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Veterans






 






Selective Service System On Permanent Standby: Or Is It

Understanding Government (http://understandinggov.org/) recently published an article about our Selective Service System ("SSS"). Yes, it still exists and is quite operational with an annual budget of $24 million, 130 staff, and a database of 14 million names - names that could resolve the current military manpower question very easily. But the SSS is an agency on permanent standby. Right? Right! Right...

The Current Military Manpower Question

Currently, the Pentagon uses what is called a "stop-loss policy" that insures servicemembers are rotated in and out of (and back again to) combat tours. This policy has by some accounts been a contributing factor to the services' increase in suicides. Regardless, Department of Defense ("DoD") Secretary Robert Gates has called for an end to the stop-loss policy in 2011. This decision, which will end the one policy that has provided the necessary troops for combat, begs the obvious question.

Some History

In 1972 President Nixon ended the "Draft." In 1980 President Carter reinstated selective service registration for a possible future call-up. A call-up that some 29 years later has yet to come. Accordingly, and for going on three decades now, our military armed forces have been entirely volunteer. The regular Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, along with their reserve units and the National Guard... all volunteers.

Today, when a son turns 18 the law requires he register with the SSS. Congress and the President can re-instate a draft should they feel there is the need.

About Our Selective Service System

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the Selective Service is divided into three regions. Once registered, one stays on the 'list' until you are 25. In addition to the SSS's 130 employees, the SSS maintains a 10,000 member draft board should there be the need. Should the need arise -- action by Congress and the President -- the draft would be re-instated using the same system that was used in the 60s... a Lottery.

Being Said Currently

Some argue that the draft isn't needed because our All-Volunteer Force ("AVF") works: "The bottom line is that an all-volunteer force is an important key to the success of the military." "[Our AVF members] have chosen to sacrifice for our nation... [and achieve] high unit morale and high unit effectiveness [because they have chosen to do so voluntarily]."

Others suggest, "You can note from history, that the federal government has chosen to institute a draft in the past, and I suspect that's why they keep the database – in case we find ourselves in the position where we have to institute a draft in the future."

Still others are sure, "There is zero political support for resuming conscription." "That is the simple answer. The generals don't want it. The eighteen, nineteen year-olds don't want it. The parents of eighteen, nineteen year-olds don't want it. The Congress doesn't want it." And they don't think "there is a rational explanation for why registration continues."

Tomorrow's Question

As I wrote at the beginning of this weeks column, DoD Secretary Gates has called for stop-loss to end in 2011. One can only wonder what program will replace it, providing the needed military manpower.

--- Regards, Walt Schmidt


[2009-11-20]

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LINKS
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) New York
Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency
Town of Hempstead Veteran Services
Town of North Hempstead Veteran Services
Town of Oyster Bay Veteran Services Division
VetsJobs - Veterans & Employers
Vietnam Veterans of America Brooklyn Chapter 72
Vietnam Veterans of America Nassau Chapter 82
Vietnam Veterans of America Queens Chapter 32
Vietnam Veterans of America Suffolk Chapter 11

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USC - CFR -- Huh?
And Loyalty Is What – 060501
May 2006 With the Military In Mind - 060502.1316-4
VA Alert on Veterans Affairs Services (VSA) - 060501.1049-4
Re: VA Alert on Veterans Affairs Services (VSA) - 060501.1049-4
VA Disability Case Backlog
VA Appointment Backlog
Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents (Current Edition)
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About the Expert: New Page 1

Nassau and Suffolk Counties' 2.8 million residents, include 227,000 veterans, and reside in the Counties' 917,000 households. On average there is one veteran in every four households. In the Town of Oyster Bay, for which Mr. Walter Schmidt is the Town's Veteran Services Officer -- VA accredited -- and head of its Veteran Services Division, this ratio is even more dramatic at one in three.

The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") NY/NJ Veterans Healthcare Network and its Northport VA Medical Center offers quality medical, surgical, psychiatric, rehabilitative and skilled nursing care to Long Island veterans. Yet, more often than not, when a veteran of any era attempts to obtain an accurate answer to even the simplest of questions, their task takes on Herculean proportions.

For Veterans seeking information, Mr. Schmidt brings to the table his three-decades of experience as a Certified Public Accounting. This, along with the experiences from his own "still a work-in-progress" journey through the VA system that resulted from his three tours in Vietnam (October 1967 to December 1969) and his contact with Agent Orange and other herbicide Dioxins. This contact, over twenty-five years later, caused him to become tetraplegic with only the partial use of his right arm and hand. While now in a wheelchair fulltime, he continues to work a five-day week (from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm!).

During his 30 years in public accounting Mr. Schmidt's name became synonymous with computers, the Internet, and technology. And while today he and a computer are still never too far apart, when asked for the current "words of the day," he will quickly tell you:

"Let no Veteran ever stand alone"

Walter makes the time to assist the Vietnam Veterans of America Nassau County Chapter 82 by editing their Newsletter and Web Site, is one of the founding members of the Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island, and is a member of both the Long Island and National Multiple Sclerosis Societies. He has his own website at (www.waltsdorsai.net) and can be reached weekdays at 516.797.7875

Fine Print:

ABOUT THIS POST: While I am a VA Accredited Service Organization Representative I'm not offering any personal advice. I don't represent you. The information I provide here is for educational and explanatory purposes only. It may or may not apply to your particular circumstances. It should not be interpreted as a substitute for qualified professional personal guidance. When it comes to your own situation, you should always consultant your own representative(s) (Attorney, CPA, OD, MD, VSO, etc.) before you make a decision. 

FAIR USE NOTICE: This email may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. If it does, I am making such materials available in an effort to advance the understanding of veterans' issues. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. And, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any such copyrighted material in this email is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the information for educational purposes. If you wish to use this material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', and it does include copyrighted material, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml).

 

 

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