Saturday, December 13, 2003
Selective Service asks for volunteers
Our Armed forces are stretched thin across the world. North Korea say they are developing nuclear weapons, Iran is said to be developing nuclear capabilities, more than 100,000 fresh troops will be sent to Iraq early next year to replace the current force there now. Countries are either refusing or hesitating at sending troops into Iraq. And there was a recent call for volunteers to staff Selective Service Boards across the country.
"There are no secret discussions," said Pat Schuback, a spokesman for the Selective Service System, the government agency that would be in charge of conscription if the United States had it. "We aren't doing any planning that we don't do on a routine basis."
"It's a plan on paper," said Schuback. "We're just an insurance policy. If we're needed, we're here; we're ready."
About 10,000 to 12,000 people serve 20-year terms as unpaid board members. Schuback said because the current board system was set up in 1979, and the bulk of volunteers stayed the full 20 years, many of the appointments expired beginning in 1999.
According to the government website the Selective Service continues to invite interested citizens to volunteer for service on its local boards that would decide claims from men if a draft were reestablished. This invitation for board members has been ongoing over the past 23 years, although there has not been a military draft in over 30 years. There is NO connection between this ongoing, routine public outreach to compensate for natural board attrition and current international events. Both the President and the Secretary of Defense have stated on several occasions that a draft is not needed for the war on terrorism, including Iraq.
In addition, several thousand Marines, not originally part of the plan, will be used to make up for the failure of the United States to get enough commitments from other countries to field a third multinational division.
The law still requires that males who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens register within 30 days of their 18th birthdays.
A man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.
Men, born after December 31, 1959, who aren't registered with Selective Service won't qualify for Federal student loans or grant programs. This includes Pell Grants, College Work Study, Guaranteed Student/Plus Loans, and National Direct Student Loans.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) makes registration with Selective Service a condition for U.S. citizenship if the man first arrived in the U.S. before his 26th birthday.
"There are no secret discussions," said Pat Schuback, a spokesman for the Selective Service System, the government agency that would be in charge of conscription if the United States had it. "We aren't doing any planning that we don't do on a routine basis."
"It's a plan on paper," said Schuback. "We're just an insurance policy. If we're needed, we're here; we're ready."
About 10,000 to 12,000 people serve 20-year terms as unpaid board members. Schuback said because the current board system was set up in 1979, and the bulk of volunteers stayed the full 20 years, many of the appointments expired beginning in 1999.
According to the government website the Selective Service continues to invite interested citizens to volunteer for service on its local boards that would decide claims from men if a draft were reestablished. This invitation for board members has been ongoing over the past 23 years, although there has not been a military draft in over 30 years. There is NO connection between this ongoing, routine public outreach to compensate for natural board attrition and current international events. Both the President and the Secretary of Defense have stated on several occasions that a draft is not needed for the war on terrorism, including Iraq.
In addition, several thousand Marines, not originally part of the plan, will be used to make up for the failure of the United States to get enough commitments from other countries to field a third multinational division.
The law still requires that males who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens register within 30 days of their 18th birthdays.
A man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.
Men, born after December 31, 1959, who aren't registered with Selective Service won't qualify for Federal student loans or grant programs. This includes Pell Grants, College Work Study, Guaranteed Student/Plus Loans, and National Direct Student Loans.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) makes registration with Selective Service a condition for U.S. citizenship if the man first arrived in the U.S. before his 26th birthday.
# posted by Thomas @ 12:41 AM 
