I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3598
To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered
under the Military Selective Service Act, and to authorize young women
to volunteer, to receive basic military training and education for a period
of up to one year.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 20, 2001
Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself and Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed
Services
A BILL
To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young
men registered under the Military Selective Service Act,
and to authorize young women to volunteer, to receive
basic military training and education for a period of
up to one year.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Basic military training and education.
Sec. 4. Period of basic military training and education.
Sec. 5. Educational services and prorated Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
Sec. 6. Role of Selective Service System.
Sec. 7. Induction of conscripts and acceptance of volunteers.
Sec. 8. Deferments and postponements.
Sec. 9. Exemptions.
Sec. 10. Military training in branch of member’s choice; conscientious objection.
Sec. 11. Pay and allowances.
Sec. 12. Discharge following training.
Sec. 13. Relation to authorized end strengths for active forces.
Sec. 14. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 15. Transitional provision.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘armed forces’’ means the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
(2) The term ‘‘basic military training and edu-
cation’’ means a program consisting of—
(A) basic training established by the Sec-
retary concerned for members of the armed
forces inducted as conscripts or accepted as vol-
unteers pursuant this Act;
(B) educational services described in sec-
tion 4; and
(C) such specialty training as the Sec-
retary concerned considers appropriate.
(3) The term ‘‘between the ages of 18 and 22’’
refers to men who have attained the 18th anniver-
sary of the day of their birth and who have not at-
tained the 22d anniversary of the day of their birth.
(4) The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of
the Selective Service System.
(5) The term ‘‘local board’’ means a county
local board or intercounty local board established by
the President under section 10(b) of the Military Se-
lective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 460(b)).
(6) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means the
Secretary of Defense, with respect to the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and the Sec-
retary of Transportation, with respect to the Coast
Guard.
(7) The term ‘‘United States’’, when used in a
geographical sense, means the several States, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is-
lands, and Guam.
SEC. 3. BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND EDUCATION.
(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG MEN.—It is the obliga-
tion of every male citizen of the United States, and every
other male person residing in the United States, who is
between the ages of 18 and 22 to receive basic military
training and education as a member of the armed forces
unless the citizen or person is exempted under the provi-
sions of this Act.
(b) ACCEPTANCE
OF
YOUNG
WOMEN
VOLUN-
TEERS.—Female citizens of the United States, and other
female persons residing in the United States, who are be-
tween the ages of 18 and 22 may volunteer for enlistment
in the armed forces to receive basic military training and
education under this Act. At the discretion of the Sec-
retary concerned, the Secretary concerned may accept
such volunteers to receive such training and education.
SEC. 4. PERIOD OF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND EDU-
CATION.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—Except as otherwise provided
in this section, a person inducted as a conscript or accept-
ed as a volunteer pursuant to this Act shall receive basic
military training and education as a member of one of the
armed forces for a period of not less than six months, but
not more than one year, as established by the Secretary
concerned.
(b) EXTENDED TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL SERV-
ICES FOR HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS.—A person inducted
as a conscript or accepted as a volunteer pursuant to this
Act who has not obtained a high school diploma or its
equivalent, shall receive basic military training and edu-
cation as a member of one of the armed forces for an addi-
tional period of up to six months after the completion of
the period established for members of that armed force
under subsection (a). The Secretary concerned shall assist
such members in earning the equivalent of a high school
diploma while receiving their basic military training and
education.
(c) OTHER GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION.—At the dis-
cretion of the Secretary concerned, the period of basic
military training and education for a member of the armed
forces under this Act may be extended—
(1) with the consent of the member, for the
purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or
surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of
duty; or
(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to
compensate for any time lost to training for any
cause.
