Military Draft Issues
In 1969, the United States instated a draft governed by a lottery. This incited mass demonstrations of youth across the country. A military draft can be legally reinstated during a time of crisis, or a shortage of troops. But, as of 2011, issues surrounding the fairness of the draft make it politically difficult to implement.
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Reinstating the Draft
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A draft can be reinstated by Congress and the president during a time of crisis. The boundaries that determine what is and what is not a crisis are blurry. A crisis could simply mean a severe shortage of volunteer troops fighting overseas. Many politicians parlay the draft issue when campaigning for office because of the emotional resonance the topic has with certain voter constituencies. A 2006 Heritage Foundation report argues there is no compelling reason to reinstate a draft. But many politicians disagree, expostulating that a draft would put troops on a more equal footing and actually prevent wars.
Who is Called
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Each man living in the United States between the ages of 18 to 26 is legally required to register with the Selective Services System. The men do not have to be citizens; even illegal immigrants residing in the country are required to register. During a draft lottery, each of these men are assigned a number. The numbers are drawn at random from a lottery bin. Proponents of the draft claim the randomness of the selection is bound to equalize enlistees. This is important to draft supporters who believe the volunteer military is taking advantage of economically unstable young people. Those against the draft, however, claim the best soldiers are those who want to be there -- in other words, volunteers.
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Women and the Draft
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Women are not included in the draft. But each time registration is reactivated, during World War II, for example, or 1980 after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the question of women being drafted arises. In World War II, a shortage of nurses almost led to the drafting of women, but volunteerism surged and a draft was not needed.
Draft Dodging
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Draft dodging is defined as a drafted soldier who dodges service. The term is often used in accusations among politicians. For example, in 1992 certain media publications labeled then-Gov. Bill Clinton a draft dodger. The former president conceded to the allegations after a letter was leaked revealing that he did indeed avoid the draft with help from his connections. Clinton, however, defended his decision, saying he did not believe a young person should be forced into a war he does not support.
Other would-be service members have avoided the draft for myriad reasons: medical, not in-country or religious reasons. In any case, this issue of draft dodging is hotly debated. An action that may seem cowardly to some people may be viewed as an act of courage by others.
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References
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