New Military Bill Trying to pass

[The Ren]

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

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.

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.

[The Ren]

and here is the validation
http://thomas.loc.gov/
click on bill number
enter H. R. 4752
it will show you the status of the bill
currently it is in committee

[YokotaS13]

good shit
be like israel and require it!
I say go for it. If you cant serve then you shouldnt bitch

[bdydrpdmazda]

Im doing my time! I guess that means Ive avoided the draft........sweet!

[babygurl]

I think it is a good idea...but isnt it a debate of freedom in a way?

[4dmin]

lol never going to happen. ok i'm just wondering what would be the point of this? really... what do we need more troops for to deploy over seas? this i will never pass. this country is sounding less and less free :(

[bdydrpdmazda]

It definately wont happen, the guy trying to make this happen is known for being a borderline communist. This isnt the first time he has tried this shit. A military is more effective when it has people in it that want to be in it and when its not full of a bunch of folks that were forced to sign up. Just my opinion I guess.

[babygurl]

It definately wont happen, the guy trying to make this happen is known for being a borderline communist. This isnt the first time he has tried this shit. A military is more effective when it has people in it that want to be in it and when its not full of a bunch of folks that were forced to sign up. Just my opinion I guess.


hmmm I would have to agree.....

[bdydrpdmazda]

atleast one person agrees with me.

[Mike Lowrey]

That is what I call bullshit. It is a stupid idea.

That is all.

[Allshow97]

It definately wont happen, the guy trying to make this happen is known for being a borderline communist. This isnt the first time he has tried this shit. A military is more effective when it has people in it that want to be in it and when its not full of a bunch of folks that were forced to sign up. Just my opinion I guess.

I too agree! :goodjob:

[blacknightteg]

maaaaaaaaaan fuck that shit

[devin]

fuck that, thats almost like living under a dictator

[Ran]

I think that this is a good idea. It provides us with a withstanding military as well as developing a sense of respect for those that serve due to personal experience. It's not like they're requiring you to make a career out of it. You can still choose your own MOS (Job) and possibly develop some skills you can use afterwards. If you see that you don't want to continue in the military afterwards, then don't. A lot of foreign nations have these kind of policies. Graduate from High School and serve a few years. Don't like it? Get out afterwards and get on with your life.

I think this is a good idea and would help correct some of the people who think that they deserve freedom just because they live here. Get out there and earn your sh*t.

[devin]

i dont have a problem serving my country or fighting for my country, but everyone being forced to serve is kinda extreme

[The Ren]

I have to agree I think this is pure bullshit...Id have to agree to let the people who wanna do it do it.. There is a reason those of us who are not in the military are not.. and to force everyone- females and males between 18 and 46 to serve atleast 2 years... is pure assinine

[babygurl]

I have to agree I think this is pure bullshit...Id have to agree to let the people who wanna do it do it.. There is a reason those of us who are not in the military are not.. and to force everyone- females and males between 18 and 46 to serve atleast 2 years... is pure assinine


I can see where you are coming from...being foced to do something is never fun...but there are some people...who need to be forced into things. And military service sometimes actually puts people into better situations..being forced to grow up.

And I also see the Draft as a way of taking away our rights to choose, on our lives pursuit.

[Ran]

And I also see the Draft as a way of taking away our rights to choose, on our lives pursuit.They're asking for 2 years. That's it! Not a lifetime.

[devin]

They're asking for 2 years. That's it! Not a lifetime.



then why dont you get a head start and go join up for active duty:goodjob:

[Ran]

then why dont you get a head start and go join up for active duty:goodjob:I joined years ago but got knocked off a 40 foot tower and had my spine relocated.

Any other suggestions, @sshat?

[The Ren]

I can see where you are coming from...being foced to do something is never fun...but there are some people...who need to be forced into things. And military service sometimes actually puts people into better situations..being forced to grow up.

And I also see the Draft as a way of taking away our rights to choose, on our lives pursuit.

