| BLUF, from article below: "In the meantime, more and more young people will take the decision of which wars to fight into their own hands by opting out of Selective Service registration, either by not registering or by not telling the SSS when they move.”
Not if these Quincy Institute/Republican “Statecraft” favorites have anything to say about it:
This should be called “grooming our kids!" In Trump’s orbit, some muse about mandatory military service
"Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a potential Trump running mate, said in an interview that he sees a clear need for measures to boost participation. “I like the idea of national service. And I’m not talking about in wartime,” he said, calling for more Americans to put “some skin in the game.”
"Christopher Miller, who led the Pentagon during the chaotic closure of Trump’s tenure in Washington, detailed his vision for the ASVAB and a range of other changes as part of Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundation’s aspirational government-wide game plan should the presumptive Republican nominee return to the White House. Though Trump has not publicly endorsed its policy proposals, Miller is among a cluster of influential former administration officials and GOP lawmakers who have mused aloud about a national service mandate and other measures to remedy what they see as a “crisis” facing the all-volunteer military.
"Trump has been complimentary of Miller’s performance during his administration and suggested that, if there is a second term, he might reprise his role as defense secretary, a powerful Cabinet post with sway over Pentagon policy. And though the former president has not weighed in on this Heritage strategy document, he did embrace many of the organization’s proposals at the outset of his first term. "In an interview, Miller said a national service requirement should be “strongly considered.” He described the concept as a common “rite of passage,” one that would create a sense of “shared sacrifice” among America’s youth.
“It reinforces the bonds of civility,” Miller said. “ … Why wouldn’t we give that a try?” Under his plan, he said, the ASVAB would be used to identify potential military “weaknesses” and help plug knowledge gaps as U.S. defense leaders size up competitors like China, and devise plans for possible conflicts with a range of foreign adversaries.
“If we’re going to prepare for a great-power competition,” Miller said, “it’s helpful to have a baseline understanding of the pool of potential military service members and their specific aptitudes prior.”
"His contribution to Project 2025 also advocates granting military recruiters greater access to secondary schools, and he’s proposed halting use of the Defense Department’s electronic medical records platform, which he says leads to “unnecessary delays” and “unwarranted rejections” for some people with disabilities or other conditions who otherwise want to serve."
On Oct 8, 2024, at 8:14 AM, Kelley Vlahos via Salon <salon@listserve.com> wrote:
New: Ed Hasbrouck was able to secure via FOIA a Selective Service memo to Congress that shows voluntary sign ups for Selective Service among draft-age American men has gone from 60% in 2021 to 40% last year. This is coming at a time when the Selective Service is trying to automate the process and think tanks like CNAS and their friends in Congress are working to prepare for a future draft. Please check his story out today: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-military-draft-2669344498/
best,
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