US Selective Service System wants to wargame the draft - Selective Service System plans a computer simulation to test how it would carry out a national mobilization of American manpower

Selective Service System wants to wargame the draft Article | Archive​

By Michael Peck- Jul 24, 2026, 10:16 AM


Fearing that its new plans for the U.S. military draft pool won’t work, the Selective Service System wants to create a computer simulation to test scenarios for its national mobilization.

The “Readiness Simulation” project comes as the U.S. government is about to change its draft registration system.

Since 1940, men within a designated age range have been required to register with the Selective Service. But under a proposed rule, men aged 18 to 26 will be automatically registered starting Dec. 19, 2026. The Selective Service System will work off data contained in other federal databases.

Questions remain about how prepared the Selective Service System is to handle the change.

“SSS currently relies on manual analysis, legacy modeling approaches, outdated assumptions, and historical datasets that do not fully reflect modern demographics, communications channels, throughput constraints, or operational readiness conditions,” warned the agency in a Request for Quote for the Readiness Simulation tool.

The deadline for vendors to propose their simulation models is Aug. 14.

The computer simulation will explore multiple areas. These include evaluating staffing and resource requirements, comparing mobilization and police scenarios and assessing the operational impact of surge conditions. In addition, the system will “identify throughput risks, delays, and bottlenecks” and support executive planning and reporting obligations.

The goal is a simulation system that “models the full end-to-end SSS mobilization pipeline, supports configurable scenarios, and provides decision-support analytics necessary for leadership, planners, and operators.”

Scenarios will encompass draft registration, selection, notification, delivery and classification. They will also cover the Alternative Service Program, which includes various forms of community service as well as conscientious objectors.

Computer models will “represent MEPS [Military Entrance Processing Stations] throughput, no-shows, medical disqualification rates, claims processing, and ASP diversion,” according to the Request for Quote.

Contractors must be prepared to run the Readiness Simulation while “recognizing that legacy SSS draft data may be outdated or unreliable,” the agency said.

A draft registration system based on data compiled by — and accessed from — other federal agencies is likely to raise privacy concerns.

The computer simulation “shall operate within an SSS-designated cloud environment, use anonymized aggregate data, and support complete Government ownership and sustainment,” the agency said.

The simulation must also comply with multiple privacy regulations.

 

[The Grognard]

Heck, you could go further and start identifying the best, recruiting them for certain fields, such as space operations, intelligence, communications, etc. You could sweeten the deal for the best of the lot by commissioning them as first lieutenants instead of second lieutenants, or maybe a nice signing bonus, or both. A brand-new second lieutenant starts at $4150/month, a brand-new first lieutenant starts at $4782/month, plus tax-free housing and food allowances. Food allowance the same for all officers, housing allowance increases by rank/family status.

We do employ these incentives for doctors when they come in. New doctors come in as captains, more experienced come in as majors up to colonels, can get signing bonuses depending on specialty. Also, as medical officers their promotions are not handled the same as line officers. From what little I saw getting up to lieutenant colonel for a doctor was no sweat at all, but colonel was much harder. Colonels tend to spend more of their time in leadership jobs vice seeing patients, but some will see certain patients.

It also would likely require a lot of revamping in housing, but if the people in charge know how to do things then having basic element block apartments shouldn't be much of an issue to ensure there's at least something that a regular guy would be satisfied with as long as it's fucking cheap. Though if you ask me, it would require a re-orientated vision of what can be done amongst the political elite who still believe in the neoliberal theory of "if it's done by a private corp, it's automatically better than anything done by the government".

 

[AnotherPleb]

Can someone explain to me why this can't be done through the Social Security (I think that's it) and Tax ID's? like simple database export of men in X age range not reported as dead and then have a script to arrange by address tied to the postcode an then a mailmerge to send out "Dear Mr Jones, Carl you are henceforth ordered to report for duty at..." I know there is a method for doing that in the UK with even more data to fine tune it why does it have to be a extra cost to an external service if the state has the monopoly on violence it can't "put out to tender" the contract to the lowest bidder with the biggest bribe.

