AS IT IS 2016-02-17 Making Women Signup for the Draft Stirs Debate

AS IT IS 2016-02-17 Making Women Signup for the Draft Stirs Debate

Whether women should have to register for the U.S. military service is being debated in the United States.

Top Army and Marine² Corps³ commanders recently told the Senate Armed Services Committee that American women, like men, should register with the Selective Service System.

The Selective Service System is a government agency that registers young males for military duty in case they are called to serve in wartime.

By law, American men between the ages of 18 and 25 must provide important personal information to the government, such as birth dates and Social Security numbers.

A bill has been introduced to Congress requiring eligible⁴ women to register for the military draft.

Political candidates running for president of the U.S. are expressing their opinions about the issue.

“The idea that the federal government would … conscript our daughters and put them in a combat role, in a foxhole⁵, fighting a jihadist…is nuts,” said Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted¹ Cruz.

Women who were about to become active duty service members also expressed their opinions on women registering for the draft.

Nicole Golfin said: “I think it’s a great idea. I think women have just as [much] power mentally and physical strength to help fight for this country.”

Another new recruit saw military registration⁶ for females differently.

“I’m kind of against it,” said Danielle Wilkins. “I do believe that women and men should have the same equal opportunities, but I believe it should not be a requirement for women.”

More than 200,000 women are on active duty in the U.S. military. Some 150 service women have been killed on active duty in American wars and battles since 2001.

The United States has not had a military draft since 1973, and registration for the draft began in 1980.

Words in This Story

eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something

controversy⁷ – n. argument that involves many people who strongly disagree about something

conscript – v. to force someone to serve in the armed forces

nuts – adj. crazy

foxhole – n. a hole dug for a soldier to sit or lie in for protection from the enemy

draft – n. a system in which young people are required to join the armed forces of a country for a period of service

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 foxhole   

n.（军）散兵坑

参考例句：

• On an impulse he kicked some sand into Ridge's foxhole.一时性起，他就提起脚来将一些沙子踢进里奇的坑里。
• The sentry guard dived into his foxhole and closely observed the stranger towards him.哨兵跳入了散兵坑，密切注视着陌生人向他走来。

6 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

7 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。