Conscription, Faith, and Youth

Sept. 17, 2002

As of February 22, 2003, there is a newer version of this document available.

Will there be a draft?

Whenever the United States threatens or begins military action, this question usually arises. Since the end of the war in Vietnam, the U.S. has conducted military operations in many countries, including Grenada, Haiti, Panama, Iraq, Kuwait, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Yugoslavia/Kosovo, without a return to the draft. Thus it is doubtful that a war on terrorism would result in a military draft, unless it becomes an extended conflict.

In the months following the terrorist attacks of 2001, Selective Service placed several different announcements on its website about the potential for a draft. The current statement includes the following:

The Selective Service System remains in a standby, caretaker status. On Friday, March 15, 2002, in response to a question about the draft, President Bush stated that "the country shouldn't expect there to be a draft." He also stated that "the volunteer army is working ... and people shouldn't worry about a draft."

It would take legislative action by the Congress and implementation by the President to reinstate a draft in an emergency.

The Center on Conscience & War (formerly NISBCO) in Washington D.C. issued an action alert in August, 2002, warning that an invasion of Iraq may result in a return to the draft as U.S. military forces are stretched thin due to commitments in many spots around the globe.

Whether or not a draft is under active consideration, one of the best ways to avoid its return is to prevent a war with Iraq or any other nation.

For updates on developments related to a potential draft, check the following websites:
http://www.sss.gov/statement.htm
http://www.nisbco.org

In December of 2001, The Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001, H.R. 3598 was introduced in the US House of Representatives. This legislation establishes mandatory military service for men age 18-22. Conscientious objectors would be required to participate in basic military training before entering alternative service. This bill does not currently have much support. Nonetheless, we encourage you to contact your congressional representative to express your concerns about a return to the draft. To keep up with developments on this and other legislation in Congress, check the following website: http://thomas.loc.gov

There are government leaders who have argued for a draft quite apart from the current crisis. Articles in the New York Times¹ and the Atlantic Monthly² point to a widening gap between military personnel and civilians in our society. Some leaders believe that the change to an all-volunteer army has contributed to a generation of youth who no longer have a sense of duty or obligation to country. A draft, in their minds, would be a good way to correct this. The current mood in the country may provide this group of people with a window of opportunity to push this agenda. Indeed, Nick Smith, cosponsor of HR 3598 notes that

The current war on terrorism could last for decades and having a nation of men and women...with an understanding of homeland security and international relations is important...Military training and experience prepares communities for potential challenges...People should have some obligation to participate in defending and serving their country.
(See: http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/pr20129a.htm)

Given all these considerations, it is not possible to give a definitive answer about a potential draft. The best way to ensure that a draft will not be instituted is to work hard to prevent war.

How would a draft work?

If the President and Congress would authorize a draft, a lottery would be held to determine the order in which inductees would be called. Those turning 20 years old in the calendar year in which the draft is enacted would be the first to receive call-up notices. Those turning 21 would be called next, and on up through the age of 25 until sufficient numbers were inducted. Those turning 18 and 19 would only be called in the event of a very large personnel requirement.

A return to military conscription may include an effort to draft women. Whether or not this effort would succeed, it is very important that both young men and young women prepare themselves for this eventuality. It is also important to note that current draft guidelines do not provide exemptions for college students as was true of the Vietnam War draft. In a move to make the draft more equitable, college students who are drafted would only be permitted to complete the semester of study during which they received their notice. According to the guidelines, college seniors would be permitted to complete their senior year before reporting for duty.

Those youth who are drafted would be given a physical and mental evaluation. After receiving the results of the evaluation, these youth would have ten days in which to submit a request for conscientious objector status. A limited number of other deferments would also be available.
For more details, see the Selective Service website at:
http://www.sss.gov/whhap.htm

There could also be a registry of medical personnel between the ages of 20-45, and a draft of selected medical personnel. A plan for such a draft, known as the Health Care Personnel Delivery System has been prepared by Selective Service but would not be passed into law unless there were a national emergency.
For more detailed information, see the following websites:
http://www.nisbco.org/HCPDSWWW.htm
http://www.sss.gov/FSmedical.htm

Are we ready?

Mennonite Central Committee and denominational peace staff continue to monitor developments related to Selective Service and a draft. In addition, the Center on Conscience and War (formerly NISBCO; http://www.nisbco.org) in Washington D.C. stands ready to assist. The Center on Conscience and War and MCC are also able to provide counseling for those already in the military who are seeking a discharge.

In the event of a draft, many church agencies would likely offer service opportunities which would qualify as alternate service under Selective Service guidelines. No doubt some of the current programs would qualify. Selective Service is not maintaining a list of qualified alternate service employers at this time.
See the SSS website for more details:
http://www.sss.gov/FSaltsvc.htm

Military Registration Developments

As in the past, all 18-year-old males are required to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Failure to do so is punishable by fines (up to $250,000) and time in jail (up to 5 years). No one has been prosecuted for failure to register since the early 1980's. Instead, Selective Service has used other methods to ensure compliance with the registration law.

