This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 02 16 2018 and available online at https federalregister gov d 2018-03261 and on FDsys gov Billing Code NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MILITARY NATIONAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE NCMNPS Docket No 05-2018-01 Request for Information on Improving the Military Selective Service Process and Increasing Participation in Military National and Public Service AGENCY National Commission on Military National and Public Service ACTION Request for comments SUMMARY The National Commission on Military National and Public Service the Commission was created by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2017 to conduct a review of the military selective service process commonly referred to as 'the draft' and to consider methods to increase participation in military national and public service in order to address national security and other public service needs of the Nation In connection with this effort Congress has directed the Commission to seek written comments from the general public and interested parties on matters of the Commission's review The Commission seeks to learn more about the general public's views on these topics including what has encouraged or discouraged them to perform voluntary or paid services for their communities at all levels DATES Comments are due by April 19 2018 ADDRESSES You may submit comments identified by Docket No 05-2018-01 by any of the following methods Email national commission on service info@mail mil Please include the docket number in the subject line of the message 1 Website http www inspire2serve gov content share-your-thoughts Follow the instructions on the page to submit a comment and include the docket number in the comment Mail National Commission on Military National and Public Service Attn RFI COMMENT - Docket 05-2018-01 2530 Crystal Drive Suite 1000 Room 1029 Arlington VA 22202 All submissions received must include the docket number If the Commission cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification the Commission may not be able to consider your comment Late comments will be considered FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT For general inquiries submission process questions or any additional information about this request for comments please contact Rachel Rikleen at 703 571-3760 or by email at national commission on service info@mail mil SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION I Background The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 Pub L 114-328 130 Stat 2000 2016 created the National Commission on Military National and Public Service the Commission to conduct a review of the military selective service process commonly referred to as 'the draft' and to consider methods to increase participation in military national and public service in order to address national security and other public service needs of the Nation Pub L 114-328 Subtitle F Section 551 2 To this end Congress has specifically directed the Commission to consider 1 the need for a military selective service process including the continuing need for a mechanism to draft large numbers of replacement combat troops 2 means by which to foster a greater attitude and ethos of service among United States youth including an increased propensity for military service 3 the feasibility and advisability of modifying the military selective service process in order to obtain for military national and public service individuals with skills such as medical dental and nursing skills language skills cyber skills and science technology engineering and mathematics STEM skills for which the Nation has a critical need without regard to age or sex and 4 the feasibility and advisability of including in the military selective service process as so modified an eligibility or entitlement for the receipt of one or more Federal benefits such as educational benefits subsidized or secured student loans grants or hiring preferences specified by the Commission for purposes of the review Id The Commission's work is also guided by a series of principles issued by the President on April 3 2017 See House Doc 115-27 available at https www gpo gov fdsys pkg CDOC-115hdoc27 pdf CDOC-115hdoc27 pdf Those principles addressed questions raised by Congress that are similar to those included below under Specific Topics to Address The Commission is required to provide the President and Congress a final report containing its findings and recommendations regarding these matters no later than March 2020 In preparing the report the Commission must engage the American public hearing directly from them about these topics In particular Congress has directed the Commission to seek written comments from the general public and interested parties on 3 matters of the Commission's review within seven months of its establishment date which means April 19 2018 This notice and request for comments is intended to meet that statutory requirement II Other Engagement Opportunities The Commission is also receiving formal input from a number of Federal agencies The Commission's enabling statute requires the Secretary of Defense to issue a preliminary report on the current and future need for a centralized registration system under the Military Selective Service Act and the Comptroller General to perform a review of the procedures used by the Defense Department in evaluating the selective service requirements Additionally several Federal agencies are required under the Commission's enabling statute to offer to the Commission recommendations for the reform of the military selective service process and military national and public service in connection with that process The Commission will hold a series of public meetings on these topics as it prepares its report for Congress and the President Information about those meetings will be made available on the Commission's website http www inspire2serve gov III Specific Topics to Address The Commission would welcome comments on any of the specific topics for which Congress has requested Commission input These are set forth above under Background In addition the Commission would welcome comments on any of the following specific topics 4 1 Is a military draft or draft contingency still a necessary component of U S national security 2 Are modifications to the selective service system needed 3 How can the United States increase participation in military national and public service by individuals with skills critical to address the national security and other public service needs of the nation 4 What are the barriers to participation in military national or public service 5 Does service have inherent value and if so what is it 6 Is a mandatory service requirement for all Americans necessary valuable and feasible 7 How does the United States increase the propensity for Americans particularly young Americans to serve Dated February 12 2018 Kent Abernathy Executive Director FR Doc 2018-03261 Filed 2 15 2018 8 45 am Publication Date 2 16 2018 5 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu