Ending The Selective Service System

[Camper]

This is a classic example of a federal agency that has long outlived its usefulness.

Another issue I've always had with Selective service is the double standard in which only men are required to register but not women even though women are afforded the same opportunity to enlist.

Another irony is it was Jimmy Carter, one of the darlings of the hippy left who reinstituted the Selective Service requirement.



Rep. Coffman Looks for Savings by Ending Needless Draft Registration | Republican Study Committee (RSC)



Rep. Coffman Looks for Savings by Ending Needless Draft Registration
Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06)


Washington, Feb 11 -

Rep. Mike Coffman has introduced a bill to abolish the United States Selective Service System and end the requirement for young men to register for the draft. Current law stipulates that all male U.S. citizens and legal residents are required to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday.

“The time has come to end the registration requirement and dismantle the Selective Service System,” Coffman said. “It’s an outdated program that has cost us well over $700 million in the last 31 years and it is time for it to go. Every year since the draft ended in 1973 the Army has improved the quality of its personnel, training, and professionalism. I saw firsthand how ineffective the draft Army of the early 1970s was compared to the highly professional, all volunteer military of today.”

The Selective Service System and the requirement for young men to register for the draft were reinstituted by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 to demonstrate U.S. resolve against the Soviet Union‘s invasion of Afghanistan in late 1979. Since then the draft has never been considered by our military as a viable option despite personnel shortages caused by the pressures from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And while many draft-age males have failed to meet registration requirements, no one has been prosecuted for the failure to comply with this law since 1986.

“Without negatively affecting our national security in the least, my legislation will save the taxpayers over $24 million per year, free up military personnel currently working in the Selective Service System, and remove an obviously moribund and outdated program that was never meant to be more than a symbolic gesture to the Soviet Union 31 years ago,” Coffman said.

Coffman’s bill, House Resolution 621, would allow the President, based on a national security emergency, to reinstitute the Selective Service System by executive order if the commander-in-chief felt it was necessary.

 

[Turtle]

Another issue I've always had with Selective service is the double standard in which only men are required to register but not women even though women are afforded the same opportunity to enlist.

That comes from the prevailing attitudes of the American public during the times in which the Draft was active - they refused to allow women in combat positions, which is what the Draft was for, and the whole purpose of the military was protect the women and children back home. Because America's prior drafts were used to supply adequate numbers of Army ground combat troops, and because women are excluded by policy from front line combat positions, excluding them from the draft process remains justifiable in DoD's view. All policies regarding women are in a constant state of review, and this one is no exception. If the DoD recommended to Congress that women be added to the Selective Service Registration requirement, then Congress would likely change the law. A Supreme Court decision in 1981, Rostker v. Goldberg (and here), held that registering only men did not violate the due process clause of the Constitution.

 

[Camper]

That comes from the prevailing attitudes of the American public during the times in which the Draft was active - they refused to allow women in combat positions, which is what the Draft was for, and the whole purpose of the military was protect the women and children back home. .[/SIZE]

That was true then but nowadays(after Cater reinstituted it); Selective service extends beyond just combat positions. If we're going to have this requirement in place, there’s no reason why women shouldn't be required to register to be drafted into the non-combat roles they are eligible to enlist in voluntarily

 

[Turtle]

I don't disagree, but until Congress changes the law, it won't happen.

 

[greg334]

I am wondering when has there been a use of selective service in this country in the past 30 years?

Also isn't this administered through a dod program with civilian employees, no military people are part of it?

Oh and I forgot, who cares? We should have a draft anyways.

 

[Camper]

I don't disagree, but until Congress changes the law, it won't happen.

The problem is they won't. The Retardplicans and Dumbocrats have too much of a vested interest in keeping these dinosaur agencies around.

 

[Turtle]

I still think everyone should have 2 years of mandatory government service of some sort, be it serving in the military or sweeping the floors of the county court house, or whatever. That will let people take back ownership of their governments at the local, state and federal level, and return it literally to a government of, by and for the people.

 

[Camper]

I am wondering when has there been a use of selective service in this country in the past 30 years? .

My point, exactly.

Also isn't this administered through a dod program with civilian employees, no military people are part of it? .

Correct. It's staffed by civilian fat cats with no actual military ties.

Oh and I forgot, who cares? We should have a draft anyways.

Well, part of the issue is the double standard that the current system entails. If we're going to have a draft, everyone should be drafted into the positions they're currently able to enlist in, voluntarily. Since women can currently enlist in non-combat positions, there's no reason why they shouldn't be drafted into those same positions.