Young men who do not register with Selective Service are ineligible for federal student aid and federal jobs. In addition, many states now also deny non-registrants financial aid for education. In the past year a new mechanism to increase registration compliance has been introduced into many states: the requirement to register with Selective Service when applying for or renewing a driver’s license. As of May, 2002, 19 states, two territories and the District of Colombia had passed such legislation.

Many conscientious objectors comply with the Selective Service registration requirement, although many who comply wish it were possible to register as conscientious objectors. For those whose conscience forbids them to cooperate with the Selective Service System in any way, there is help available to obtain education loans. The Mennonite Church USA has a fund which provides loans to assist non-registrants with higher education. Non-registrants wishing to apply for such an education loan or persons wishing to contribute to the fund should
Send contributions, inquiries, and prayers for non-registrants to:

Mennonite Church USA Executive Board
Student Aid Fund for Nonregistrants
PO Box 1245
Elkhart, IN 46515-1245
phone: Kathy Harshbarger 574-294-7523
e-mail:
http://peace.mennolink.org/youth.html

A similar fund (FEAT: Fund for Education and Training) is held by the Center on Conscience & War (formerly NISBCO) in Washington D.C. They may be contacted at: 202 483-2220, or < >, or Website: http://www.nisbco.org

Suggested Actions

1. Intergenerational conversation about peace
   The Christian Peacemaker Registration Form helps youth think about the questions they would be required to answer in the event they were drafted and they wished to apply for CO status. The form is available from many denominational and conference offices, as well as from MCC. It can be found online at: http://www.mcc.org/ask-a-vet and http://peace.mennolink.org/youth.html We urge congregations to use the Peacemaker Registration form as an inter-generational activity. It is important to communicate that Christ’s peace is a life-long journey. Arrange for several adults to share current experiences which demonstrate their commitment to Christ’s way of peace. Invite others to share their conscientious objector stories. Invite youth to fill out the Peacemaker Registration forms. Have pizza! Another useful resource for this conversation is the video Change of Command, available from MCC. The video tells the stories of military veterans who are now conscientious objectors to war. Two of the featured veterans received a CO discharge from the military in 1998. For a brief profile, see: http://www.mcc.org/ask-a-vet
2. Outreach to those in the military, or those considering military service
   In the wake of the September 11 tragedy, military recruiters are reporting a marked increase in inquiries and enlistments. You may be in touch with youth from your church or community who have already enlisted in the armed forces. Others may be serving on active duty or in the reserves. Be alert to what these military enlistees are thinking and feeling during this time. Make sure your congregation stays in touch through letters or phone calls. Times of tension and war can force all of us to rethink our basic values and commitments. If youth begin to question their participation in the military, they may be developing convictions against killing. It is possible to obtain a conscientious objector discharge from the military. Rarely, however, are discharges easy or quick. Feel free to call Mennonite Central Committee (PH: 717 859-3889) and ask to speak to Titus Peachey or Conrad Moore for help with the procedures for obtaining a discharge. Many youth who enlist in the military do so through the Delayed Enlistment Program. Under this arrangement, youth are given a report-date for basic training anywhere from several weeks to a year after enlistment. During this time, it is much easier for a young person to change his/her mind and be discharged. Again, feel free to contact Mennonite Central Committee, call the Center on Conscience and War (202-483-2220) or the GI Rights Hotline (877-447-4487) for help with these situations.
3. Respond to the current crisis
   This crisis is much larger than the issue of conscientious objection to war. Underneath the dreadful acts of terrorism are deep-seated problems rooted in a history of troubled relationships between countries in the Middle East and the West. Somehow, midst our grief and outrage, we must seek God’s grace to address these larger issues. This short list is only a beginning.
   • Find ways to publicly express your concern regarding the continuing war on terror, and plans for expanding that war into Iraq. Call for responses which will not harm others or sow the seed for more acts of terror. This may take the form of letters to government officials, public prayers or vigils for peace, display of peace flags, or letters to the editor.
   • Work with local church and community structures to stand with people whose ethnicity, skin color, or religion may make them targets of harassment or attack.
   • Learn about the countries, cultures and religions in the Middle East region. Learn about the perceptions of the United States and Christianity in this region. Try to understand why some areas of the world feel so much anger and rage toward the U.S. and its policies.
   • Acting together as a congregation may be the most effective way to nurture a commitment to peace among both adults and youth. As you act, you will face questions which will require prayer and discussion. You may encounter risks in the public arena or disagreements among yourselves. Take time to seek consensus, treat one another with grace, and act with courage. In so doing, we will all grow in the peace that Christ brings to our world. (See the Mennonite statement, Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love: Commitments for Mennonites in Times of Disagreement )
   • For information on new initiatives, see one of the following websites:
       Mennonite Church USA Peace and Justice Support Network
             http://peace.MennoLink.org
       Mennonite Central Committee
             http://www.mcc.org
       Christian Peacemaker Teams
             http://www.prairienet.org/cpt
       Every Church a Peace Church
             http://www.ecapc.org/mainframe.asp
       Sojourners
             http://www.sojo.net
       Fellowship of Reconciliation
             http://www.forusa.org
     

² The Widening Gap Between The Military and Society, by Thomas Ricks, Atlantic Monthly, July, 1997.