What is the backdoor draft definition?
Presidential candidate John Kerry used the term “backdoor draft” in a 2004 speech to bring attention to the issues regarding stop-loss policy. San Francisco attorney Joshua Sondheimer, while representing two California National Guardsmen that same year, stated, “Ultimately, this is about fairness.”Backdoor Draft”Backdoor draft” alludes to the U.S. military policy known as “stop-loss,” developed after the Vietnam War to involuntarily extend contracts of service members.Stop-Loss PolicyThe stop-loss policy has been in use extensively since the 1970s, especially during the second Gulf War, when there was concern about potential personnel shortages.The DraftThe term “backdoor draft” refers to the fact that, while there is no official draft, the U.S. military can draft personnel after their active service contracts end.Service ContractsEnlisting in the military means signing an eight-year contract that includes two to four years of active duty and four to six years as a reservist. When serv