Military Draft FAQ

Over the last couple of years, there's been a lot of talk concerning the possible return of a military draft. That shouldn't be surprising. The time from 9/11 to the present marks the first period of sustained military conflict for the US since Vietnam. President Bush has described his foreign policy approach as one of "generational commitment." The more fevered advocates of the "war on terror" are fond of using terms like "World War IV" and "global democratic revolution." The reality of the situation, and the terms in which it is described, certainly encourage us to think about whether or not a draft lies just over the horizon.

In this article, I'd like to answer a few questions that seem to routinely pop up in my discussion and correspondence with others. Sometimes they are posed as the questions they are, and sometimes they are instead thrown out as factual claims which are not quite correct or, if correct, not quite in context.

First, a disclaimer: I am not, in this FAQ, speaking as a representative of the Selective Service System. I am a Selective Service appointee -- I sit on the local board which, if a draft were implemented, would hear and rule upon requests for reclassification by those who have received induction notices -- but this article is my work and mine alone. It hasn't been edited, censored or even seen by the Selective Service System. It doesn't reflect the Selective Service System's views, nor does it represent any official government policy. As a matter of fact there's even a (minimal, in my estimation) possibility that writing it will result in my removal from the board.

The background material for this FAQ consists of questions -- expressed or implied -- I've heard, read or been asked, and of answers I've gathered from personal research into the subject.

Q: Is a military draft imminent?

A: The short answer is "no." The longer answer depends on what you mean by "imminent."