Editor’s note: This article has been updated following the removal of the amendment from the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.
The question of whether girls can be drafted in the United States has been a topic of debate for many years. Currently, only “male citizens” and male immigrants between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register with the Selective Service System, the agency responsible for running a draft. However, there have been calls to expand this registration to include all Americans, regardless of race, color, sex, or gender.
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Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a Democrat and former U.S. Air Force officer, recently introduced an amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that would require women to register for the first time in U.S. history. While this proposal has bipartisan support in Congress, there is also opposition from conservatives who believe that women should not be compelled to fight in wars.
The amendment, unfortunately, did not make it into the version of the bill that the House passed in December. However, it is important to note that the military has not implemented a draft since 1973, and it is unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future. Despite changes to military rules allowing women to serve in combat roles, the country remains divided on who should be eligible for the draft.
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If the amendment were to pass, it would mean that all genders, including women, would be required to register with the Selective Service when they turn 18. However, registration does not automatically mean mandatory conscription. In the past, involuntary summons have been used only a few times, with the most recent instance being during the Vietnam War.
While the passage of this amendment would be significant in terms of the fight for women’s rights and gender equity in the military, it is important to consider that the likelihood of the draft being reinstated is low. The United States has maintained an all-volunteer military for nearly 50 years and has concluded its longest-fought war without resorting to a draft.
Even if a woman were to be randomly selected for military service, it is unlikely that she would be sent into active combat. In World War II, for example, most drafted men were not sent to the front lines but were assigned to supporting roles in intelligence, science, engineering, healthcare, and aviation.
The history of conscription in the United States has been marked by controversy. Drafts have been rare, and many people view them as an overreach or abuse of federal power on civilians’ freedoms. The first conscription law was passed during the Civil War in the 1860s, and there have been subsequent drafts during the Spanish-American War and both World Wars.
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Opposition to the draft has been widespread throughout history, with protests and resistance occurring during World War I and the Vietnam War. The Selective Service Act expired in 1973, ending the government’s ability to enforce conscription. Efforts to include women in the draft have been made in the past, but they have not been successful.
Proponents of the amendment argue that it is a step toward gender equity in the military. Women are the fastest-growing veteran population, and many women veterans support the change, believing that women should have the same responsibilities as men.
However, there are also those who oppose the amendment. Some Republicans, including Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, are working to remove it from the National Defense Authorization Act. They argue that while women should have the choice to serve, they should not be forced to do so.
If passed, the amendment would bring the United States closer to the standards held by other countries where military or national service is required for everyone. However, it is clear that there are still differing opinions on this issue, reflecting broader debates about gender equality and the role of women in society.
While the question of whether girls can be drafted remains unresolved for now, it is essential to continue the discussion and consider the perspectives and experiences of women in the military.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: Blog