(d) TRANSFER
TO
NATIONAL
AND
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
PROGRAMS.—The Secretary concerned may
enter into a cooperative agreement with another Federal
agency, a State or political subdivision of a State (includ-
ing a State Commission on National and Community Serv-
ice maintained by a State pursuant to section 178 of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12638)), and other entities carrying out a national service
program described in section 122 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
12572) to provide for a transfer of a person receiving basic
military training and education, upon completion of the
initial military training component of the training, to com-
(f) TREATMENT OF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND
EDUCATION.—For purposes of computing the years of
service of a member of the armed forces, any period during
which the member received basic military training and
education shall be counted.
SEC. 5. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND PRORATED MONT-
GOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS.
(a) INSTRUCTION
AS PART
OF MILITARY TRAIN-
ING.—As part of the basic military training and education
provided under this Act, the Secretary concerned shall in-
clude instruction in physical fitness, international rela-
tions, military tactics, homeland security, United States
and world history, vocational training, and such other top-
ics as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(b) MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS.—Upon the
successful completion by a person of basic military train-
ing and education as a member of one of the armed forces,
the person shall be entitled to the program of educational
assistance provided under chapter 30 of title 38, United
States Code, on a prorated basis corresponding to the pe-
riod of basic military training and education completed by
the person.
SEC. 6. ROLE OF SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Selective Service System
shall administer all matters in connection with the induc-
tion of persons subject to the obligation to receive basic
military training and education under section 3(a) and the
registration, examination, classification, allocation, deliv-
ery, and maintenance of records, of such persons.
(b) LOCAL BOARDS.—Under rules and regulations
promulgated by the Director, the local boards shall have
the power within their respective jurisdictions to hear and
determine, subject to the right of appeal to appeal boards
authorized by the Military Selective Service Act, all ques-
tions or claims with respect to determinations of depend-
ency, inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induc-
tion or allocation for basic military training and education
under this Act.
SEC. 7. INDUCTION OF CONSCRIPTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF
VOLUNTEERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Every person subject to induction
for basic military training and education under section
3(a), except those whose training is deferred or postponed
in accordance with this Act, shall be called, inducted, and
delivered by his local board to the armed forces for such
training at the time and place specified by the Director.
(b) AGE LIMITS.—No person may be inducted for
basic military training and education under section 3(a),
or accepted as a volunteer under section 3(b), who is not
between the ages of 18 and 22.
(c) SCHEDULES FOR INDUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE
OF VOLUNTEERS.—Each Secretary concerned, in con-
sultation with the Director, shall determine schedules to
be used for the induction of persons and the acceptance
of volunteers under this Act and the number of persons
to be inducted or accepted pursuant to such schedules.
The Secretary concerned may phase in, over not longer
than a 10-year period, the induction of persons subject
to the obligation to receive basic military training and edu-
cation.
(d) VOLUNTARY INDUCTION.—A person subject to
basic military training and education under section 3(a)
may volunteer for induction at a time other than the time
at which the person is otherwise called for induction.
(e) EXAMINATION; CLASSIFICATION.—Every person
subject to basic military training and education under sec-
tion 3(a) and every person volunteering for basic military
training and education under section 3(b) shall, before in-
duction or acceptance, be physically and mentally exam-
ined, and the appropriate local board shall classify the per-
son.
SEC. 8. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.
(a) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.—A person who is pur-
suing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis in
a high school or a similar institution of learning shall be
entitled to have his induction under section 3(a) postponed
until he obtains a high school diploma, ceases to pursue
satisfactorily such course of study, or attains the age of
20, whichever occurs first.
(b) HARDSHIP AND DISABILITY.—Deferments from
basic military training and education may be made for ex-
treme hardship or physical or mental disability.
(c) TRAINING CAPACITY.—The Secretary concerned
may postpone or suspend the induction of persons or the
acceptance of volunteers under this Act as necessary to
limit the number of persons receiving basic military train-
ing and education to the maximum number that can be
adequately trained.
(d) TERMINATION.—No deferment or postponement
of induction for basic military training and education
under this Act shall continue after the cause of such
deferment or postponement ceases to exist.
SEC. 9. EXEMPTIONS.
