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Clark says he would create civilian reserve
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Candidate
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| Contributor | ArmyDem |
| Last Edited | ArmyDem Oct 14, 2003 04:02pm |
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| Category | News |
| Media | Newspaper - San Francisco Chronicle |
| News Date | Tuesday, October 14, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Democrat Wesley Clark says if elected president, he would create a corps of civilians who could be called up for service in national emergencies much like the National Guard.
Every American age 18 or older could register for Clark's civilian reserve, listing skills that could aid the country in a disaster. Registration is voluntary and would involve a commitment to serve any time for five years.
In times of national emergency, such as floods, forest fires or terrorist attacks, the president would have the power to call to duty up to 5,000 civilian reservists. Tours would last as long as six months. Congress could authorize more to be mobilized.
Civilian reservists also could be sent overseas for jobs like reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Those who are called to duty would receive health care, a stipend, and the right to return to their jobs when their service is completed. Clark spokeswoman Kym Spell said the program would cost about $100 million a year and would be part of the Department of Homeland Security.
In a speech prepared for delivery Tuesday at New York's Hunter College, Clark said the reserves "will reinvigorate America's ethic of service, tap the vast reservoir of skill, generosity, and energy that is the American people, and call millions more Americans to duty." |
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