I'm not an American, so I am in no way at risk of this myself but I have friends online and IRL who would be effected by this and I personally think the draft outside of some extremely edge cases immoral (also exceptions other than debilitating medical conditions including retardation) and utterly abhorrent but the thing that get's me is that they would even consider outsourcing this asking young people to pay a third party to decide there fate, for parents an grandparents to pay to send there son's to a war they want no part in and can't understand why they are fighting. It sickens me that there are even people who'd consider proffiting off it your Children are your Future and spending there lives should not have a profit motive behind it at all.

They'd have to cross-reference with party registration to get the right men put on the front line.

 

[JosephStalin]

It also would likely require a lot of revamping in housing, but if the people in charge know how to do things then having basic element block apartments shouldn't be much of an issue to ensure there's at least something that a regular guy would be satisfied with as long as it's fucking cheap. Though if you ask me, it would require a re-orientated vision of what can be done amongst the political elite who still believe in the neoliberal theory of "if it's done by a private corp, it's automatically better than anything done by the government".

Not at all, system is different. Bases provide housing, but not enough for all families and single officers. Also, some officers prefer to live off-base. We lived off-base during every assignment but one, the last one.

The military has the following calculator for a tax-free variable housing allowance, dependent on rank and family status.

https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/

Since you are a NATO officer assume familiarity with US pay grades, or can easily find them.

You can also look up the zip codes for the various continental US bases online.

The area we live in is one of the most expensive in the country for housing costs, allowances accordingly high. This would be the same for places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, and most of the bigger cities.

A second lieutenant stationed here gets $3030/month if not married, $3519/month if married. That's on top of the base pay.

A first lieutenant stationed here gets $3396/month if not married, $3864/month if married.

A lieutenant colonel stationed here gets $4464/month if not married, $5565/month if married. Colonels and above live on base here.

Imagine what two officers married to each other would get in housing allowances, or two officers who share an apartment. You can make some money.

 

[Breadbassket]

Heck, you could go further and start identifying the best, recruiting them for certain fields, such as space operations, intelligence, communications, etc. You could sweeten the deal for the best of the lot by commissioning them as first lieutenants instead of second lieutenants, or maybe a nice signing bonus, or both. A brand-new second lieutenant starts at $4150/month, a brand-new first lieutenant starts at $4782/month, plus tax-free housing and food allowances. Food allowance the same for all officers, housing allowance increases by rank/family status.

We do employ these incentives for doctors when they come in. New doctors come in as captains, more experienced come in as majors up to colonels, can get signing bonuses depending on specialty. Also, as medical officers their promotions are not handled the same as line officers. From what little I saw getting up to lieutenant colonel for a doctor was no sweat at all, but colonel was much harder. Colonels tend to spend more of their time in leadership jobs vice seeing patients, but some will see certain patients.

Bringing this up makes one consider another aspect of the draft, that being the amount of expenditure that would be required for the ordeal and with the current finances of the United States in mind, the military budget would need to grow massively in scale to accommodate all of the new service members and promotions for existing personnel. The economic ramifications from this could be less then ideal, depending how long a potential conflict lasts.

The debt-to-GDP ratio of America was 106% in 1946 at the peak of wartime mobilization, the debt-to-GDP ratio today is 122%.

 

[Rei is Shit.]

Lots of EU, and even CA/AUS politicians talking about a draft.

Germany restricts movement for 18-40 year old men.

US starts running draft simulations.

Sure is nothing to see.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole 2]

One could also do the Soviet thing and incorporate ROTC aspects in academia for fields relevant to military, like Meterology or Structural Engineering or Systems Analysis.

Marksmanship, hunting lessons and gun ranges at every school... Just saying.

 

[The Grognard]

Marksmanship, hunting lessons and gun ranges at every school... Just saying.

If observing Americans in our woods has been any indication, teach some Orienteering. Land navigation is very important and you don't have GPS available in areas under heavy jamming.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole 2]

If observing Americans in our woods has been any indication, teach some Orienteering. Land navigation is very important and you don't have GPS available in areas under heavy jamming.

I meant it to avoid situations like when that (New York Times?) reporter cried after firing a gun because it was so evil.

 

[The Grognard]

I meant it to avoid situations like when that (New York Times?) reporter cried after firing a gun because it was so evil.

Those faggots exist everywhere. They will inevitably seek whatever exemption they can to avoid doing it.

