[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3598 Introduced in House (IH)]







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) 
 introduced 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 Representatives 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 education'' 
        means a program consisting of--
                    (A) basic training established by the Secretary 
                concerned for members of the armed forces inducted as 
                conscripts or accepted as volunteers pursuant this Act;
                    (B) educational services described in section 4; 
                and
                    (C) such specialty training as the Secretary 
                concerned considers appropriate.
            (3) The term ``between the ages of 18 and 22'' refers to 
        men who have attained the 18th anniversary of the day of their 
        birth and who have not attained 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 Selective 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 Secretary 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 Islands, and Guam.

SEC. 3. BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

    (a) Obligation for Young Men.--It is the obligation 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 provisions of this 
Act.
    (b) Acceptance of Young Women Volunteers.--Female citizens of the 
United States, and other female persons residing in the United States, 
who are between 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 Secretary concerned, the Secretary 
concerned may accept such volunteers to receive such training and 
education.

SEC. 4. PERIOD OF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

    (a) General Rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 
person inducted as a conscript or accepted 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 Services 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 education as a 
member of one of the armed forces for an additional 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 discretion 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 (including 
a State Commission on National and Community Service 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 complete the remainder of the person's 
required service in a national service program.
    (e) Early Termination.--The period of basic military training and 
education for a person shall be terminated before the end of such 
period under the following circumstances:
            (1) The voluntary enlistment and service of the person in 
        any of the regular components of the armed forces for a period 
        of at least two years. The period of basic military training 
        and education actually served by the person shall be counted 
        toward the term of enlistment.
            (2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or 
        midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United 
        States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the 
        Coast Guard Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
            (3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer 
        candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to 
        accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service if such 
        a commission is offered upon completion of the program.
            (4) Such other grounds as the Secretary concerned may 
        establish.
    (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 MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS.

    (a) Instruction as Part of Military Training.--As part of the basic 
military training and education provided under this Act, the Secretary 
concerned shall include instruction in physical fitness, international 
relations, military tactics, homeland security, United States and world 
history, vocational training, and such other topics as the Secretary 
considers appropriate.
    (b) Montgomery GI Bill Benefits.--Upon the successful completion by 
a person of basic military training 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 period 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 induction of persons subject to the 
obligation to receive basic military training and education under 
section 3(a) and the registration, examination, classification, 
allocation, delivery, 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 
questions or claims with respect to determinations of dependency, 
inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction 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 consultation 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 
education.
    (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 section 3(a) and every person 
volunteering for basic military training and education under section 
3(b) shall, before induction or acceptance, be physically and mentally 
examined, and the appropriate local board shall classify the person.

SEC. 8. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.

    (a) High School Students.--A person who is pursuing 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 extreme 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 training 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 enlistment 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 active 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 Academy, 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 satisfactorily continues in and 
        completes two years training therein.

SEC. 10. MILITARY TRAINING IN BRANCH OF MEMBER'S CHOICE; CONSCIENTIOUS 
              OBJECTION.

    (a) Selection by Member.--Subject to such limitations 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 defined 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 combatant 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 Military 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 education 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 personnel 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 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.''.
    (2) Section 691 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(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) Section 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 Authority.--This section does not 
apply with respect to the induction 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 military training and education under 
this Act.
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