Will women have to register with the Selective Service?
By Victor Landa, NewsTaco
On December 3rd Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the Obama administration’s decision to open all combat positions to women, without exceptions. That means women now have the opportunity to serve anywhere in the military that men serve, in combat, in special forces, on front lines.
The immediate speculation following the announcement was if a change would come to the Selective Service Act – the law that requires that all men 18 years of age register with the Selective Service. Lawrence Romo, the Director of the U.S. Selective Service, says that’s up to congress. “The Selective Service implements policy,” he said, “for that to happen the Military Selective Service Act would have to be amended” to include women. And that would require an act of congress.
[pullquote]Every day 6,500 people turn 18 in the U.S.[/pullquote]The work and the cost will increase
If that happens, Romo says, it would require an increase in his $22.9 million budget. His staff’s workload would double, and he’d have to hire more personnel for call centers and core staff. He’d also have to spend more money on outreach, things like brochures and documents because the number of eligible registrants would double overnight. Every day 6,500 people turn 18 in the U.S., 800,000 Latinos, men and women, turn 18 each year.
Then there’s the matter of re-writing agreements with the 41 states that allow Selective Service registration through their DMV’s. The agreements in place specifically say “men” can register when they get their drivers licenses, that would have to be changed to either “men and women,” or “persons.”
[pullquote]The Selective Service doesn’t set policy.[/pullquote]Any controversy is beyond the SSS
Romo is quick to say that any controversy that may arise with changing the Selective Service Act to include women would be beyond his department’s scope of work. They don’t set policy.
The thing to remember for women, if the change is made, is that registering with the Selective Service would have the same requirements and consequences that apply to men: registering affects the awarding of federal education grants, federal employment, and the immigration processes.
17 countries allow women in combat
With the White House announcement, the U.S. joins a list of 17 countries that permit women in combat roles: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Eritrea, Israel, and North Korea.
Romo says his Department will work with Congress to provide any assistance or analysis they may need. “We’ll work hand-in-hand with Congress,” Romo said,”to move forward.”
[Photo by The U.S. Army/Flickr]
