2008 Woodie Awards
Military draft may be inevitable come spring
Laura Fogerty & Andrew Joyce
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: News
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Put down the books and pick up a weapon: the threat of a military draft in the spring of 2005 is real.
The last time the governmentdrafted people for the U.S. armed forces was in 1972 for the Vietnam War. Now, as the fighting in Iraq continues and the number of casualties rises, the president elected in November may have the option to institute a draft.
The Selective Services System (SSS) is the government agency that provides the Department of Defense (DoD) with both trained and untrained personnel in case of an emergency. The SSS has updated its draft plan since 1972 in case an emergency should prompt its use. The agency needs legislative and presidential approval before it can implement a draft.
One of the major changes in the draft is the elimination of student deferment. In the 1970s, a full-time student could postpone service if they could prove they were earning a degree. If the draft is reinstated, a student will only be able to finish the current semester. If the student is a senior, then they will be allowed to finish that year before serving.
With the current SSS law, only males are being eligible for the draft, however the role of women in the military is constantly changing. To include women in the draft, an amendment would have to be made by Congress.
Amanda Nietzel, a senior at Marist College, opposes the implementation of the draft for this war because, she said, the war is not technically a real war, and our enemy is not clearly defined.
"I think a draft could divide my generation into pieces. There are repercussions to these actions I am not sure America is ready to handle," Nietzel said.
If the draft is re-instated, the government would implement a lottery system similar to the one used in 1972. In this system, draft numbers are selected by birth date. The first men to be drafted would be those turning 20 years old in 2005.
Art Himmelberger, the director of the Music Program at Marist College, is a retired sergeant major from the U.S. Army. Himmelberger was drafted into the Army as a Private and in 1972 at the age of 21, and continued to serve until just two years ago.
The last time the governmentdrafted people for the U.S. armed forces was in 1972 for the Vietnam War. Now, as the fighting in Iraq continues and the number of casualties rises, the president elected in November may have the option to institute a draft.
The Selective Services System (SSS) is the government agency that provides the Department of Defense (DoD) with both trained and untrained personnel in case of an emergency. The SSS has updated its draft plan since 1972 in case an emergency should prompt its use. The agency needs legislative and presidential approval before it can implement a draft.
One of the major changes in the draft is the elimination of student deferment. In the 1970s, a full-time student could postpone service if they could prove they were earning a degree. If the draft is reinstated, a student will only be able to finish the current semester. If the student is a senior, then they will be allowed to finish that year before serving.
With the current SSS law, only males are being eligible for the draft, however the role of women in the military is constantly changing. To include women in the draft, an amendment would have to be made by Congress.
Amanda Nietzel, a senior at Marist College, opposes the implementation of the draft for this war because, she said, the war is not technically a real war, and our enemy is not clearly defined.
"I think a draft could divide my generation into pieces. There are repercussions to these actions I am not sure America is ready to handle," Nietzel said.
If the draft is re-instated, the government would implement a lottery system similar to the one used in 1972. In this system, draft numbers are selected by birth date. The first men to be drafted would be those turning 20 years old in 2005.
Art Himmelberger, the director of the Music Program at Marist College, is a retired sergeant major from the U.S. Army. Himmelberger was drafted into the Army as a Private and in 1972 at the age of 21, and continued to serve until just two years ago.