 

[JosephStalin]

Marksmanship, hunting lessons and gun ranges at every school... Just saying.

Way back when, many US high schools had shooting clubs. In the country it wasn't unusual for students to drive a pickup truck with a gun rack in the back.

Thoughts...just can't see us going into Iran, except maybe taking Kharg Island, that's it. We aren't going to fight Russia conventionally. Not going to fight China on the Asian mainland. Chinese attack on Taiwan would largely fall victim to air and sea power. Really doubt we'll fight North Korea conventionally; if we did South Korea has reserves and is better armed conventionally.

But this draft exercise needed to be done to expose weaknesses in both the Selective Service system and identify shortfalls in the Army's training system. The draft as we know it is primarily for bodies for the Army.

 

[Xev]

Just send Senators' sons and daughters first and there won't be any war.

 

[JosephStalin]

If observing Americans in our woods has been any indication, teach some Orienteering. Land navigation is very important and you don't have GPS available in areas under heavy jamming.

Our ground forces (Army/USMC) and special operations troops would get such training.

 

[DrakosBiz]

Good way to clean up the poors.

 

[DocMorbis]

Someone on 4chan broke down all of the draft dodging metrics of Vietnam. Ultimately, it came down to like 1% were ever convicted, and even less ever saw jail time for it. And the rest were eventually given a full blanket pardon. Oh and the draft destroyed the country at a cultural level for like 10 years.

Never say never. But I would be beyond shocked if a draft ever actually happened. Nobody wants a repeat of history.

Also if a draft did happen there would be many people that would take ages to get fit enough for combat.

 

[Halbschwanz]

Lots of EU, and even CA/AUS politicians talking about a draft.

Germany restricts movement for 18-40 year old men.

US starts running draft simulations.

Sure is nothing to see.

There's been many an anon floating that TPTB have been gearing up for something since at least the start of the decade. I suppose the question is who the hell they're wanting to shoot at.

 

[AnotherPleb]

There's been many an anon floating that TPTB have been gearing up for something since at least the start of the decade. I suppose the question is who the hell they're wanting to shoot at.

I'm thinking Russia or China.

 

[The Grognard]

Also if a draft did happen there would be many people that would take ages to get fit enough for combat.

Lots of those people would likely end up in the metaphorical shaft, instead of the spear tip. If they can drive, they can be made into truck drivers. If they have hands, they can be made into mechanics. If they have eyesight, they can be guards. If they are capable of hearing, they can be signal intelligence.

 

[Leylon Sneed]

Lots of those people would likely end up in the metaphorical shaft, instead of the spear tip.

I'm not but most of my family has been military in the States. Drivers, mechanics, and other logistics are what's mostly looked for, they still have to pass physical fitness requirements, but it's easier to train a guy to pull a trigger than it is to teach him how to back a truck up, or be a mechanic, or keep a clean inventory log.

 

[The Grognard]

I'm not but most of my family has been military in the States. Drivers, mechanics, and other logistics are what's mostly looked for, they still have to pass physical fitness requirements, but it's easier to train a guy to pull a trigger than it is to teach him how to back a truck up, or be a mechanic, or keep a clean inventory log.

Modern combat isn't just pulling triggers. You have to know how to dig a foxhole, maintain radio / light / laser discipline, pack your gear properly, know the local flora and fauna, understand how grenades are used, know how to diagnose and fix problems with your weapon, comprehend a map, not panic when getting shot at, and understand that camoflague is an art as much as it is science.

 

[Leylon Sneed]

Modern combat isn't just pulling triggers. You have to know how to dig a foxhole, maintain radio / light / laser discipline, pack your gear properly, know the local flora and fauna, understand how grenades are used, know how to diagnose and fix problems with your weapon, comprehend a map, not panic when getting shot at, and understand that camoflague is an art as much as it is science.

This is completely flying past my point. The skills you listed are necessary, but can be taught, the aptitude for the other tasks are what's usually selected for. If you're already pretty efficient with a wrench, you're getting a wrench job, if you can keep an inventory, you're getting a warehouse job. If you can pump gas you'll be on an airfield transferring fuel, the point is that you have to kind of not be useful anywhere else, if they stick you in an infantry platoon and expect you to pull a trigger.