military service.

O He called for a reinstatement of the draft to ensure service in the Iraq War was spread equally among the rich and poor.

O After the November 2006 elections, Rangel again suggested the draft be renewed, this time because he thought it was less likely that a republic with conscription would engage in preemptive wars such as the current American military involvement in Iraq.

H.R. 748O Mr. Rangel introduced the following

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services on February 15th, 2013.

Universal National Service Bill

O Requires ALL PERSONS in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or as civilian service in a Federal, State or Local government program……….

O Will allow the President to call 18-25 year olds into military service during wartime or national emergency.