I completely agree.. but how long did this country fight to have freedom and have the choice to join or not.. and now some dickwad is going to try and take that away?

[devin]

I joined years ago but got knocked off a 40 foot tower and had my spine relocated.

Any other suggestions, @sshat?



see, thats why a bunch of people on here fuckin suck, i am just saying, since you are soo gung ho about everybody being FORCED to serve, then you should go ahead and join up, and then the keyboard tough guys gotta come out. cant even say shit to anybody

[Ran]

see, thats why a bunch of people on here fuckin suck, i am just saying, since you are soo gung ho about everybody being FORCED to serve, then you should go ahead and join up, and then the keyboard tough guys gotta come out. cant even say shit to anybodyThe way you said it came off as kind of offending so if you didn't mean it in that sense, I apologize. It's just a touchy experience for me.

[devin]

if i meant to offend you, i would have chosen many different word to use. so i accept your apology.

[Sport1.3]

I think that this is a good idea. It provides us with a withstanding military as well as developing a sense of respect for those that serve due to personal experience. It's not like they're requiring you to make a career out of it. You can still choose your own MOS (Job) and possibly develop some skills you can use afterwards. If you see that you don't want to continue in the military afterwards, then don't. A lot of foreign nations have these kind of policies. Graduate from High School and serve a few years. Don't like it? Get out afterwards and get on with your life.

I think this is a good idea and would help correct some of the people who think that they deserve freedom just because they live here. Get out there and earn your sh*t.

but thats not at all what this country was founded on..our founders all fought for their lives and country so we in the future wouldnt have to unless absolutely necessary. ill be damned if they will "make" me. Yeah it sounds easy. serve your 2 years and get on with your life...tell that to the ppl forced to enlist and that dont come back, or come back to nothing, with nothing and their lives ruined! It definitly takes a certian kinda person to be in the military and i definitly respect and praise all those actively involved, but forcing ppl into something they may be morally against is outragous.

[The Ren]

^ I couldnt agree more..

[devin]

i will fight and die for my country in DEFENSE of my country, but i dont wanna go and die for oil, or somebody elses political fuck up. i do have very much respect for people in our military.

[joecoolfreak]

I am going to agree with Ran on this one. I think something like this has it's benifits. For most of you that disagree with it, I don't think you completely understand how it all works. Just because you are in the military, doesn't mean that you are in a combat position. If you read the wording of the bill, conscientious objectors are specifically outlined in it. See section 8 of the bill. For those of you that think it's a violation of your freedom's, how is this any different than being forced to pay taxes? I think a lot of people take the "freedom" they enjoy here for granted and I think this would be a great opportunity for those individuals to realize exactly what it takes to enjoy those freedoms. Again, you don't have to be in a dangerous position to provide a worthy contribution to this country and there are plenty of civilian positions that would be filled through this. I am glad that they don't differentiate between women and men as that is just equality at it's finest.

[Sport1.3]

haha there is a big difference between paying taxes and being forced into the military.

[joecoolfreak]

haha there is a big difference between paying taxes and being forced into the military.

This is exactly what I am talking about. Civil service is a necessary contribution to this country's survival and we would not be able to enjoy what we have unless there are people to provide that for us. Taxes are the same thing. We couldn't have roads, if there wasn't any money to do so. We can't have freedom if there weren't any people to provide it for us. I personally think that if you can't dedicate 2 years of your life to making this country a better place, then you don't deserve to be able to enjoy your life here. Again, being in the military doesn't mean you have to shoot people or even touch a weapon. It is simply about providing a service to the government.

I also think that it would have the added side benifit of making a population much more active politically, because if you thought that a president would be sending YOU off to war, or YOUR daughter off to war, because of a mandatory obligation to serve, then you might make sure that your elected leaders were responsible for making better decisions.

[devin]

the most part about it i dont like is the whole thing about government control over the population, first its serve 2 years in service, whats next?

[babygurl]

I completely agree.. but how long did this country fight to have freedom and have the choice to join or not.. and now some dickwad is going to try and take that away?



