Mandatory Service---Thoughts, ideas, opinions?

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Universal National Service Act of 2006 (Introduced in House)

HR 4752 IH


109th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4752
To provide for the common defense by requiring all persons in the United States, including women, between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 14, 2006
Mr. RANGEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services


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A BILL
To provide for the common defense by requiring all persons in the United States, including women, between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act of 2006'.

(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. National service obligation.

Sec. 3. Two-year period of national service.

Sec. 4. Implementation by the President.

Sec. 5. Induction.

Sec. 6. Deferments and postponements.

Sec. 7. Induction exemptions.

Sec. 8. Conscientious objection.

Sec. 9. Discharge following national service.

Sec. 10. Registration of females under the Military Selective Service Act.

Sec. 11. Relation of Act to registration and induction authority of military selective service Act.

Sec. 12. Definitions.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(a) Obligation for Service- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.

(b) Form of National Service- National service under this Act shall be performed either--

(1) as a member of an active or reserve component of the uniformed services; or

(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security.

(c) Induction Requirements- The President shall provide for the induction of persons covered by subsection (a) to perform national service under this Act.

(d) Selection for Military Service- Based upon the needs of the uniformed services, the President shall--

(1) determine the number of persons covered by subsection (a) whose service is to be performed as a member of an active or reserve component of the uniformed services; and

(2) select the individuals among those persons who are to be inducted for military service under this Act.

(e) Civilian Service- Persons covered by subsection (a) who are not selected for military service under subsection (d) shall perform their national service obligation under this Act in a civilian capacity pursuant to subsection (b)(2).

SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) General Rule- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this Act shall be two years.

(b) Grounds for Extension- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this Act may be extended--

(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or

(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.

(c) Early Termination- The period of national service for a person under this Act shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:

(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reserve component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.

(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.

(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

(a) In General- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.

(b) Matter to Be Covered by Regulations- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:

(1) The types of civilian service that may be performed for a person's national service obligation under this Act.

(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and of penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily.

(3) The manner in which persons shall be selected for induction under this Act, including the manner in which those selected will be notified of such selection.

(4) All other administrative matters in connection with the induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination, and classification of such persons.

(5) A means to determine questions or claims with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction under this Act, including questions of conscientious objection.

(6) Standards for compensation and benefits for persons performing their national service obligation under this Act through civilian service.

(7) Such other matters as the President determines necessary to carry out this Act.

(c) Use of Prior Act- To the extent determined appropriate by the President, the President may use for purposes of this Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), including procedures for registration, selection, and induction.
 
second half...

SEC. 5. INDUCTION.

(a) In General- Every person subject to induction for national service under this Act, except those whose training is deferred or postponed in accordance with this Act, shall be called and inducted by the President for such service at the time and place specified by the President.

(b) Age Limits- A person may be inducted under this Act only if the person has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 42.

(c) Voluntary Induction- A person subject to induction under this Act may volunteer for induction at a time other than the time at which the person is otherwise called for induction.

(d) Examination; Classification- Every person subject to induction under this Act shall, before induction, be physically and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness to perform national service. The President may apply different classification standards for fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service.

SEC. 6. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.

(a) High School Students- A person who is pursuing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall be entitled to have induction under this Act postponed until the person--

(1) obtains a high school diploma;

(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course of study; or

(3) attains the age of 20.

(b) Hardship and Disability- Deferments from national service under this Act may be made for--

(1) extreme hardship; or

(2) physical or mental disability.

(c) Training Capacity- The President may postpone or suspend the induction of persons for military service under this Act as necessary to limit the number of persons receiving basic military training and education to the maximum number that can be adequately trained.

(d) Termination- No deferment or postponement of induction under this Act shall continue after the cause of such deferment or postponement ceases.

SEC. 7. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.

(a) Qualifications- No person may be inducted for military service under this Act unless the person is acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and meets the same health and physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlistment in a regular component of the Armed Forces.

(b) Other Military Service- No person shall be liable for induction under this Act who--

(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at least six months, in any component of the uniformed services on active duty; or

(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy accredited State maritime academy, a member of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval aviation college program, so long as that person satisfactorily continues in and completes at least two years training therein.

SEC. 8. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.

(a) Claims as Conscientious Objector- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require a person to be subject to combatant training and service in the uniformed services, if that person, by reason of sincerely held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form.

