Are Women Getting Drafted to War?
The answer is Yes, but let’s first understand the history and progression of women in combat. For decades, women were excluded from the draft due to their protected status in society. Women were believed to be nurturing, passive, and responsible for care-giving. The US military followed the same convention, restricting combat roles to men only.
When did women’s role change?
This narrative shifted in the mid-1970s. Congress passed the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Title IX (the law that aims to protect students from sexual discrimination). This legislation gradually led to the opening up of career paths and access to services for women, including opportunities in the US military. By the 1970s and 1980s, more women entered the military in various support roles, challenging traditional norms.
Womens roles in the modern military
Today, women have made significant gains in their representation and have served in various operational and non-operational assignments, such as:
- Combat Operations: Women like Army Colonel Kathryn Prochor, first female soldier to win the Silver Star, and Navy Lt. Katie Young, a medical officer who spent a tour in Afghanistan, demonstrate that women can adapt to hazardous environments.
- Intelligence Community: Women often hold senior positions in human intelligence (HUMINT), languages, and specialized skills (e.g., linguists, analysts).
Will women be drafted during a male-only draft scenario?
In a potential future conflict, should the President declare a universal military obligation, both male and female citizens, between ages 18-25, could theoretically be included in the drafting process, regardless of traditional roles.
**Table 1: Draft- Eligibility Aged (current)***
| Age | |
|---|---|
| 18 | 25 |
In cases where widespread mobilization occurs and the military seeks to swell its ranks in response, the US federal government is obliged to ensure all able-bodied citizens, males and females, are accessible for selective conscription, as stated by section 1a (b) of Public Law 90-264 (Federal Service-Mitigations Act of 1967).
However, please note that under the 1967 Uniform Military Enlistment Policies (UPMEP):
Military Enlistment Eligibility Criteria
- All recruits must be between ages 18 and 40
- Women are free to select their military branch upon enlistment
- Upon entering a combat zone or other extreme environment, assignments can become more demanding due to service requirements
Some concerns or limitations regarding woman draft integration:
• Potential biases (stereotypical attitudes about women’s skills and potential)
• Different deployment, physical, and situational readiness
• Different requirements, such as different military aptitude tests for each service branch
For women facing the prospect of conscription, the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and mental preparedness for duty becomes paramount in modernized warfare scenarios:
• Medical and support assignments often go hand-in-hand with medical emergencies and conflict scenarios (e.g. Med-Evac missions and search/ rescue operations)
• Some training programs (physical conditioning) are more grueling
• Communication methods can drastically change
When examining how women might transition to such roles, these questions deserve attention:
Can the same standards apply for the physical strength and mental tenacity among both male and female participants?
Would cultural sensitivities, particularly sexual violence considerations, play significant roles?
