Q&A
Plan differs from pre-1974 draft
| • | Talk of draft making many 'real nervous' |
Gannett News Service
As casualties mount in Iraq and Afghanistan, reservists' and National Guard members' tours of duty are extended and the war on terrorism continues, some are asking whether the military should be bolstered by reinstating the draft.
Several Democrats in Congress have proposed a draft of all men and women 18 to 26 for some form of military or civil service.
Question: When and why did we stop the draft?
Answer: President Nixon abolished the draft in 1973 because of the unpopularity of the Vietnam War and the draft. The military became an all-volunteer force. In 1980, Congress passed a law requiring men ages 18 to 26 to register in case the nation needed to reinstate the draft in the future.
Q: How does the draft work?
A: All men ages 18 to 26 are required to register with the Selective Service, which administers the draft. They can register by mail, online or at the division of motor vehicles in some states. In the past, names of those who would be called up to serve were selected in a lottery. Service often has been limited to two years. But during World War II, men were drafted for the duration of the war plus six months.
Q: Are women drafted?
A: Historically, no. But proposed legislation would draft all men and women ages 18 to 26 for military or some other form of national service.
Q: What are the arguments for the draft?
A: Some lawmakers argue that the United States will need a larger standing military as it conducts the war on terrorism. They also argue that the burden of defending the nation falls disproportionately upon the poor and working class. Some Democrats have said the United States would be more circumspect about using a conscript military and less likely to use it in a war of choice rather than one of necessity.
Q: Would a draft really spread the burden of military service across the socioeconomic spectrum?
A: During the Vietnam War, it didn't because college students were able to delay entering service. But that exemption has been stopped. The proposed legislation suggests that only those with demonstrated religious objections would be exempt.
Q: Why are military leaders opposed to reinstating the draft?
A: There are concerns that morale would suffer under a draft and that the United States' high-tech military is entirely too specialized for conscripts to do the jobs required. The military also argues it isn't cost-effective to train a soldier who will stay only for a brief period of service.
Q: Do other countries have a military draft?
A: Several nations use a largely conscript military, including Russia, China, Austria, Greece, Germany, Egypt and Israel, among others.
