Selective Service rule change up for comment

Relating to Alternative Service Workers appeals (Conscientious Objectors) and who hears appeals.

Appears straightforward, reducing buerocracy, but hey - they're obviously thinking about it all..

http://www.regulations.gov/

click on comments due today

http://www.regulations.gov/freddocs/04-02427.htm
is the specific rule change

"SUMMARY: The Selective Service System (SSS) proposes to amend its regulations regarding the procedures for conscientious objectors, who have been placed in the Alternative Service Program as Alternative Service Workers (ASW), to appeal denied requests for job reassignments during a military draft. Civilian Review Boards (CRB), whose sole responsibility is to decide ASW appeals of denied job reassignments, would be abolished with their responsibilities transferred to the more numerous District Appeal Boards (DAB). Under existing regulations, the sole responsibility of DABs is to decide appeals of local board classification decisions. This organization change is necessary to ensure a more efficient and economical administration of the SSS. Its primary intended effect is to eliminate the administrative costs of maintaining separate appeal boards for ASWs without adversely impacting on the Agency's ability to expeditiously decide appeals of denied job reassignments or appeals of local board classification decisions. A secondary intended effect is to improve customer service to ASWs during a military draft.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 6, 2004."

they seem to be getting their ducks in a row. Ready to become canon fodder?

...and exited the Selective Service system...

The intention of the Selective Service System is to take younger, able-bodied people for military service, but you're a part of that system until (under the old rules, not sure about that age now) the age of 39.

The age of 26 is a cut-off point for denial of a number of benefits if one doesn't register, and the lottery first picks 20-year-olds, then 21 through 25.

Nevertheless, if there were severe demand on the system, such as declaring martial law after an another attack on the country, you could find yourself in uniform.

Even without that, there's been selective call-ups of people in critical skill areas where there have been shortages.

When you're 40, you're probably home free, but not until then--never know how crazy the right wing can get until they know they have a firm toehold on the government.

On edit, there are 13.5 million eligible men from the ages of 20-25 now, and about two-thirds of them would be likely to pass the physical--about 9 million. There were over 12 million engaged in WWII. Right now, the country's government is content with trying to obtain global hegemony with a volunteer force. What happens if they get a good deal more ambitious after winning a second term...?

Until 35 for "professional induction" (my term)...

Sigh..

But of course if there was a desperate shortage then they'd take anyone.

http://www.sss.gov/PDFs/MSSA-2003.pdf
The Military Selective Service act
As Amended Through
July 9, 2003

...

Except as otherwise provided in this title (sections 451 to 471a of this Appendix), every person required to register pursuant to section 3 of this title (section 453 of this Appendix) who is between the ages of eighteen years and six months and twenty-six years, at the time fixed for his registration, or who attains the age of eighteen years and six months after having been required to register pursuant to section 3 of this title (section 453 of this Appendix),

...

Criteria]
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection the President is authorized, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to provide for the deferment from training and service in the Armed Forces of any or all categories of persons whose employment in industry, agriculture, or other occupations or employment, or whose continued service in an Office (other than an Office described in subsection (f)) under the United States or any State, territory, or possession, or the District of Columbia, or whose activity in study, research, or medical, dental, veterinary, optometric, osteopathic, scientific, pharmaceutical, chiropractic, chiropodial, or other endeavors is found to be necessary to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest: Provided, That no person within any such category shall be deferred except upon the basis of his individual status: Provided further, That persons who are or may be deferred under the provisions of this section shall remain liable for training and service in the Armed Forces under the provisions of section 4(a) of this Act (section 454(a) of this Appendix) until the thirty-fifth anniversary of the date of their birth.

can some one 34 year old be drafted for the first time?

See post 6 above - certain professions through 35 it appears..

www.sss.gov

specifically
http://www.sss.gov/seq.htm

THE LOTTERY
A lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th birthday falls during that year, followed, if needed, by those aged 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 18-year-olds and those turning 19 would probably not be drafted.

about draft for computer skills and linguists:

The agency already has a special system to register and draft health care personnel ages 20 to 44 in more than 60 specialties if necessary in a crisis. According to Flahavan, the agency will expand this system to be able to rapidly register and draft computer specialists and linguists, should the need ever arise. But he stressed that the agency has received no request from the Pentagon to do so.

from:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/164693_draft13.html

Could be an executive order I guess.

But I just got done reading the entire Selective Service Act. Seriously.

:toast:

I did Clinton's 2000 Natl Security Strategy earlier....

---

They are talking about this, which is law since '87, and apparently considering adding techies and linguists (don't know status):

MEDICAL DRAFT IN STANDBY MODE

The Health Care Personnel Delivery System (HCPDS) is a standby plan developed for the Selective Service System at the request of Congress. If needed it would be used to draft health care personnel in a crisis. It is designed to be implemented in connection with a national mobilization in an emergency, and then only if Congress and the President approve the plan and pass and sign legislation to enact it. No portion of the plan is designed for implementation in peacetime. If implemented, HCPDS would:

Provide a fair and equitable draft of doctors, nurses, medical technicians and those with certain other health care skills if, in some future emergency, the military’s existing medical capability proved insufficient and there is a shortage of volunteers.

Include women, unless directed otherwise by Congress and the President.

Draft a very small percentage of America’s health care providers into military service. Impact on the availability of civilian health care would be minimal. Those health-care workers whose absence would seriously hurt their communities would be deferred on the basis of community essentiality.

Begin a mass registration of male and female health care workers between the ages of 20 and 45. They would register at local post offices. HCPDS would provide medical personnel from a pool of 3.4 million doctors, nurses, specialists and allied health professionals in more than 60 fields of medicine.

Require minimal training for HCPDS draftees, because they are already skilled personnel

http://www.sss.gov/FSmedical.htm