As part of a measure tucked into the annual defense policy bill Congress signed into law late last year, young, eligible men will be automatically registered for the military draft pool begining this December. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This sudden change will make it harder for more Americans to dodge a potential military draft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later this year, our country will renounce a decades-old process in which young men would self-register their names for Selective Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Dec. 18, 2025, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026, mandating automatic Selective Service registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mandatory registration applies to green-card holders, refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those on non-immigrant visas are exempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The policy proposal was made about a month after the U.S. and Israel began a war against Iran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This revamp of the registration process arises after recent documents have shown that the number of men registering on their own had declined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just 81% of eligible men registered in 2024, a 3% drop from the prior year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These numbers raise concern over our military preparedness status, and the effectiveness of potential future wars with a near-peer power like China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 1980, men ages 18 to 26 who are eligible to be drafted have been required to register with the federal government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Failure to register would result in a felony that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being a felon would essentially bar unregistered men from most federal jobs and eligibility of federal student loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The approval from Congress is required to enact a draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about the possibility of a return of the draft, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump \u201ckeeps his options on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There has not been a military draft since 1973, when the U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam was already winding down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The justification of American military service members\u2019 lives in war often centers on defending national security, freedom and domestic values that are frequently framed through the concept of a \u201cjust war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critics argue that the \u201cglorification\u201d of war can be used to legitimize conflicts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glorifying war may sometimes mask political motives with the language of sacrifice, creating \u201cdeceitful myths\u201d about the necessity of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can everyday Americans really be sure that we are not the ones being put into the draft? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are not all \u201cfortunate sons\u201d. It is very easy for the rich to \u201cbuy a ticket\u201d out of being drafted, and it is not fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is to the point that representatives of our country like Mark Kelly (D-AZ) are not even hiding the fact that they will not let their kids go to war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rich and powerful elite get to reap the benefits without putting in anything, all the while they are the ones who have the most to offer to the pot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We the staff of The South Texan do not believe in recruiting people into our country\u2019s military just so that they can be easily used as expendable \u201ccannon fodder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We feel safer with a force of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Guardians who volunteered to answer the cardinal call of duty. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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