Like someone stated its not a lifetime...Again like someone else stated that people have the attitude that jsut because they live here gives them every right. Honestly our ancestors earned their freedom, we were born into it. There are only some who still earn it. By protecting us every day, being away from their families, and having a life outside of work. So why not let someone else be home for a christmas with their kids, and let someone else who hasnt done that be away from their familes for a few months..

Honestly I have been debating joining the military for a long time, certain things keep me home right now. But when those things are resolved if they ever do I would join no questions asked. But people in the US take so much for granted, but never really give anything back for what they have. I think it would also give some of our younger generation a reason to grow up. Granted I am only 22 and I do make mistakes, but some of the people around my age "gang banger wanna bes" need to be put through boot camp to straighten their ass out. A good ass kicking never hurt anyone...(as long as its for the better).

I honestly think the draft is a good idea.

[bdydrpdmazda]

I feel the draft is a necessary thing because it is onl inforced when troops are really needed. When people sign up for the military now there is a clause where you must serve as an inactive reserve after you get out until eight years after you get out, sign up for three and be on reserve for 5, sign up for 4 and be on reserve for 4 and so on so the draft will never come into play gain but if it did it would only be because the freedom of our country would be at risk and no prior service members were available.

[devin]

that draft a good idea???? in all honesty thats insane to think that way.- not being an asshole at all, just expressing my thought

[joecoolfreak]

I don't see this as much as a draft needed for national security, but more as a civil obligation done by everybody for the good of everybody. As it was said before, this is a very common practice in other countries and seems to work very well.

[babygurl]

I don't see this as much as a draft needed for national security, but more as a civil obligation done by everybody for the good of everybody. As it was said before, this is a very common practice in other countries and seems to work very well.



That is how I see it...

[The Golden Child]

interesting ..

[Sport1.3]

why is it fighting for your country is the only way for you to "earn to live here"? that is such a misguided point of view. i earn it every god damn day i work and go to school to better myself as well as my country. i help create and stimulate the economy, how is my role not just as important? there are plenty enough ppl to fight and there always has been, if not we have a draft that can be implemented, which has been done plenty of times before and works!. i am going to school as we speak to become an engineer, an engineer that hopefully will be working for lockheed, a company directly involved with the military(airforce/Navy specifically). though my role as a "civilian" is more closely involved with the military than most, doesnt make any other working class citizen less important to this country. this is also coming from a son and grandson of past military veterans. my dad has been in the airforce for 35+ yrs and actively fought(gulf war, kuwat, Iraq) so that me his son wouldnt have to. I definitly respect his decision to join (he even went through the Academy), but it was his choice! he also respects that the military isnt for me.

[joecoolfreak]

There are plenty of other ways to be a contribution to the country and I am not diminishing any of them. The real question is why would you oppose being a civil engineer for the military for two years? Once again, just because you are "military" does not mean "fighting" at all. As you should know better than most with your family's background, there are plenty of things that aren't combat positions. The biggest difference I see, is that as a civilian, you have the choice as to whether your skills are used for the betterment of society, or your own pocket, and as a civil servent, those decisions are made with everyone in mind.

[Ran]

serve your 2 years and get on with your life...tell that to the ppl forced to enlist and that dont come back, or come back to nothing, with nothing and their lives ruined!Lives ruined? Come back to nothing? What?

Go thru high school, turn 18, and do two years. That's it. Most people spend that time just d*cking around anyway. It's not like they're plucking you mid-career to go kill people. Hell, while you're in the military, they even give you incentives to go to college! Taking someone who is 42 years old, I can understand the problem in that.

I think that every able citizen should serve a mandatory 2 year service immediately after high school or upon turning 18 years old. This way you don't really have any obligations or anything else to keep you out. You can still go to college or whatever and if you think that the military isn't for you after that, then get out. You'll still only be 20 and have every opportunity to make the life that you want to live.

[Vteckidd]

While i dont think it will EVER pass, i think its a good idea. Think of all the GOOD that can come from it.

