DoD has not recently evaluated the necessity of the Selective Service System to meeting its future manpower requirements for carrying out defense strategy, nor has it reexamined time frames for inducting personnel in the event of a draft, GAO has said in calling on the department to evaluate its requirements for the SSS in light of recent strategic guidance as to well as establish a process of periodically reevaluating those requirements.
DoD characterized the SSS as a low-cost insurance policy in case a draft is ever necessary, according to GAO-12-623.
It said the SSS maintains a structure that would help ensure the equity and credibility of a draft, for example, by managing the registration of males aged 18 – 25 and maintaining no-cost agreements with organizations that would offer alternative service to conscientious objectors.
SSS officials expressed concern that, as currently resourced, they cannot meet DoD’s requirements to deliver inductees without jeopardizing the fairness and equity of the draft, said GAO. It added that that the lack of an updated requirement from DoD presents challenges to policymakers for determining whether the SSS is properly resourced or necessary. GAO also said that restructuring or disestablishing the system would require consideration of various fiscal and national security implications.