We’re Going to Draft Your Daughter to War

What You Need to Know About a Female Draft

Recently there has been a lot of discussion among some of the military’s top brass discussing whether women should register for the draft. The debate comes on the heels of Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s decision to open all military positions (including combat roles) to women. (Quick note: this decision opens up over 220,000 jobs in the military to women, including special operations and infantry). Two House members already introduced theDraft America’s Daughters Act (maybe not the best branding? Come on Congress). If the military/Congress makes this decision to institute conscription for women, is it the right call? Well, first let’s look at the background of the Selective Service.

The draft was instituted under President Wilson in 1917 in order to provide men to serve and expand military power during WWI and, subsequently, WWII, the Korean War, and through the Vietnam War. Drafting qualified young men ended in 1973 as a result of the backlash of its use during the Vietnam War.

During the Vietnam War, draftees were only a small percentage of the overall military force (around 39%). There is not sufficient data to validate or disprove the claim that draftees were more likely to be deployed to Vietnam (except for infantry riflemen being roughly 88% draftees), but there is data to show they died in higher proportions. In 1969, 62% of deaths were draftees. This makes sense given that draftees typically would be less dedicated to both their training and their missions since they did not choose to serve.

In 1980, President Carter reinstated registration for the Selective Service (though the draft itself was not reinstated) as a safeguard and Plan B during the height of the Cold War. Since then, and to this day, men legally residing in the U.S. between 18 through 25 years of age are required to register for the Selective Service. This includes non-U.S. citizens living in the U.S., such as refugees, undocumented immigrants, or those on work visas. Men who are in the U.S. on student or visitor visas are not required to register.

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