Mr. STOKES. Is the post-mobilization option recommended on page 13, the last paragraph, your recommendation?

Mr. ROSTKER. No, sir. I think the statement that follows says that this option should be considered in the context of the international situation. That is exactly what the President did. As you pointed out, this is a draft document which is subject to corrections and criticisms and comments by a number of people.

Mr. STOKES. So that there is no question about what we are discussing, let me read the paragraph to which I have referred. It says:

Our analysis of the various face-to-face registration options suggests that the post-mobilization plan is preferable. Table I shows the responsiveness, number of pre-mobilization, full- and part-time personnel, and initial and recurring costs for each option. The post-mobilization option should substantially exceed defense requirements, employ the fewest number of full-time personnel, and cost the least. While costs and staffing should not be the determining factor, the reduced delivery time provided by the other options is redundant and unnecessary.

The post-mobilization option, subject to field testing later this year, and the international situation at anytime, is recommended as the basis for an effective standby selective service.

Is that the correct statement appearing in the draft?

Mr. ROSTKER. That is what appears in the draft.

Mr. STOKES. Was that your recommendation?

Mr. ROSTKER. I would characterize it as a draft statement that was put out for comment. I would not characterize it as a “recommendation of the Selective Service System to the President."

Mr. STOKES. How do you account for the word "recommendation" that appears in the middle of the page above the paragraph immediately preceding that?

Mr. ROSTKER. This was a draft document that was not intended to go to the President. It was put out for comment through working-group channels. The document is subject to revision, and I think it is fair to say that the Selective Service has always been viewed in the context of its relation to the international situation, and that caveat stands.

Mr. STOKES. Can you tell me how much time went into this draft document?

Mr. ROSTKER. I came on board in the very end of November, and we worked on it steadily over the month and a half that ensued.

Mr. STOKES. When you say "we," who does that include?

Mr. ROSTKER. The Šelective Service staff.

Mr. STOKES. How many people are we talking about?

Mr. ROSTKER. I don't have a count. But basically, the planning staff at Selective Service, a dozen people or so.

Mr. STOKES. A dozen or more?

Mr. ROSTKER. That's right.

Mr. STOKES. Any idea of the man-hours required for this draft?
Mr. ROSTKER. I have no idea of the man-hours required.

Mr. STOKES. It wasn't anything the staff just threw together, was it? Mr. ROSTKER. No, it was not something they just threw together. Mr. STOKES. The staff very carefully reviewed the evidence and conducted the research?

Mr. ROSTKER. The document is a draft, is subject to revision in the first place, and second, it must be considered within the strict sense of how the Selective Service can support this plan. The President

made a determination that, in his view, an ongoing registration system was more credible than a contingency plan. No matter how well the plan sounds on paper, it is just that: a plan on paper.

Mr. STOKES. I understand all that. I understand what the President did. I am not blaming you for what he did. All I want you to do is tell me: are you repudiating your own document?

Mr. ROSTKER. I am not repudiating my document. I characterize it as what it is: a draft document. In fact, most of this document appears as the Presidential statement which was submitted to the Congress last week.

THE PRESENT INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

Mr. STOKES. Would you tell us what the international situation is at this time that would cause you to say, "junk this"?

Mr. ROSTKER. I am not saying, "junk this." I am saying the best position of the Selective Service has to be taken in light of the international situation.

Mr. STOKES. That isn't my question. My question is: What is the current international situation?

Mr. ROSTKER. I think it is quite clear-and it was covered this morning that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has substantially changed the international situation. It is the view of the President that this action required us to go further in strengthening national defense than the Administration originally planned for last summer or last

fall.

Mr. STOKES. Then, you see the invasion of Afghanistan as a threat to the vital interests of the United States at this time?

Mr. ROSTKER. I certainly do.

Mr. STOKES. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BOLAND. Mr. Bevill.

Mr. BEVILL. I do not have any questions at this time.

