Numerous myths and conjectures have been floating around over the internet and airwaves regarding the possibility of a draft. While there are plenty of reasons to be talking about a draft, let’s make sure the debate is based on credible information.
Myth #1: Congress is poised to pass legislation authorizing a draft
Well, not exactly. Indeed, there are two draft-related bills sitting in congressional committees at the moment: HR163 introduced by Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) on the House side and companion bill S89 introduced on the Senate side by Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC). Both bills contain the same content and carry the same name, The Universal National Service Act of 2003. This proposed legislation calls for all citizens and residents of the United States between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, either in the military/reserves or in a civilian capacity that promotes the “national defense.”
The Universal National Service Act of 2003 calls for women to be included in the draft and would not allow for any exemptions by college students or married people. Deferments would be allowed only in cases of extreme hardship or physical or mental disability. Congressman Rangel introduced this legislation to try to address serious concerns about the inequities that lead to a disproportionate number of African Americans and poor people fighting and dying on the country’s behalf. He also hoped that the threat of a draft might sway lawmakers to stop the march to war in Iraq. As it turns out, though, the bill is effectively stuck in committee in both houses of Congress, with little apparent hope of seeing the light of day on either the House or Senate floor. The fact that Congress has not acted on this particular legislation does not mean that a draft is out of the question. In fact, if Congress deemed a draft to be necessary, it could pass legislation within a matter of hours. Were Congress to move forward on a bill authorizing conscription, it would not necessarily look anything like the Rangel/Hollings legislation that is currently stalled in committee.
Myth #2: The DoD is reconstituting draft boards in preparation for a draft
Actually, the Department of Defense (DoD) does not manage draft boards. That comes under the purview of the Selective Service System (SSS), which is an independent agency. The draft boards that exist around the country were created in 1980 when President Carter re-instituted draft registration. People on those boards were to serve a twenty-year term. For the past few years, the Selective Service has been trying to replace board members whose terms have expired.
The DoD did post a notice on its website for a few days last year suggesting that people join draft boards. While this may qualify as a public relations blunder, it does not necessarily mean that the DoD is making special preparations for an imminent draft.
For the record, not only is the DoD not in charge of filling draft boards, but military members and retirees are not allowed to serve on draft boards. There are about 350 members of the National Guard and reserves who perform their duty with the national Selective Service System (not as members of draft boards). These reservists would shift over to active duty and work full-time to enhance the capacity of the civilian administration of the SSS should a draft be authorized by Congress.
Myth #3: Special Selective Service report to the President
Another rumor in the mill is that the Selective Service System delivered a special report to the President announcing that the SSS would be prepared to implement a draft by the spring of 2005. In fact, each year the Selective Service submits an annual plan and an annual report. And each year the Selective Service says that it will be ready to implement a draft—that’s what it is supposed to say, because being prepared for a draft is its job. If it delivered a report saying it wasn’t ready for a draft, the SSS would not be fulfilling its mandate and would be at increased risk of losing its funding, a legitimate concern given that Congress has moved to do away with the SSS in the past.
Myth #4: $28 million extra for the Selective Service
Rumors abound that Congress recently gave the Selective Service System an additional $28 million to step up its preparations for a draft. False. In fact, the Selective Service requested $28,290,000 for its regular annual operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004, which would have represented roughly a $2 million increase over the previous year’s budget. According to the SSS, “This ‘mark-up’ included the funds necessary to support the President’s Management Agenda initiatives, to increase automation security, and to procure and deploy an integrated financial management system” to SSS FY03 Annual Report). However, lawmakers did not approve the increase but instead chose to retain the same level of funding that the SSS received in FY03. By the time the SSS FY04 budget was finally approved, it was down to $26,100,000. Alas, there was no special additional funding of $28 million approved for the SSS and the funding for FY05 is expected to be the same as, or lower than, this year’s funding. http://www.allianceforsecurity.org/myths" title="http://www.allianceforsecurity.org/myths" target="_blank"http://www.allianceforsecurit...
