“Every American who is physically qualified should register for the draft”, Neller said.
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Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy followed in Mabus’ footsteps, saying, “Yes, I believe it should be a national debate”.
Audio clip: Listen to audio clip.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, agreed with McCaskill that lifting the restrictions on women will help recruiting efforts to encourage more women to consider serving in the military.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Army General Mark A. Milley and Marine Corps commandant General Robert G. Neller argued that as women graduate into military roles previously reserved only for men, they should also register for Selective Service.
President Barack Obama’s defense secretary, Ash Carter, announced in December that the military would let women serve in all combat roles, a historic announcement greeted with intense skepticism by many Republican members of Congress.
The selective service question revealed differences between the military chiefs and their political leaders.
Some military officials however, warned that letting women register for the draft, and having them join in combat, will have a detrimental impact the proficiency of the male dominated combat units. And if they aren’t, should men have to register as well.
But as the Pentagon moves forward with women’s integration, some lawmakers on the Senate panel remain skeptical of the move, including Sen.
The Marine Corps completed a multi-million dollar study in December that found that mixed-gender units performed poorly in ground combat tasks compared to all-male units. John McCain, R-Ariz.
“We have to be successful on the battlefield”, he added, and said he was “confident we will be in the future”.
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Former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor took the stand in a bid by Cosby’s lawyers to get the case against the TV star thrown out long before trial because of what they say is a nonprosecution agreement with Castor. They could be called in for compulsory military service in a time of war. When approved, the plan is to be put into the field on April 1, but how quickly all positions would open is up in the air. The Army will require up to three years to move women into all of its armor and field artillery occupational specialties, Milley said.