Most people will be able to learn some sort of Skill or Trade. they build their Resumes with Military Service, you get 2 years of DECENT pay im sure (20-25K)

I think if they made it mandatory for NON COLLEGE enrolling kids out of highschool youd see alot better workforce.

Im a military brat, so maybe im biased. While i wouldnt WANT to join voluntarily, i wouldnt complain if they made me do it.

[fight club]

if this passed i believe this country would find something in a few years of implementation that it hasnt known for quite some time. UNITY. finally, people would stop their bitching and moaning of "if i were in control" etc and step up and do something. gone would be the days where generations are allowed to squander their life to partying and shit fresh out of high school. it would give the older community some ease of mind knowing the next generations isnt the degenerative fuck ups it believes it is, but a generation of people who have seen what is on the news everyday and actually care, because it affects them. just take a quick look at all the countries that have a 2 yr mandatory civil service. they arent dictatorships or communism or any other extreme unfounded thing this bill has been called. while they may not be as big or great as the US they still have MORE involvement from the citizens and MORE pride than most people. i support it. the returns of this bill would be unpresidented, imagine an America where people actually cared and knew what it took to enjoy the freedoms they have. i mean, think about how good you feel when you earn something in life. now imagine it was something as big as FREEDOM.

[Ran]

if this passed i believe this country would find something in a few years of implementation that it hasnt known for quite some time. UNITY. finally, people would stop their bitching and moaning of "if i were in control" etc and step up and do something. gone would be the days where generations are allowed to squander their life to partying and shit fresh out of high school. it would give the older community some ease of mind knowing the next generations isnt the degenerative fuck ups it believes it is, but a generation of people who have seen what is on the news everyday and actually care, because it affects them. just take a quick look at all the countries that have a 2 yr mandatory civil service. they arent dictatorships or communism or any other extreme unfounded thing this bill has been called. while they may not be as big or great as the US they still have MORE involvement from the citizens and MORE pride than most people. i support it. the returns of this bill would be unpresidented, imagine an America where people actually cared and knew what it took to enjoy the freedoms they have. i mean, think about how good you feel when you earn something in life. now imagine it was something as big as FREEDOM.+1 For You. Well said. :goodjob:

[ultm8mind]

I, for one, think it is a great idea. Give most of the little spoiled kiddies an eye opener. Let you realize that freedom isn't free. Let all of you who haven't served the opportunity to do something for the country you take for granted. I hope it does pass. But for now, sleep well, I will defend this country from my post and forward. 173rd STB, AIRBORNE!!!!!! HUAH!!!!!

[Vteckidd]

I, for one, think it is a great idea. Give most of the little spoiled kiddies an eye opener. Let you realize that freedom isn't free. Let all of you who haven't served the opportunity to do something for the country you take for granted. I hope it does pass. But for now, sleep well, I will defend this country from my post and forward. 173rd STB, AIRBORNE!!!!!! HUAH!!!!!
:goodjob:

[The Ninja]

not joining. Gonna have to put me in prison if it passes. Not because i don't want to fight for my country, but because of the motives that they provide for such a draft or even the war in general doesn't align with what i consider enough or righteous motive to go to war. I'll sit in prison until the war is over.

[Ran]

not joining. Gonna have to put me in prison if it passes. Not because i don't want to fight for my country, but because of the motives that they provide for such a draft or even the war in general doesn't align with what i consider enough or righteous motive to go to war. I'll sit in prison until the war is over.Just because you join the military doesn't mean you'll go to war. Hell, join the National Guard. Or you could just save everyone the trouble and move to Canada.

Also, when you go to jail for that, it's not just for the duration for the war. It's a little more extensive as it should be.

[Vteckidd]

true, if yourn ot willing to go to war for this country, no matter what, then leave now. sorry.

Every war we have been involved in had to be done. Including Vietnam, i think we stayed longer than we should have in Nam, but i beleive it was neccesary.

