Will women be eligible for draft after combat ban is lifted?

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I'm fully committed to implementing the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

And doing everything possible under current law provide equal benefits to the families of all all our service members and their families.

Our work with the service chiefs -- we officially open combat positions to women a decision I strongly support.

When I was secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel speaking at his confirmation hearing this morning and you heard it he strongly supports allowing women into combat positions.

But the Pentagon's new move could open the door to women now being eligible for the draft something I didn't hear a lot about last week.

Meaning your daughter niece sister.

Might soon be required to register with the government at age eighteen and may one day be called against her will.

To serve this country in a war.

-- except as a CEO of concerned veterans for America.

And also with us now is colonel Martha -- -- a retired air force pilot and the first American woman to fly in combat since the lifting of the prohibition.

Against women in combat 91 think you both so much for being here.

Carlos Williams I I watched your interview with Chris Wallace we played a summit before we went to break -- you saying you know and yes that is a possible.

Consequence of opening up these roles and that was not talked about last week and I think a lot of women who are not in the armed services want you.

And other women who choose to be in the armed services to have the equal rights that you want.

And yet when used when -- Phrase it another way which is okay so that means.

All the little girl sitting at home right now with their moms are going to be potentially eligible for a draft if we have to re institute institute one.

Because of you because you -- -- you wanted to be in the military you want -- certain roles but maybe our daughters don't want to and we don't want you opening that door for them.

Your thoughts to women who are thinking that way.

Well first of all the selective service -- up to congress whether they want to change it or how that's gonna be instituted in the future so.

You know on their -- possible out there now as I was and -- said and said hey we should even be just getting rid of this altogether but given the fact that right now we are tying citizen obligation.

To registering your information so that if needed in any sort of national emergency you could be called up to serve.

There's no reason given that now no restrictions on women in the military that women should not also.

Be considered to register keep in mind that combat troops are less than 10% of our entire military.

There's all sorts of positions in the military that if that nation's security is at stake.

Whether it's cyber warriors legislation's -- the medical field.

That we would maybe need to use -- navy term have all hands on deck so this gets into a very emotional argument very quickly about.

Why we shouldn't allow women to be serving in the military and and their four -- maybe they shouldn't be registering but the bottom line is if we're tying citizenship obligations.

To.

The the ability to defend in whatever capacity you're capable then the restrictions should probably be lifted the.

-- -- in the meantime though we haven't we haven't included girls in the mandatory registration process at age eighteen to 25 and yet now repeated his potential.

That we -- -- write to congress would now have to pass a law to to sort of make law with a -- the Pentagon's policy.

Would do but that's the normal course of -- I want our viewers know what normally happens with a hand the Pentagon has -- -- a policy is they create a report that senator and a congressman congress acts based on that.

Recommendation that they received from the Pentagon the joint chiefs are behind it.

The Defense Secretary is behind it so is the new guy coming in.

You tell me I mean are women sitting at home and father sitting at home with a little girls that they needed to preparing themselves to have there.

There soon to be eighteen year -- registering for a draft.

I don't know -- something that like that would happen but I know a lot of mothers and -- a father of two ways of I had daughters I don't think I would want them.

To be compelled -- -- Euro -- lawyer Megan.

You know that any argument taken to its logical extent to sometimes doesn't look as good as when you're you're making that initial argument.

Equality is important that military 6 o'clock I was that's -- still -- National Guard.

And I I've worked with women see what they bring to the fight incredible contributions and -- -- -- across as far as promotion.

And access wherever possible equality is cherished.

However when when you shifted into mandatory service for both men and women at the age of eighteen.

I think it makes people's.

Is the hair on record -- -- -- up a little -- to think about their four little girls and whether or not they would be compelled to do something we've got more than enough.

A man who could be I went to school -- three roommates none of which serve all our patriotic would would serve if asked.

And and compelled in a draft scenario and more than enough women like colonel -- Sally who have raised their right hand to serve and defend this nation are terribly.

That I don't think it would be necessary to to selectively.

Bring in both males and.

But you wanna say this that that there is no draft and how this country got rid of it 1973.

But that doesn't exactly come back we're obviously a very tumultuous time.

And one doesn't know what.

Our enemies have planned for us in the future and whether we might find ourselves in another situation where future president needs to reinstitute the draft as Jimmy Carter tried to do.

Later on it I want to ask you colonel -- is a 196000.

Women were told about in in active duty military personnel.

