US Army, Marines Chiefs Say Women Should Have to Register for Draft

Forcing Women Into Registration 'Could Take Years'

US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller both went public today in supporting the idea of forcing all women in the United States to register for the military draft, backing the call for such a requirement by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D – MO).

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus also commented on the matter, supporting “discussion” of the idea but not giving it the unqualified support of the other two. The push comes after the decision to integrate female soldiers into combat positions.

The Selective Service Act requires all US men to register for the draft at age 18, though none have actually been conscripted since 1972. Women are not required to register. A number of Congressmen have suggested forcing women into the program would mean more equality.

On the other hand, some in Congress, notably Rep. Mike Coffman (R – CO) have condemned the Selective Service system as a waste of money, and have suggested that the push for equality would be a good opportunity to scrap it outright.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.