IRAQ, we need to be there, if you dont think so, remember 9/11 is all ihave to say

[Ran]

IRAQ, we need to be there, if you dont think so, remember 9/11 is all ihave to sayMaybe so, but we went in ill-prepared. We needed a better exit strategy, which is why we're still wasting time and resources over there. We need to help Iraq fortify it's own government and leave. The sooner the better.

[Vteckidd]

i agree somewhat, although i dont think we will ever have a true democratic IRAQ

[BluesClues]

Too much to read. Not really in a reading mood right now. If it's about women being required to join the service I say bullshit!
That is all

[The Ren]

Im not saying that I dont look up to the men and women who are in the military because they wanna be... one of my ex's who i was almost engaged to is in the army... my boyfriends uncle is in the army.. my best friend is in the army...believe me they get my upmost respect.. but there is a reason that most of us who arnt in the army.. are not.. Think about it this way.. couple with a new born baby... both mom and dad get called to service..what is the baby supposed to do if both mom and dad dont come home? Im some ways I think it would greatly improve the thinking of some of the people here.. but in others I think its going to ruin alot of lives too.. that is my personal opinion...

[MongolPup]

It definately wont happen, the guy trying to make this happen is known for being a borderline communist. This isnt the first time he has tried this shit. A military is more effective when it has people in it that want to be in it and when its not full of a bunch of folks that were forced to sign up. Just my opinion I guess.

I agree.

Also we don't need some wack jobs flipping out and tossing a grenade into their tent (oh wait that already happened). If the stress factor and stuff in Iraq is messing with soldiers heads, imagine what it would be like for someone who got pressed into service.

Also, it will never pass.

[Ran]

Think about it this way.. couple with a new born baby... both mom and dad get called to service..what is the baby supposed to do if both mom and dad dont come home?In cases such as this, both parenting members are hardly deployed to serve overseas. There are military families everywhere that have both parents in the services but one member is always stationed stateside to oversee the child. Common sense does exist within our government sometimes.


that is my personal opinion...You're expressing some real life concerns as you should, and that's cool. I think that most of the people that read this bill immediately think "OMG They're sending me to war!!" when that's clearly not the case. Could you be deployed in the event of a war? Sure, but even as a "conscious objector" you can still enlist in a non-combatant MOS.

[joecoolfreak]

Im not saying that I dont look up to the men and women who are in the military because they wanna be... one of my ex's who i was almost engaged to is in the army... my boyfriends uncle is in the army.. my best friend is in the army...believe me they get my upmost respect.. but there is a reason that most of us who arnt in the army.. are not.. Think about it this way.. couple with a new born baby... both mom and dad get called to service..what is the baby supposed to do if both mom and dad dont come home? Im some ways I think it would greatly improve the thinking of some of the people here.. but in others I think its going to ruin alot of lives too.. that is my personal opinion...

I think that some of those people that would be having children at 18 are the ones that would benifit the most out of military service before they enter the real world. That being said, there are a lot of dual military families (families with both parents being soldiers) out there and there are rules set aside to ensure that the children are cared for.

[Julio]

What a waste of time.

[R3RUN]

I think its a bad idea in general. Some people are not cut out for the military physically and mentally. I understand that not everyone would become a soldier on the front lines but a lot of people will be. I am in no way cut out for the military physically (I have a connective tissue disorder) but I am pretty sure by current military standards I could still be drafted (if it came to that). Seriously this would not work at all. If they do it im going to move to the caribean.

[Ran]

I think its a bad idea in general. Some people are not cut out for the military physically and mentally. I understand that not everyone would become a soldier on the front lines but a lot of people will be. I am in no way cut out for the military physically (I have a connective tissue disorder) but I am pretty sure by current military standards I could still be drafted (if it came to that). Seriously this would not work at all. If they do it im going to move to the caribean.Nah, the military has actually been cranking down on physical and health restrictions. You can't even join if you have flat feet. :screwy: Hell, if you're over a certain percentage of body fat then you can't join until you slim down. That excludes about 85% of the population right there. I'm sure they would introduce some form of fat-camp though.

