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In this uncertain climate, the SSS is working diligently to reexamine its statutory missions, reaffirming its relevancy, and making adjustments as necessary to meet the contemporary needs of the Nation. Several facts come to light. For example, while manpower officials believe it is unlikely that a conventional draft of untrained men will be needed in the foreseeable future, there exist critical shortages of individuals with special skills in today’s AVF. SSS officials consulted with Defense planners to learn that medical personnel, computer specialists, and linguists are difficult to recruit and hard to retain.
There are also fears that the lengthy and repetitive activations of Guard and Reserve members will boost Reserve Component attrition rates. So a principal objective of PIP-2003 is to shift the Agency’s focus away from maintaining a high state of readiness to execute a large draft of untrained manpower and toward preparing for a much smaller draft of trained personnel possessing critical skills needed for military service in a national crisis. Examining all factors, the smaller, “special skills” draft is the conscription program more likely to be needed by today’s Armed Forces.
To accomplish the shift in focus, the Agency does not have to start from scratch. For the last 16 years, the SSS has continued its work on a congressionally-directed “structure” to allow for conscription of doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. The result is called the “Health Care Personnel Delivery System,” or “HCPDS,” which is now nearly complete. It was patterned after the Agency’s existing plan for a conventional draft of untrained men, but would differ in that it would require a mass registration of health care practitioners, ages 20 through 44, followed by selection of individuals for induction to fulfill the numbers and skill requirements the military would need.
It is generally acknowledged that a “skill-specific” draft would be a smaller draft. Accordingly, through PIP-2003, the SSS is looking at ways to streamline its operations and make its processes more efficient, but will maintain an expansion capability to allow it, if it becomes necessary, to conduct a conventional draft.
To assist the Agency in accomplishing PIP-2003, a contract was awarded to Alpine Magic, Inc., a small firm that specializes in change management and has professional expertise in applying business process review techniques to government entities. The contractor conducted formal training for PIP-2003 participants, facilitated program review sessions, and documented outcomes. <more>
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