2019 National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service Interim Report: Considering Universal Service, Selective Service and the Draft, Women Registration, National and Public Service Ideas

This important report, released in January 2019, has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. In 2016, House and Senate Republicans and Democrats came together to create the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. This is the first time in American history that our government has undertaken a comprehensive review of all forms of service to country: military, national, and public. The Commission's Interim Report is an opportunity to share what we have learned and take the next steps in fostering a meaningful and robust conversation with the American public on options the Commission is considering and how service can strengthen our nation. As we work to develop recommendations for the Congress, the President, and the American people, our vision is clear—every American, inspired and eager to serve.

The Congress charged the Commission with two primary tasks. The first is to review the selective service registration process operated by the Selective Service System, an independent federal agency— entirely separate from the Department of Defense. Currently, all men ages 18 through 25 are required by law to provide basic personal information to the Selective Service System. The government would use this information to identify individuals for military service if both the President and the Congress authorize a military draft. Our bipartisan Commission was created amid a debate over whether the selective service registration requirement should be extended to include women. This debate began after the Secretary of Defense opened all military combat roles to women in 2015. The Commission is charged with considering whether the nation still requires a registration system, whether all individuals should be required to register for a potential draft, and whether certain changes might enhance the existing system to meet evolving national security needs. The second task is to examine and recommend ways to increase participation in military, national, and public service as a means to strengthen our nation. The Commission is exploring whether the government should require all Americans to serve in some capacity as part of their civic duty and the duration of that service. Separate from that fundamental question, we are examining what motivates our military members, national service participants, and public servants in order to identify ways to encourage more of our fellow Americans to follow their lead. We are exploring how to incentivize service along with what may discourage or prevent individuals from serving. We are also considering how best to reach out to young Americans who might want to serve but are unaware of service opportunities, older Americans who may have left the workforce but have a continuing desire to give back, and individuals with critical skills whose talents could help meet the changing needs of our nation. The Commission is charged with developing recommendations on these two tasks and submitting these recommendations to the Congress and the President by March 2020.

About the Commission * Our charge * The Commission's first year * What We Have Learned * Universal service: an ongoing conversation * Selective service: a mystery to many * Service: barriers to participation exist * Military service: a responsibility borne by few * National service: America's best-kept secret * Public service: personnel practices are a barrier * Civic knowledge: critical to democracy * What We Are Considering * Universal service * Selective Service System * Expanding pathways to service * Military service * National service * Public service * Reinvigorating civic education * Looking Forward

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.