[R3RUN]

How about if your below a certain percentage? Ive got bad knees and im only 18 so they probably dont like me.

On the note of fat camp this would solve the epidemic of obesity in the U.S.

[Sport1.3]

I have flat feet!!HA HA FUCKERS!!!! YES!!!!! :cheers:

[The Ren]

That I know.. and I agree that there are plenty of ways to participate in the military and not be in combat.. but that was just a situation.. that is a possibility of happening.. most likely.. no both parents wont be in combat at the same time, but the threat is a real one... with that being said.. i enjoy the freedom I have and if keeping that means joining the military.. id do it..

[8bangin302]

STUPID...

[cidgrad130]

As has been mentioned previously in this thread, this proposal would never pass in its current form.

More than likely...in committe, it would morph into more of a civilian-service mided version of it's current form. However...this idea has been hanging around for decades. Hell, even Clinton himself proposed and formed the now defunct Americorps, which he himself proposed as a mandatory service obligation at one point(which was one of his better ideas).

Everyone is too focused on the military aspect of the National Service Bill to see the benefit.

As a 13-year veteran (and still Active Duty Air Force member), I can honestly say it would be tough to serve with a large contigent of young people who think nothing of military service. Our current military budget doesn't even allow for an active duty force end strength of 2 million...so there is no way that any more than 0.2% of deemed eligibles (those not holding a waiver) would be pressed into service. The military doesn't struggle as much as you would think to find qualified volunteers.

For every 10,000 more people in the military, the budget must increase by over $1.2 Billion...that isn't likely to happen anytime soon. To use the word "draft" is completely incorrect.

Now...on the other hand...would some sort of mandatory service period to qualify for citizenship be a good idea- Absolutely! Many of the worlds democratic societies already employ such tactics (Germany and Israel come to mind off the top of my head). The service can be in a variety of fields (health care...civil service...public works...military, etc.). If you gave young people an option, there would probably be plenty of volunteers in every service category. Two years is probably a bit excessive...but serving society is a fine way to instill citizenship, national pride, and cultural ethics into young people.

Remember...freedom isn't free!

Cheers!

[JITB]

as soon as they give me a gun im shooting myself in the leg...twice!

[Mr_Mischif]

While I have the utmost respect for anyone who ever was in the military, putting themselves on the line for our freedoms, I myself would not support any version of this bill, which is basically the draft.

While it would be nice to have all the "would-be gangstas" shape up, the fact that right now we are fighting what I would call a bullshit war for oil which we ARE LOSING, they need more people to "die for the cause".

I myself could not go into the military because I am a pussy in that respect (flat feet, and I don't know if I could take another person's life), I do respect those people who do. And while there are many non-fighting positions available, I don't know if I could orient myself with a government that's comfortable going over to someone's country and start shooting people because of some "information" that even they realized was fake. And for those people who go "IRAQ BOMBED THE WTC, WE NEED TO BOMB THEIR TOWEL-HEAD ASSES!!!!!!", why not bomb the UAE too, since the people who did bomb the WTC got together to decide what they were going to do before they came over to the US?

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate my country-just the people running it.

[ultm8mind]

I think it's funny how you people say "Oh, I wouldn't back or support this bill," as if that matters. You have no count in that vote anyways, since most likely it would be passed through Congress and not us people. Also, the people in charge of this country of ours, MAKE this country what it is. I doubt anyone on this forum is struggling, seeing how you have this luxury we call the internet or means to it. The female that said females shouldn't be forced to join if this did happen, HAHA. Tough, get over it, you demean those women serving today. To the guy that said he'd shoot himself in the legs, lemme watch. Stop looking to find ways out, so what you're fat, so what you have flat feet. Do you really think they'll be picky if this does pass??? I think not. But hey, they already have me. Paid for my degrees, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars training me. I say thank you and am extremely grateful that I have had this opportunity, otherwise, I'd be doing meaningless jobs due to not having enough money to go to college otherwise.