Military commission report recommends including women in draft

A report by the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service on Wednesday recommended that Congress amend the Military Selective Service Act (MSSA) to “eliminate male-only registration and expand draft eligibility to all individuals of the applicable age cohort.”

Since May 18, 1917, the President has had the power to draft soldiers.

The last Selective Service Draft happened during the Vietnam War during 1969 to 1973. 

In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that an all-male draft was constitutional because women were ineligible to fill combat positions. Because of this, Congress had refused to expand the Selective Service sign-up requirement to women. 

For the first time in 2015, all positions in the armed forces became open to women, including combat duty. 

In 2017, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. formed the commission to examine the question and issue recommendations to Congress.

The findings came from the 11-member bipartisan group held public hearings in 42 cities in 22 states over a two-and-a-half-year period. 

The 255-page final report titled “Inspired to Serve”, includes 124 recommendations aimed at increasing and improving military, national and public service opportunities for Americans. The fully drafted legislative proposal also suggests that the United States must advance military, national and public service to:

• Improve military outreach around the country;
• Increase opportunities for youth to explore military service;
• Strengthen military recruiting and marketing;
• Strengthen and expand educational pathways for military service;
• Effectively manage military personnel;
• Improve awareness and recruitment of national service;
• Increase the value, flexibility and use of national service incentives;
• Expand opportunities for diverse populations through national service;
• Establish new models for national service;
• Reform Federal hiring practices;
• Modernize veterans’ preference;
• Expand noncompetitive eligibility;
• Revamp Federal hiring systems for students and recent graduates;
• Promote a high-performing personnel culture;
• Address critical-skills challenges;
• Increase the competitiveness of Federal benefits;
• Develop and implement an improved Federal personnel sys­tem.

The report, which suggests the United States maintain a military draft mechanism in the event of national emergencies, also looks at ways to retain and improve the Selective Service registration, formalize a national call for volunteers prior to activating the draft, ensure a fair and transparent draft and improve the readiness of the National Mobilization System.

The goal is to by 2031 have 5 million Americans want to join the military, national or public service each year. Today, nearly 24 million individuals participate in some form of military, national, or public service to meet critical national needs. 

“These efforts are formidable and have transformed lives, communities, and the Nation; but in a country of 329 million, imagine what more could be done if significantly more people were inspired and able to answer the call to serve,” the report said. 

Action by Congress would be needed to modify the Selective Service Act.