Bill calling for mandatory military service in committee
LOS ANGELES (U-WIRE)— In a move that could redirect high school graduates from hitting the college books to hitting military targets for the 2004 freshman class, one House representative is calling on America's youth to relearn the meaning of national unity and obligation to the country.

The bill, House Resolution 3598 proposed by Representative Nick Smith, would be "phased in" over 10 years and would require all male high school graduates to partake in "boot camp," history/international relations classes and volunteer in national service programs for at least six months starting in 2004.

Students attending universities in 2004 would not be affected by the bill and would not need to drop out.

The bill, awaiting review by the House Armed Services Committee, is a revised version of a bill that was introduced in December. It is one of the nation's first legislative responses to President Bush's State of the Union request for every American to commit two years of service to the country.

The bill requires two months of "boot camp" which includes a rigorous physical training requirement similar to the training enlisted army members complete, said Joshua Sabin, a spokesman for Smith.

The second half of the bill requires a minimum of four months of service in a volunteer program such as the recently established USA Freedom Corps, in addition to history and international relations classes.The bill must be approved by the House Armed Services Committee before an official vote on the House floor can take place.

Under the bill, enlisting in the reserves is not mandatory upon completing the program. The bill does not mention anything along the lines of a draft.

—Daily Bruin

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