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House Bill Introduced to Reinstate Military Draft in US

In an act virtually ignored by the mainstream media, Republicans Nick Smith of Michigan and Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania have introduced a bill intending to reinstate the draft. The bill, HR 3598, the Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001, was introduced on December 20th.

House Resolution 3598 is currently before the House Committee of Armed Services. The Chair of the Armed Services Committee is Rep. Bob Stump, R-AZ, and the ranking member is Ike Skelton, D-MO. This bill would require that men in the US (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam - all territories whose residents do not have voting rights) receive basic military training and education as members of the armed services for a period of not less than six months, but not more than one year, unless exempted. Currently the United States Census lists 9 million males in this age group. The bill would also authorize women in that age group to volunteer to receive basic military training and education.

Young men would be exempt from this service if they have extreme hardships (what exactly this means is not outlined in the bill and is likely defined at the convenience of the board) or physical or mental disability. People already serving in military positions would not be subject to the specifications of this induction. High school students would have their induction postponed until they receive their high school diploma, drop out, are expelled, or turn 20, whichever occurs first.

Men who are conscientious objectors, which requires that they have religious training and belief that prohibits them from military combat (subject to approval by a local board), when inducted, would participate in basic military training and education that does not include any combatant training component. Those whose conscientious objector claims are rejected by a local board would be allowed an appeal to an appeal board.

Click here for full text of HR3598.

 
 

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