Military Draft Could Include Women, Pacifists

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Military Draft Could Include Women, Pacifists Michael Betsch, CNSNews.comTuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 The U.S. Selective Service System is ready to reinstate the draft if ordered by Congress and President Bush. But in this unconventional war against terrorism, pacifists and women may be surprised to learn of their potential to be called to the service by Uncle Sam. During a recent regional Selective Service conference, one item discussed was the inclusion of health care professionals in a wartime draft, noted Region II Director Col. Keith Scraggs. According to Scraggs, a health-care draft "could be a likely scenario if we have a shortage of medical folks and this thing drags on out." That scenario would occur only in the event that "the active forces, the reserves and guard couldn't handle it," he added.A health-care draft is not a new concept to the U.S. military, said SSS Director of Public and Congressional Affairs Lew Brodsky. "There used to be a doctors draft in this country from 1950 to 1973, but it was limited to a handful of doctors only and specific kinds of doctors before you had the kind of specialties that we have today," said Brodsky.The issue of a health-care draft was also raised and discussed by members of Congress in the late 1980s. Brodsky said the Senate Armed Services Committee was concerned about the possibility of a military conflict that involved weapons of mass destruction and incurred heavy casualties. Brodsky said Congress argued that in a modern war the "military medical capability might not be sufficient to handle that crisis. It might be understaffed and might need more people quickly."Looking at the numbers of medical personnel required, the time frames and the kinds of skills required - it would have to include women," said Brodsky.While noting that women historically have never participated in a U.S. military draft lottery, Brodsky said that in today's war, "it's frankly doubtful that we could achieve the numbers required" if female health workers were not drafted.More than half of those graduating from medical schools today are women, Brodsky remarked. "If you're talking nurses, you've got 90 percent-plus nurses in this country are women.""We're not registering any of those folks," Scraggs said. "It's on the shelf, ready to go in case we need it."However, Bill Galvin, a counseling coordinator at the anti-war Center on Conscience and War, wants to ensure that all plans to activate a military or health-care draft remain 'on the shelf.'"The draft presents a problem of crisis, especially for conscientious objectors," said Galvin. Part of that crisis stems from the mandatory Selective Service registration requirement for all American men between ages 18 and 26.Galvin believes the registration requirement serves solely as a vehicle to enlist "support for military policies."Brodsky disagrees. "Our answer to that is registration is not military and there's really no basis for being a conscientious objector to Selective Service registration." Galvin's opposition to Selective Service registration requirement doesn't stop with the military; it extends to Department of Motor Vehicles locations nationwide."There's an increasing number of states now that are linking draft registration to obtaining a driver's license," Galvin said. "There are states where, if you haven't registered, you can't get a license or you can't renew your license."And if they don't register by the time they turn 26," Galvin noted, then they are "permanently barred from all federal financial aid, most federal jobs and job training." But, Brodsky maintains the Selective Service System is not on a mission to draft conscientious objectors and place them in the line of fire. "We exist as much to serve the conscientious objector community as we do the military community."In fact, those deemed to be conscientious objectors by a draft board of their peers "are subject to assignment to civilian service in the community," Brodsky said. "It could be with a public-spirited hospital, an old age home, or working in AmeriCorps, working on the farms for the public good, whatever." Although Galvin would prefer the dissolution of the Selective Service and its registration requirement, he realizes that is not likely to occur, especially during wartime. As such, Galvin acknowledged that his pacifist organization and its volunteers "encourage people to actually write up the answers to [conscientious objector] questions now and try to gather something to support it, and get this thing on file with the church."But it's not that simple to get a draft exemption, Brodsky said. "Conscientious objection is not self-determined. A man is not a conscientious objector because he says he is; he's a conscientious objector because he proves he is, or at least shows compelling evidence to a board of his community peers."If everybody had the ability to declare themselves conscientious objectors, it would be kind of like anarchy in a draft," said Brodsky. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/11/12/184604.shtml