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[House Document 115-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

115th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 115-27
 
    PRINCIPLES FOR REFORMING THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE PROCESS

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 THE PRINCIPLES FOR REFORMING THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE PROCESS, 
             PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW 114-328, SEC. 555(c)(1)

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    April 4, 2017.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
         Committee on Armed Services and ordered to be printed
         
                                 ______

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

69-011                         WASHINGTON : 2017          
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
To the Congress of the United States:
    I transmit herewith Principles for Reforming the Military 
Selective Service Process, in accordance with section 555 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114-328), which calls for the President to 
establish principles for reform of the military selective 
service process in support of the National Commission on 
Military, National, and Public Service.

                                                   Donald J. Trump.
    The White House, April 3, 2017.

    Principles for Reforming the Military Selective Service Process

    Sections 551-557 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 established the National Commission on 
Military, National, and Public Service. Section 555(c) requires 
the President to provide the Commission and the Congress with 
principles to guide the Commission's review and 
recommendations.
    Our Nation requires a strong military for our security and 
for the defense of American values and our interests abroad. 
While we have successfully transitioned from a conscripted to 
an All-Volunteer Force comprised of Active Duty, Reserve, and 
National Guard personnel, and backed up by a program of 
selective service to meet emergency manpower requirements, 
sustaining this force requires prudent management.
    The Nation must be ever mindful of the unpredictable global 
security environment that requires an effective and efficient 
means to provide manpower to the national security community, 
including military and non-military support in a national 
emergency. Historically, the Nation has maintained Selective 
Service registration to provide a hedge against the catastrophe 
not yet anticipated. Registration is a means to sustain 
preparedness, while also reminding youth that public service is 
a valued part of United States citizenship.
    In conducting the Commission's review and in developing 
recommendations, the Commission should ensure close examination 
of all areas outlined in section 551(b) to include the need for 
a military Selective Service process; the means by which to 
foster a greater attitude, ethos, and propensity for military 
services among United States youth; the feasibility and 
advisability of modifying the Selective Service process to 
leverage individuals with critical skills for which the Nation 
has a need without regard to age or sex; and the feasibility 
and advisability of tying the Selective Service process to 
eligibility or entitlement for certain Federal benefits.
    The Commission's recommendations and analysis for 
sustaining and/or modernizing the Selective Service process 
should be based upon the principles outlined in sections 
555(c)(2). The Commission's recommendations should also be 
guided by the following principles established by the 
President:
    1. The Nation must prepare to mitigate an unpredictable 
global security and national emergency environment and to 
provide manpower by which the agencies responsible for 
military, national, or public service requirements can 
identify, recruit, and employ individuals from the entire 
population with skills necessary to augment existing manpower 
within those agencies.
    2. The Nation benefits from citizens who value civic 
responsibility and service. Any system, process, or program 
should assist the government in fostering conditions that 
afford opportunities and pathways to service for persons able 
to employ those critical skills necessary to augment skill sets 
during conflict or national emergency, including creating 
opportunities to incentivize volunteerism.
    3. Any system, process, or program used to identify, 
register, access, and employ individuals to augment the 
existing federal civilian sector, military, and private sector 
(including the non-profit sector) should draw upon the Nation's 
diversity by ensuring qualified United States youth across all 
demographics have the opportunity to participate in military, 
national, and public service.
    4. Any system, process, or program used to identify, 
recruit, and employ additional skill sets should be effective 
in times of peace, war, and other levels of conflict or 
emergency response. Associated initiatives, systems, and 
processes must be seamless, robust, and able to expand and 
contract as needed. They also should ensure the means to create 
pathways through service that leverages enhanced, empowered, 
and experienced expertise across the spectrum of science, 
technology, engineering, mathematics, national security, cyber 
linguistics and foreign language, education, health care, and 
the medical professions.
    5. Any system, process, or program should assist in 
incentivizing military, national, and public service, as well 
as exposing the opportunities for critical education and 
technical training opportunities via the U.S. Armed Forces, 
federal and private sector, and volunteerism that set 
conditions to advance individual engagement; academic and 
technical development; and engagement in industry that leads to 
a well-rounded and contributory society.
    6. Any system, process, or program used to identify, 
register, access, and employ individuals for the purpose of 
sustaining or augmenting the military, national, or public 
service must be grounded in fiscal sustainability to ensure its 
long-term viability and reliability to the Nation. It should 
also utilize best practices based on existing public and 
private sector systems/processes.
    Together, these principles form a useful foundation to 
guide the Commission's review and development of 
recommendations with respect to the Selective Service process 
and means to increase participation in public service to 
support the needs of the Nation.

                                  [all]
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