Citizen or Immigrant, Latinas May Have to Sign Up for Military Draft

*6,500 women turn 18 every day.  vAS i t stands today, only men are required to register with the U.S. Selective Service. That could change now that all combat roles have been open to women. But that decision will come from the U.S. Congress, not the Selective Service. VL


NBC_News_2013_logoBy Patricia Guadalupe, NBC News

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday is discussing a groundbreaking decision that could have a profound effect on all young Latinas, whether or not they currently serve in the U.S. military.

The committee will look at the recent Defense Department ruling that opens all combat jobs to women, and the possibility that all female 18- to 25-year-olds would have to register for the military draft, as is currently required of their male counterparts.

Latinas are a growing presence in the military ranks, comprising approximately 12 percent of all women on active duty.

Slightly more than 13 percent of all active-duty military personnel are Hispanic, climbing steadily every year and almost double what it was in 1994. Because Latinos are younger than the rest of the country, the changes will have significant impact on the population.

Click HERE to read the full story.


[Photo by The U.S. Army/Flickr]

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