(b) Alternative Noncombatant or Civilian Service- A person who claims exemption from combatant training and service under subsection (a) and whose claim is sustained by the local board shall--

(1) be assigned to noncombatant service (as defined by the President), if the person is inducted into the uniformed services; or

(2) be ordered by the local board, if found to be conscientiously opposed to participation in such noncombatant service, to perform national civilian service for the period specified in section 3(a) and subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.

SEC. 9. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) Discharge- Upon completion or termination of the obligation to perform national service under this Act, a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to any further service under this Act.

(b) Coordination With Other Authorities- Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to active service in the uniformed services of any person who is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.

SEC. 10. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES UNDER THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) Registration Required- Section 3(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `male' both places it appears;

(2) by inserting `or herself' after `himself'; and

(3) by striking `he' and inserting `the person'.

(b) Conforming Amendment- Section 16(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) is amended by striking `men' and inserting `persons'.

SEC. 11. RELATION OF ACT TO REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY OF MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) Registration- Section 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:

`(h) This section does not apply with respect to the induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2006.'.

(b) Induction- Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking `now or hereafter' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `inducted pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2006.'.

SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term `military service' means service performed as a member of an active or reserve component of the uniformed services.

(2) The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of Defense with respect to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to matters concerning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to matters concerning the Public Health Service.

(3) The term `United States', when used in a geographical sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

(4) The term `uniformed services' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.
 
...Why not just require people to go through basic training? I'd be willing to be part of a national militia to defend the homeland, but probably not the Army.
 
I've got no problem with it on the surface, but from training militaries with conscripts they are some of the worst militaries I've come in contact with. If people were given a choice of what type of service they wanted to provide. (i.e. military, park service, answering phones at a police dept) I think it would be a good program. I don't care if they wanted to work for the park service for 2 years as long as they were contributing to our country for some other reason than the the almighty dollar. It might possibly give someone a chance to see potential they never knew they had.
 
Hell no.

I can tell you from experience that we've got enough malcontents among the people who WANTED (or thought they wanted) to be here, without having a bunch of whiny, sniveling brats who haven't the gumption or the heuvos to defend America of their own free will.
 
I also feel that we should be free to do what we want.

On the other hand, there is a price to pay for that freedom. So far, we have been fortunate that enough Americans felt compelled to defend our freedom. What will we do if our enlistment continues to decline? In reality, there is less and less chance of a massive ground war. Our technology has come a long way, allowing comparable effectiveness with fewer soldiers.

I feel that mandatory military service might also improve the discipline of our youth somewhat (although I would be scared of training hoodlums to be even more deadly).

I don't believe this bill would ever pass unless there was some massive war.
 
I find it ironic that the most historically vitriolic opponents of the draft system as a general concept are now the ones proposing it. It's all part of the plan to continue the attack on the present actions in Iraq, and to buttress the general anti-war stance of the liberal left. If the general populace is forced against their will into military (or related) service with a good chance of being shipped over to sandy places some have never even heard of, support for this war and any future actions against terrorists on their own soil will fizzle before they even start. Just more politics at the expense of the dedicated folks who wear the uniform.
 
It is both unnecessary and an added defense expense we can't afford.

Some will claim a social benefit, but no one has done any real studies to determine if there is any truth to that at all, or if you're just making a whole generation of gangbangers better shots.

Expensive and ill planned social engineering which puts a further constriction on our already eroded freedoms.


No thanks.
 
If some of you will remember, we tried this back a few years, in a place called Vietnam...Didn't work well then, and probably got a lot of people killed...Many that were forced into service, simply didn't have the correct attitude which led to a wide range of problems. A few came out of it better than they went in, but not very many.
 
Yes.

Once-upon-a-time(Between Korea & Viet Nam.), everybody had to serve time in the Military. Remember Elvis being drafted?

Several of my Friends served under similar conditions. Universaly, they hated every minute of it. But when they came out, they realized they had grown up, and they had developed life long Friendships. They also understood how and why the Military worked the way it does. Something the majority of the retrograde Morons in Congress don't understand!

They don't have to go into the Military. The ones who object, or the Anti-American Leftists can pick up Trash in the National Parks for two Years. I believe that's more or less what the CCC did.

But mostly, the self-centered spoiled little Brats need to learn that Freedom isn't free, and they do indeed owe their Country some Service!
 
If a standing army, in times of peace, is dangerous to liberty, then wouldn't mandatory service, in times of peace, be dangerous to liberty?