(a) ACCEPTED BY ARMED FORCES.— No person may
be inducted or accepted as a volunteer for basic military
training and education unless the person is acceptable to
the Secretary concerned for training. The same health and
physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title
10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlist-
ment in a regular component of the armed forces shall
apply to persons to be inducted or accepted under this Act.
(b) OTHER MILITARY SERVICE.—No person shall be
liable for induction under section 3(a) who—
(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at
least six months, in any of the armed forces on ac-
tive duty; or
(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the
United States Military Academy, the United States
Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Acad-
emy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States
Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy
accredited State maritime academy, a member of the
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or the
naval aviation college program, so long as he satis-
factorily continues in and completes two years train-
ing therein.
SEC. 10. MILITARY TRAINING IN BRANCH OF MEMBER’S
CHOICE; CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.
(a) SELECTION BY MEMBER.—Subject to such limi-
tations and standards of qualification and selection as may
be established by the Secretary concerned to ensure a
proper balance of trained manpower between the ground,
air, and naval arms, each person inducted or accepted as
a volunteer under this Act shall be entitled to request and
receive training in the service of the person’s choice.
(b) CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.—(1) Any person
who claims, because of religious training and belief (as de-
fined in section 6(j) of the Military Selective Service Act
(50 U.S.C. 456(j))), exemption from combatant training
included as part of the program of basic military training
and education and whose claim is sustained by the local
board shall, when inducted, participate in basic military
training and education that does not include any combat-
ant training component. The person may be transferred
to a national service program, as provided in section 4(d).
(2) A person claiming exemption from combatant
training under this subsection shall, if such claim is not
sustained by the local board, be entitled to an appeal to
the appropriate appeal board established under the Mili-
tary Selective Service Act. Each person whose claim for
exemption from combatant training because of religious
training and belief is sustained shall be listed by the local
board on a register of conscientious objectors.
SEC. 11. PAY AND ALLOWANCES.
A person inducted or accepted as a volunteer under
this Act and receiving basic military training and edu-
cation shall be considered to be on active duty for purposes
of pay and allowances under title 37, United States Code,
except that the monthly basic pay of the person may not
exceed 35 percent of the basic pay of an enlisted member
in a regular component in the pay grade E–1 with less
than four months of service.
SEC. 12. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING TRAINING.
Upon completion or termination of the obligation to
receive basic military training and education, a person
shall be discharged from the armed forces and shall not
be subject to any further training or service under this
Act. Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call
to active service in the armed forces of any person who
is a member of a regular or reserve component of the
armed forces.
SEC. 13. RELATION TO AUTHORIZED END STRENGTHS FOR
ACTIVE FORCES.
The authorized end strengths for active duty per-
sonnel of the armed forces do not include persons inducted
or accepted into the armed forces to receive basic military
training and education.
SEC. 14. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) TITLE 10.—(1) Section 505(c) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(c)’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person in-
ducted or accepted into the armed forces to receive basic
military training and education pursuant to the Universal
Military Training and Service Act of 2001.’’.
(2) Section 691 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(g) The numbers specified in subsection (b) do not
include persons inducted or accepted into the armed forces
to receive basic military training and education pursuant
to the Universal Military Training and Service Act of
2001.’’.
(b) MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.—(1) Sec-
tion 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C.
App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g)
the following new subsection:
‘‘(h) RELATION
TO OTHER INDUCTION AUTHOR-
ITY.—This section does not apply with respect to the in-
duction of persons into the Armed Forces to receive basic
military training and education pursuant to the Universal
Military Training and Service Act of 2001.’’.
(2) Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act
(50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘now or
hereafter’’ and all that follows through the period at the
end and inserting ‘‘inducted pursuant to the Universal
Military Training and Service Act of 2001.’’.
SEC. 15. TRANSITIONAL PROVISION.
A person who has obtained a high school diploma or
its equivalent before January 1, 2003, shall not be subject
to the obligation under section 3(a) to receive basic mili-
tary training and education under this Act.
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