They make up about 114% of the one point four million.

You know that is there something strange about having you know this this policy change to protect about 200000 women that's going to affect.

Potentially I don't know we have a 135 million women in the country right now.

Not all of them are age eighteen but it seems like -- here.

Change from their families you know -- this changes nothing injured protecting women Solis is sort of change that argument first of all I would hope there's mothers and fathers at home.

They don't wanna see -- sons.

Drafted in the military right but if you know we -- national emergency we have shown in our history every -- needs to contribute in whatever capacity that they bring to the fight so that's what we're talking about in this team does not so -- -- 1000 women.

Our -- given something like you're trying to allude to this is about making sure we have the most capable qualified fighting force and that we.

Let's and that's why pick the best person for the job I'm not allowed to go but up -- -- the chance to respond to -- district are going.

I'll pick up again and repeat except Pete.

And the response for a lot -- this concern is -- look you know look at Israel they have men and women serving equally in the military -- there has been without incident what would be so different forget just women in combat here -- -- last week's debate but what will be so different in this country.

If we did you know god -- have to have a draft where our sons and daughters both both were told they have to go fight -- had to do it along you know on a jet other gender.

I I don't think it's -- gonna happen or be necessary.

But I think from work -- Sally and I are coming from just different perspectives.

She flew an 810 incredible aircraft in combat in the air farce and in the air force positions are open in 99%.

Of everyone in the air force are only a few special ops units not available to women so there's a ton of equality.

You in that sense in the air force in the army I'm against human.

We had units that had had a different job to do not more important just different and on the ground the requirements of impeachment -- physical requirements.

Are a little bit different and so when you draw these distinctions it's not about not having women in combat women have been in comment -- excel he's been in combat.

They had acted valor -- there's a difference between being in combat.

And proactively being put into offensive operations in units that -- sustained combat over days weeks months and years.

That's a different distinction has nothing to do -- equality you're discrimination.

Has everything to do with combat effectiveness and that's the core of the argument I think.

That that's where we should keep that conversation a lot of people -- -- the to combat vs combat positions it's a very important distinction.

I've I've been doing it myself so thank you for that colonel let me ask you this for somebody like me a layperson with without you know any military experience.

I can understand -- somebody like -- somebody so brave and fit and you know desirous of going into the military career.

Could handle this you know who who could could go into the situation and defend -- country and doing willingly and professionally.

-- -- -- picture you know kids look at today's let's just say change tomorrow and you know eighteen year old tomorrow had to go register and they got really have draft.

And the young girls who are not socialized at all that raised at all to have these read it inter mixing with boys and with men in this fashion.

Suddenly they have to go and they have to be in -- It's like I just can't picture I can't picture this happening in his successful non stressful way.

Sir.

And keep in -- -- any amendment right now are not qualified for these positions as well in 2009 the Pentagon estimated 75%.

Of -- -- eighteen to 24.

Did not meet our requirements to be the military and that's high school diploma.

Aptitude test scores medical issues.

I got against city and my -- and yes -- absolutely end again also criminal records so this is about making sure that we are recruiting from the largest pool of that I -- -- -- kind of -- decide how would it work coming UPI hospital thinking that the eighteen year old girls -- out there right now but suddenly just be drafted and they conserve our military will be just fine if that weren't the case.

Look there's -- eighteen year old boys who would not fit in that circumstance as well also the point you're not you're -- I say I would be hard and beat the other treatment would also be hard so it's it's no additional stress on the military.

It is the issue is to not be totally inclusive for all -- -- all -- -- qualified for this.

And therefore no women are it's about looking at America as a whole scene -- people's qualifications.

Are to include physical strength plus aptitude and other things.

And having them serve where -- best fit and your best increase our national security is about treating people as individuals as out of large.

Classes of people.

And making gross generalizations about that class of people all women -- this way and all -- of their for this way okay let's not think about your debate both of your facts is that it was really -- has been doing a good job both of you and represented both sides of thanks for being here.

-- the trains left the station wagon it's happening so let's just make sure we continue to have the best writing I just gotta be honest I've got a lot of mothers their homes and keep my daughter after train.

And I -- -- not inevitable.

Congress I -- a lot of science that's not my sorry I have to -- on the train that that's been decided long ago but the daughters is new kernel that's new.

I -- -- disagree.

I think you -- so much for being here -- --

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Will women be eligible for draft after combat ban is lifted?

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