Also, military service is one thing, public service (answering phones at the police dept?) is something else. I do not believe that the US is delegated a power to force us all to perform national or community service. At most, I think, they may have some power to force us to do national/community service as a sentence for committing a federal crime.
 
Why don't they call the draft what it would be. A draft of the poor. Do you think that a rich person or politicians sons/daughters would be drafted? If you do then I would like to know what colour the sky is in your world.:rolleyes:
 
Why don't they call the draft what it would be. A draft of the poor.
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Given a choice in the matter I would much rather my tax dollars went to paying the less fortunate to perform civil service than paying them to sit on their ass and collect welfare checks.
 
It is full of wonderful pragmatic difficulties.

First is Gender. How does one decide which gender does what? If women are subject to the draft and because of their gender are given less dangerous assignments, one might argue this is discriminatory towards men. Why should men have to take more risk to life and limb. Pragmatic reasons might suggest why and in a volunteer force might be acceptable but in draft that includes both - it is problematic.

The Second is Sexual Orientation. The bill seems to allow the government to make some decisions about types of service based on personal characteristics (such as gender - see above). Thus, if it is decided that apriori gay folks don't go into the risky military branches - is that not discriminatory. Thus, one says that they are gay and they get to plant trees in the National Forest rather than go to dangerous combat?

I can see gays protesting that for equal rights, straights saying it is discriminatory and some folks declaring bisexuality to to avoid the combat arms. The stigma is not so much today. After your service, you could go to your local preacher, find God and declare yourself straight and saved.

At my draft physical (Viet Nam era), the marine SGT running the show said you could say you were gay and avoid service but they would put you on a list and you would never a get job! That isn't going to happen today.

My point is that universal service has two big dark holes in it, independent of the slavery issue.

The reason touted for the draft being needed is based on the Administration's screwed up war strategy and Bush being fixated on Rummy's hairbrained insistence of low levels of force. Attempts to increase the standing volunteer force seem not to be a good idea for Rummy (why - who knows) and Bush is unable to realize that Rummy is full of crap.

Better to have a large volunteer standing force and get the Guard back to its roots.

Being a child of the VietNam era - a draft during a non-national life struggle in a seemingly endless incompetently run war would be another giant social upheaval that could threaten the core of our society again.

The real need is intelligence in government and not cannon fodder for boobs in the excutive branch.
 
atw525..No the poor that would be drafted would not have children, meaning no welfare checks. You responded to part of my post. What about the part about the rich and politicians sons and daughters not being drafted. The new draft would be the same as the draft used in Vietnam and about as fair.
 
atw525..No the poor that would be drafted would not have children, meaning no welfare checks.
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It wouldn't draft the single mothers, but it would like draft the unemployed boyfriends who live off their checks.

You responded to part of my post. What about the part about the rich and politicians sons and daughters not being drafted. The new draft would be the same as the draft used in Vietnam and about as fair.
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If things were fair everybody would pay the same amount of taxes. The rich contribute vastly more to the country economically. I think having mandatory civil service inversary proportional to tax dollars paid would be a much fairer solution.
 
The proposed bill does not require only military service. It also includes non-military service.

Having served in the Navy for 8 years, I believe the all-volunteer military is superior to conscription. For that reason, I would be against forcing folks into the military. However, if they opt not for military service, they could perform non-military service.

Yes, the U.S. is about freedom. However, it is not about unlimited freedom. No society can long survive anarchy, nor can it long survive complete tyranny. The trick is striking the proper balance between the two extremes.

Too frequently I see young people, born in the mid-70s or later, who have never known true struggles. They have known mostly economic well-being and instant gratification. History, that vast and masterful teacher, is for them a fog-shrouded mystery. Ignorant of the teachings of the master, they find themselves incapable of comprehending, utilizing, and enlarging their American inheritance. Day-to-day life often frustrates them. Compounding the problem, they have known being served--served by a society built and strengthened by men and women of the shrouded past--but have not known service to others. How can they value something for which they did not sacrifice nor understood the sacrifices of others?

If a man is carried about by others and never uses his legs, will his legs not suffer atrophy?

Even a short service to others will instruct them, some more so than others. The problems that will arise--the problems that have arisen repeatedly regardless of time and place and which they will need to solve--may even prompt some to seek out the timeless lessons of history. Maybe then, they will value what they have inherited, and preserve and enlarge it for future generations.
 
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