The recent terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have impelled the White House to call thousands of reservists to active duty. They have also motivated rumors about the possibility of a national draft.
Heavily impacted by these concerns are college campuses, which are host to a high number of military aged men and women.
The USM community has been impacted by the call for reservists, with five to six students called to active duty already and an unknown number potentially in line.
Depending on the length of time required away from USM, an activated reservist may be required to drop classes, according to Registrar Steve Rand. If a student is activated for a short time, less than a week, Rand suggests the student should remain enrolled and speak to their professors about academic penalties. If required to serve for a greater length of time, the student would need to withdraw but would receive full reimbursement for tuition and fees.
Nationwide, more than 35,000 reservists are slated to be called for active duty, including 13,000 from the Air Force, 10,000 from the Army, 7,500 from the Marine Corps, 3,000 from the Navy, and 2,000 from the Coast Guard.
Many students across the USM campus have voiced a concern about the possibility of a draft. The Selective Service System (SSS), the agency responsible for enacting and carrying out the draft, currently reports an inactive status. The draft is only initiated if a crisis occurs which requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply. Congress passes and the President signs legislation that starts a draft, according to the SSS.
Who’s eligible for the draft?
Should the draft be activated, only men between the ages of 20 and 25 are eligible, with 18- and 19-year-old men eligible in extreme circumstances. Men whose 20th birthday falls in the current calendar year would be called first, followed by men who are 21, 22 and so on. Individuals are chosen through random lottery by their birthday.
Many draft laws have changed since 1973 – the last year the draft was implemented. These changes have led to some common misconceptions, one of which applies directly to students.
In the Vietnam War era, college students who maintained a grade point average above a certain threshold were exempt from the draft. All males between 20 and 25 are now eligible, regardless of college status or grades. However, if a student is drafted, he can postpone induction until the end of the current semester, and seniors are allowed to finish the year.
Although the American military response to Tuesday’s terrorist attacks could require a draft, some people feel that such drastic action will not be required.
“I don’t see this being a major mobilization,” said retired Air Force Col. Ken Stafford. Moreover, said Stafford, “There just isn’t a need for [a draft]. There is no shortage of volunteers.”
Contributing Writer Matt Clifford can be contacted at: [email protected]