Mr. BOLAND. Dr. Rostker, thank you very much. You have been a very interesting witness for a fairly long day, and you carried the burden-it is a burden, too. I certainly understand your position. I understand the position of the President.

We may have some problems in interpreting the draft report and the final recommendations of the President, but, in any event, we are delighted to have you. And thank you very much for your presence. Mr. ROSTKER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. BOLAND. Your justification will be inserted in the record. The Committee stands adjourned.

[The justification follows:]

INTRODUCTION

On January 23, 1980, the President of the United States, while reiterating support for the All-Volunteer Force (AVF), called for the revitalization of the Selective Service System and said that he would send legislative and budget proposals to the Congress "so that we can begin registration and then meet the future mobilization needs rapidly if they arise. The President also announced, on February 8, 1980, that he will ask Congress to amend the Military Selective Service Act (MSSA) to provide for the registration of women, that Selective Service will start the registration process later this spring, that the process of revitalization will include the selection and training of local board members, and that he would request additional funds from the Congress of $20.5 million in FY 1980 and $24.5 million in FY 1981 for the Selective Service System to carry out this program.

The FY 1980 Budget Supplement and the FY 1981 Budget submitted to Congress on January 28, 1980 did not reflect the President's decision to accelerate the revitalization of the Selective Service System or to reinstate registration. This report presents the revised appropriation necessary in both FY 1980 and FY 1981 to implement the full program. The tables presented here use the FY 1980 Approrpriation as a base against which to show the funds necessary to revitalize Selective Service and reinstate registration.

THE "NEW" STANDBY SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM

The President's decision to revitalize the Selective Service System and to initiate registration substantially improves our ability to respond. However, the Selective Service and the draft is still in "standby". No one is being drafted and the military is still operating under the AVF system. All that has happened is that Selective Service will substitute an actual registration system for a registration contingency plan and accelerate the process of improving the other components of the Selective Service System.

If activated, Selective Service will employ the procedures incorporated in the Emergency Military Manpower Procurement System (EMMPS). A major feature of EMMPS is that it eliminates pre-mobilization classifications and examinations. After mobilization, and a Random Sequence Number (RSN) lottery, all registrants will be administratively classified 1-A, ready for induction. Induction orders would be centrally issued in RSN order by the Director of Selective Service. After receiving an induction order, a registrant would either report to an Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station (AFEES) for examination (and if found physically and mentally qualified, would be inducted), or would request a deferment or exemption. Requests for conscientious objector status, hardship deferments, ministerial students, and ministerial deferments would be processed by local boards.

2

REVITALIZING SELECTIVE SERVICE

Working within the EMMPS procedures, we can highlight the new standby system by examining six subsystems which make up the registration-to-induction process. The subsystems are:

A registration process that is reliable and efficient.

An ADP system (hardware and software) that can handle Selective
Service's pre- and post-mobilization requirements.

A system for the promulgation and distribution of orders for induction.

A claims process that can quickly insure all registrants'
rights to due process are protected.

A field structure that can support the claims process.

A revitalization of National Headquarters in order to manage the registration and field structure.

Registration.

HOW:

While the President has the legal authority to order registration, classification, and examination, he has decided to proceed with only registration at this time. Both classification and examination would require substantial additional expense. In addition, classification would require the immediate reestablishment of local draft boards, physical examinations would have to be repeated at the time of induction. Neither of these additional steps was thought to be appropriate in the pre-mobilization context.

and

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has agreed to undertake the task of face-to-face registration. The USPS is ideally suited to undertake this task because it is a single command infrastructure with facilities and personnel, and a communication/transportation network extending to every corner of the country. There are over 34,000 classified post offices and the USPS employs over 650,000 people. Postal locations are widely known. USPS has also provided similar services for the Department of State (passport applications) and for the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (alien registration). In 1979 alone, the USPS processed over one million passport applications, and registered over 4 million aliens.

When the registration begins, young men and women will be asked to go to their local post offices to register. They will fill out a simple