83 FR 7080 - Request for Information on Improving the Military Selective Service Process and Increasing Participation in Military, National, and Public Service

NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 33 (February 16, 2018)

The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service (the ``Commission'') was created by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2017 to ``conduct a review of the military selective service process (commonly referred to as `the draft') '' and to consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and public service in order to address national security and other public service needs of the Nation. In connection with this effort, Congress has directed the Commission to seek written comments from the general public and interested parties on matters of the Commission's review. The Commission seeks to learn more about the general public's views on these topics, including what has encouraged or discouraged them to perform voluntary or paid services for their communities at all levels.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7080-7081]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03261]


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NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE

[NCMNPS Docket No. 05-2018-01]


Request for Information on Improving the Military Selective 
Service Process and Increasing Participation in Military, National, and 
Public Service

AGENCY: National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Commission on Military, National, and Public 
Service (the ``Commission'') was created by Congress in the National 
Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2017 to ``conduct a review of 
the military selective service process (commonly referred to as `the 
draft') '' and to consider methods to increase participation in 
military, national, and public service in order to address national 
security and other public service needs of the Nation. In connection 
with this effort, Congress has directed the Commission to seek written 
comments from the general public and interested parties on matters of 
the Commission's review. The Commission seeks to learn more about the 
general public's views on these topics, including what has encouraged 
or discouraged them to perform voluntary or paid services for their 
communities at all levels.

DATES: Comments are due by April 19, 2018.

[[Page 7081]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. 05-2018-
01, by any of the following methods:
     Email: national.commission.on.service.info@mail.mil">national.commission.on.service.info@mail.mil. 
Please include the docket number in the subject line of the message.
     Website: http://www.inspire2serve.gov/content/share-your-thoughts. Follow the instructions on the page to submit a comment and 
include the docket number in the comment.
     Mail: National Commission on Military, National, and 
Public Service, Attn: RFI COMMENT--Docket 05-2018-01, 2530 Crystal 
Drive, Suite 1000, Room 1029 Arlington, VA 22202.
    All submissions received must include the docket number. If the 
Commission cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and 
cannot contact you for clarification, the Commission may not be able to 
consider your comment. Late comments will be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries, submission 
process questions, or any additional information about this request for 
comments, please contact Rachel Rikleen, at (703) 571-3760 or by email 
at national.commission.on.service.info@mail.mil">national.commission.on.service.info@mail.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, Public 
Law 114-328, 130 Stat. 2000 (2016), created the National Commission on 
Military, National, and Public Service (the ``Commission'') to 
``conduct a review of the military selective service process (commonly 
referred to as `the draft')'' and to ``consider methods to increase 
participation in military, national, and public service in order to 
address national security and other public service needs of the 
Nation.'' Public Law 114-328, Subtitle F, Section 551.
    To this end, Congress has specifically directed the Commission to 
consider: ``(1) the need for a military selective service process, 
including the continuing need for a mechanism to draft large numbers of 
replacement combat troops; (2) means by which to foster a greater 
attitude and ethos of service among United States youth, including an 
increased propensity for military service; (3) the feasibility and 
advisability of modifying the military selective service process in 
order to obtain for military, national, and public service individuals 
with skills (such as medical, dental, and nursing skills, language 
skills, cyber skills, and science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics (STEM) skills) for which the Nation has a critical need, 
without regard to age or sex; and (4) the feasibility and advisability 
of including in the military selective service process, as so modified, 
an eligibility or entitlement for the receipt of one or more Federal 
benefits (such as educational benefits, subsidized or secured student 
loans, grants or hiring preferences) specified by the Commission for 
purposes of the review.'' Id.
    The Commission's work is also guided by a series of principles 
issued by the President on April 3, 2017. See House Doc 115-27, 
available at https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-115hdoc27/pdf/CDOC-115hdoc27.pdf Those principles addressed questions raised by Congress 
that are similar to those included below under ``Specific Topics to 
Address.''
    The Commission is required to provide the President and Congress a 
final report containing its findings and recommendations regarding 
these matters no later than March 2020. In preparing the report, the 
Commission must engage the American public, hearing directly from them 
about these topics. In particular, Congress has directed the Commission 
to seek written comments from the general public and interested parties 
on matters of the Commission's review within seven months of its 
establishment date, which means April 19, 2018. This notice and request 
for comments is intended to meet that statutory requirement.

II. Other Engagement Opportunities

    The Commission is also receiving formal input from a number of 
Federal agencies. The Commission's enabling statute requires the 
Secretary of Defense to issue a preliminary report on the current and 
future need for a centralized registration system under the Military 
Selective Service Act, and the Comptroller General to perform a review 
of the procedures used by the Defense Department in evaluating the 
selective service requirements. Additionally, several Federal agencies 
are required under the Commission's enabling statute to offer to the 
Commission recommendations for the reform of the military selective 
service process and military, national, and public service in 
connection with that process.
    The Commission will hold a series of public meetings on these 
topics as it prepares its report for Congress and the President. 
Information about those meetings will be made available on the 
Commission's website, http://www.inspire2serve.gov.

III. Specific Topics to Address

    The Commission would welcome comments on any of the specific topics 
for which Congress has requested Commission input. These are set forth 
above under ``Background.''
    In addition, the Commission would welcome comments on any of the 
following specific topics:
    (1) Is a military draft or draft contingency still a necessary 
component of U.S. national security?
    (2) Are modifications to the selective service system needed?
    (3) How can the United States increase participation in military, 
national, and public service by individuals with skills critical to 
address the national security and other public service needs of the 
nation?
    (4) What are the barriers to participation in military, national, 
or public service?
    (5) Does service have inherent value, and, if so, what is it?
    (6) Is a mandatory service requirement for all Americans necessary, 
valuable, and feasible?
    (7) How does the United States increase the propensity for 
Americans, particularly young Americans, to serve?

    Dated: February 12, 2018.
Kent Abernathy,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-03261 Filed 2-15-18; 8:45 am]
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