National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service


The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service is a United States federal advisory commission established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.

Purpose

The commission was formed by Congress to:
  1. conduct a review of the military selective service process ; and
  2. 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.

    Scope of Review

The legislation creating the commission outlines that the commission shall 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 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 specified by the Commission for purposes of the review.

    Commissioners

Appointed members of the Commission are:
CommissionerBackgroundAppointed byPosition
Edward T. Allard IIIformer Deputy Director of the Selective Service SystemNancy Pelosi
Steve Barneyformer General Counsel to the Senate Armed Services CommitteeJohn McCain
Janine Davidsonformer Under Secretary of the NavyBarack Obama
Mark Gearanformer Director of the Peace CorpsJack ReedVice Chair for National and Public Service
Avril Hainesformer Principal Deputy National Security AdvisorBarack Obama
Joe HeckBrigadier General, U.S. Army Reserve; former Member of the House of Representatives Mitch McConnellChairman
Jeanette Jamesformer Professional Staff Member of the House Armed Services CommitteeMac Thornberry
Alan KhazeiFounder and Chief Executive Officer of Be the Change, Inc.Chuck Schumer
Thomas KilgannonPresident of Freedom AlliancePaul Ryan
Shawn Skellyformer Director, Executive Secretariat, U.S. Department of TransportationBarack Obama
Debra Wadaformer Assistant Secretary of the Army Adam SmithVice Chair for Military Service

Activities

The Commission requested written comments from the public on a list of questions it is considering, and held a series of hearings and site visits in 2018 including public meetings in Harrisburg, PA, and Denver, CO. In 2019, the Commission held a series of formal public hearings with panels of invited witnesses. According to documents released in response to a Freedom Of Information Act request, the Commission has also held closed-door meetings and received closed-door briefings. On 13 November 2019, members of the Commission held a conference call with anti-draft organizations and activists.

Reports

On January 23, 2019, the Commission released an interim report outlining the various options. On March 25, 2020, after holding various public hearings and closed-door, invitation only meetings, the Commission issued its final report, recommending that the requirement for young men to register with the Selective Service System should be retained and should be expanded to young women as well as young men. The report also made various other recommendations with respect to the Selective Service System and voluntary national and public service.