 

[Turtle]

You keep saying there's no reason, but if you read the Supreme Court decision, you'll read the reason. Things have certainly changed today from what they were in 1981, but the reason still stands, as does the law. At the request of Bill Clinton, the DoD reviewed the issue, but concluded that the exclusion remains justifiable in light of past draft results (the purpose of the draft is still to quickly supply ground combat troops). What you want to do is change the reason for the draft (everyone should be drafted into the positions they're currently able to enlist in, voluntarily), and the law itself.

In 1987, Congress ordered the Selective Service System to put in place a system capable of drafting "persons qualified for practice or employment in a health care occupation", if such a special-skills draft should be ordered by Congress. In response, Selective Service published plans for the "Health Care Personnel Delivery System" (HCPDS) in 1989 and has had them ready ever since. The HCPDS plans include both women and men age 20–54 in 57 job categories. So you may slowly but surely get your wish.

In any event, I don't know if 'civilian fat cats with no actual military ties" is entirely accurate. The Selective Service system is an independent agency within the Executive Branch of government and thus reports directly to the President (you know, that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces guy), and employs a lot of civilians.

The current Director, Lawrence Romo, is a civilian, true enough, but he's also a retired USAF Lt. Colonel who among many assignments served as the USAF Academy Admissions Advisor and the Academy Liaison Officer Director for South Texas, in addition to servicing for 29 years as the Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy as both an additional and primary military duty.

The previous Director, William A. Chatfield, also a civilian, the Director from 2004-2009, had 30 years of experience working with the executive and legislative branches of the Federal government, and is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, with 35 years of active duty and reserve service.

Prior to that, Director Alfred V. Rascon, a Mexican national (appointed by W.) was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but raised in California, was the Director from 2001-2003. After basic and specialist medical training at Fort Sam Houston, he volunteered for airborne training at Fort Benning, GA. He served in the US Army from 1963–1966, again in 1970–1976, and again in 2002–2008 (Army Reserve - after his stint as Director). He fought in Vietnam and in Iraq, and served as a medical officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, among others. He has a Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, as well as a Combat Medical Badge, and... what do they call that thing? Oh, yeah, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Previous Directors have similar resumes, give or take. There is hardly a fat-cat civilian disconnect with Selective Service and the military. There have been very few Directors (if any) with no military connections, with most having long and distinguished careers.

 

[Camper]

You keep saying there's no reason, but if you read the Supreme Court decision, you'll read the reason. Things have certainly changed today from what they were in 1981, but the reason still stands, as does the law. At the request of Bill Clinton, the DoD reviewed the issue, but concluded that the exclusion remains justifiable in light of past draft results (the purpose of the draft is still to quickly supply ground combat troops). What you want to do is change the reason for the draft (everyone should be drafted into the positions they're currently able to enlist in, voluntarily), and the law itself.

Yes, my point is the system and laws pertaining to it are vastly outdated. As such, they ought to be changed because there is no justifiable reason for the double standard with respect to women being exempted even though they have the same opportunity to enlist(combat MOS notwithstanding).

In any event, I don't know if 'civilian fat cats with no actual military ties" is entirely accurate. The Selective Service system is an independent agency within the Executive Branch of government and thus reports directly to the President (you know, that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces guy), and employs a lot of civilians.

The current Director, Lawrence Romo, is a civilian, true enough, but he's also a retired USAF Lt. Colonel who among many assignments served as the USAF Academy Admissions Advisor and the Academy Liaison Officer Director for South Texas, in addition to servicing for 29 years as the Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy as both an additional and primary military duty.

The previous Director, William A. Chatfield, also a civilian, the Director from 2004-2009, had 30 years of experience working with the executive and legislative branches of the Federal government, and is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, with 35 years of active duty and reserve service.

Prior to that, Director Alfred V. Rascon, a Mexican national (appointed by W.) was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but raised in California, was the Director from 2001-2003. After basic and specialist medical training at Fort Sam Houston, he volunteered for airborne training at Fort Benning, GA. He served in the US Army from 1963–1966, again in 1970–1976, and again in 2002–2008 (Army Reserve - after his stint as Director). He fought in Vietnam and in Iraq, and served as a medical officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, among others. He has a Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, as well as a Combat Medical Badge, and... what do they call that thing? Oh, yeah, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Previous Directors have similar resumes, give or take. There is hardly a fat-cat civilian disconnect with Selective Service and the military. There have been very few Directors (if any) with no military connections, with most having long and distinguished careers.

They might have prior military experience but that doesn't mean they're not civilian fat cats in their current capacity. On the contrary, they are just that as are the majority of the Bureaucrats at that level in most of these zombie agencies.