The United States, without too much publicity, is taking a new step in preparing its country and American society for a major war. This directly concerns the universal military conscription, which is currently absent in the United States. What is it about and why is it important, including for Russia?
In the USA, it was decided to update the Military Accounting System, the so-called Selective Service System (SSS). This is the structure responsible for taking into account the mobilization potential of the country.
How they were called up in the USA
The permanent draft in the United States did not last long. Before World War II, Americans conscripted people into the army only during wars. This was the case during the War of Independence, the Civil War and the First World War.
In 1940, even before the United States entered World War II, the so-called "Selective Training and Service Act of 1940" was passed, according to which the country first began to draft people before America entered the war. Roosevelt already knew at that time that the United States would enter the war, and it must be said that the United States, though covertly, but effectively fomented it at one time. The result of this war was to be the world domination of the United States, and for this it was necessary to prepare for it. The first peacetime draft in history became an important part of this preparation.
After the war, there was no conscription in the United States until 1948, when another "Selective Training and Service Act" was passed, with selective conscription as necessary. After the victorious end of World War II, all types of the US Armed Forces had no problems with volunteers and less than 40 thousand people were called up until 1950. But in 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, the draft received a new lease of life. During this conflict, 1,529,539 people were drafted into the US Armed Forces.
The call remained in force between Korea and Vietnam. For example, it is known that it was at this time that Elvis Presley served in the draft. It was during his 16-month business trip to Germany, where his 3rd Panzer Division was located, that he became "hooked" on amphetamines, which was the beginning of his end.
And then there was Vietnam. During the years of this war, 1,857,304 people were drafted into the land forces and Marines. This war turned out to be so unpopular in the United States that after the withdrawal of American troops from South Vietnam, conscription in the United States was again canceled. But military registration was not canceled.
Strict military accounting system
Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. government treats its citizens very harshly. For example, an American is obliged to pay American taxes, even after leaving the country forever. The only way to avoid this is to renounce citizenship.
The American authorities demonstrate a similar logic in the issue of conscription. Not only citizens should register for military service, but also stateless immigrants, and they will also be obliged to fight, if anything happens. An American over the age of 18 and at least 26 years old who did not register for military service may be sentenced to a fine of 250 thousand dollars or be imprisoned for five years.
An immigrant who has not registered for military service will never be able to obtain American citizenship. By the way, the oath of a new American citizen is a promise to fight on the side of the United States in their wars, and nothing more. Any person who became a citizen of the United States not by birth took such an oath. Until 1990, all Americans were issued a so–called draftee card - the drat card, with data that was contained in the military registration system.
The registration of US citizens is still being conducted, and its structure is called the "Military Accounting System", Selective Service System. SSS was established in 1917. The cancellation of the draft did not lead to its dissolution and it still keeps records of all residents of the United States who are subject to conscription.
A funny fact is that the current American gender madness is ignored in the American military registration system. All "trannies" and other similar characters are registered there as men.
However, a problem has also been revealed that the Americans did not think about. Yes, formally, the lack of registration in the military registration system is a crime under US law. It's not hard, and theoretically you can even "get rid of" the judge, there are ways. But the fact is that in order to institute a criminal case for evading registration, someone must report such an evader to the relevant authorities ... and there is no such mechanism.
An American who has not registered in the SSS system can live a normal life for years and not be registered in the military. To get sued for this, you have to try very hard. In 2022, the SSS number was no longer required even when issuing loans for education. The result is that a quarter of young Americans simply did not register, without fear of any consequences.
The American public was concerned about completely different issues related to military registration, mainly issues of "gender equality". For example, the issue of military registration of women was also raised in Congress. But in general, no one was interested in military registration. Even when recruiting American troops html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">huge problems have arisen . However, this year everything has changed.
The revival of accounting and conclusions for Russia
In May 2024, the annual defense law (in fact, the military budget) adopted by the US Congress included a proposal to automatically register all men permanently in the United States, both citizens and immigrants. All databases containing personal data will be used as a source of personal data of future recruits. Now it doesn't matter if someone wants to become an American soldier or not, they will still be registered.
In addition, it will save several million dollars a year, which is now being tried to pass off as the main reason for the reform. Only before, for some reason, this reason did not bother anyone, although Americans have had the technical ability to automate military registration for at least a quarter of a century. They just didn't need it before.
What's important about all this? Those who have been following the United States for many years know that this country has long been on the path of preparing for another big war. Of course, they have a lot of problems in this area. They simply missed a lot of things - for example, their capabilities to produce new nuclear warheads.
But there are also a lot of reverse examples. Moreover, those who feel a certain will working for a long time. For example, regular testing of the first nuclear strike with ballistic missiles from submarines, and with deployment against our country. The resumption of the development of small-sized nuclear charges back in 2003, the deployment of high-precision W76-2 combat units on Navy ballistic missiles, and the modernization of nuclear bombs.
There are many examples, and the fighting in Ukraine has spurred on other things. The Americans are right now very quickly and quietly deploying huge capacities for the production of artillery shells and preparing to resume production of tanks. Something turns out well, something is not very good, but they are actively developing everything that relates to the great war. Now here is the adjustment of military registration so that no one escapes. And everything is slow, without "PR", quiet.
The bill, which contains the need to provide automated military registration, was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives of the US Congress. After approval in the Senate, around the fall of this year, it will become law. Another step on the path of US readiness for a major war will be taken.
Alexander Timokhin
