[Stewart]

Just for the fun of it lets pretend they start the draft up again. We are in a conflict (or whatever we wish to call it) like we are in now with Iraq and assorted fun places to go. You are of legal age for the draft, over 18 years of age. You have registered like a good little capitalist.

Do you A: Take a legal deferment and go to school? Your parents have the money to send you to the college of your choice, and yes you have the grades as well.

Do you B: Join the local National Guard or Reserve unit? It is also allowed at this time.

Do you C: Go to the nearest recruiter and sign up for the service of your choice?

Any of our folks on the site are encouraged to chime in, that means you guys from Canada can add your $.02 as well

I think I would take the school option at least untill after I got my degree done and see what is going on. I might consider the ROTC way if mom and dad didn't have the money for school.

What do you guys think? :cheers:

 

[jodyand]

Well school would be out for me had enough problems getting though high school. I would pick C and join the service of my choice. Because the way my luck runs i would be drafted And i would rather pick then it be picked for me.

 

[guest2]

Yea Jody I think you're right. I remember when Reagan started registering men for the draft, I was in that first group that had to, wasn't a very comfortable thought. But if you could pick something where the chances of survival would be better it would seem the only way to go. Another good choice if possible would be to go through school and enter as an officer should be a little less risky.

 

[Live Oak]

If Bush is re-elected you can pretty much count on a draft being activated. My thinking is that there will be NO deferments of any kind, as well as it should be. The big question as I see it will be the issue of drafting women. I think there are a LOT of fathers out there just like me that would not permit or tolerate it. It could be an issue that could potentially unravel or seriously undermine the fabric of our society. We already have a "back door draft" currently being run by the DOD by virtue of the fact that they have instituted a huge "stop loss" preventing service members who have VOLUNTARILY completed their service obligations yet are forced to remain in the military against their will. I was stop lossed about 7 times. It is an immoral and politically expedient means of manpower & personnel management or mismanagement depending upon how you view it.

 

[ducati996]

Originally posted by Chief
If Bush is re-elected you can pretty much count on a draft being activated. My thinking is that there will be NO deferments of any kind, as well as it should be.

This reason alone he shouldnt be re-elected with that you also can include Mr. 5 times deferments Cheney..
Rich mans war, poor mans fight....

Sorry Chief, I couldnt let this one go by without comment...

Duc

 

[Live Oak]

Yeah I realize that there were folks taking deferments to avoid the draft. It was wrong then and it is now. If that draft is activated; I am sure it will be tied up in the courts for a long time. Our liberal/socialist Supreme Court I am sure will find a spineless solution to the issue as they always do.

 

[johndeere]

They should not allow hiding behind college as an excuse.I was to young for Vietnam but my brothers were not.There were some rich pansy a$$ed guys that went to college.Thats just not right and should not be allowed.Also there should not be a draft including women.Im for the draft if the need is there.However the day they do that they better change the legal drinking age to 18 rather then 21.My son was an underage drinker.Many kids drink it is a fact.It is a problem and when they get caught at a under age party.There in trouble and there back out to do it again.My son was caught a few times and went to court and never was caught driving.Just at a drinking party.They were going to lock him up because I was not about to or could I afford to pass money under the table like the rich little punks in this area.So my son as several others in this area joined the service.My son is now 23 he was 21 a few months after going in.However the system is so flooded with this same type case it gets drug out.But many were only 18 or 19 when they joined to avoid the Illinois law that locks you up or drains you of your finances.These same kids are now in Battles but are not allowed to drink.You can be in this situation or have a decent job and buy a house.But if you are not 21 you are not allowed to drink in your own home.I do not drink but there is a seriuos problem with this situation.There are a few kids my sons age that were in the same boat but they paid off the right crook at the court house and are todays Pot heads college 4 year hangover never will amount to anything Punks.So I dought if there is a draft that anything will change as far as rich daddys boys are concerned.

 

[ducati996]

Johndeere,

I agree with you 100 % ....old enough to go to war and die, at least you should be able to drink

Duc

 

[guest]

id probably pick C also..

I was never much interested in the military.. that siad, i am very proud of all the folks serving..
when i was 18 i really considered joining but decided against it.. I did not want that much disipline i guess..

My brother was in the service and to this day is still proud that he served.. but i was not really too psyched to join.

Again, i am not a communist or against military here.. just personally i did not wish to join.

 

[balmoralboy]

Stewart, you know I can never resist a challenge like that. IF, and that is a big if, Bush brings back the draft, I see two things happening. First, as the comments above show, the US will be horribly split for a generation or two. And Democrats will be President for the next 100 years.

Second, the rich white boys who can't escape it by going to college like their fathers did will sue that they are discriminated against because women aren't drafted. These are the same clowns who are suing against affirmative action because they can't get a job or get into law school without their Daddy buying their way in.

In my case, like thousands of kids did in the seventies, I'd take Option D, escape to Canada. And I think you'll find that most of your friend's kids will do the same thing, with their parents approval and support. And if you really think the draft will happen, you should invest in property up here. We're getting about 1 family a month coming to our village from the States now, with the draft back it'll be a flood.

And in Nova Scotia, our drinking age is 19.

 

[Stewart]

I don't think the draft will ever happen again in our lifetime, but thought it was at least a good question. There is not a threat like we faced in WWII in today’s world. That might be debatable with China, but they like selling their products to everybody else.

When I was in school I did just what was required to move on and didn't understand the importance of education. Which by the way comes in many forms not just college. There are Vo-techs, apprenticeships, and even the school of hard knocks. When I put College paid for by parents I was just meaning that you wouldn’t have to worry about it yourself. It could mean scholarship, grant or student loan. If I had it to do over again, I would probably go to collage after high school, even if I had to pay for it myself. I have my associates degree and am working on a degree in elementary education, yes paid for by tuition assistance! One of my benefits!

That being said when I joined the military it wasn't for education benefits, or great pay, it was to serve and see the world. I have learned that there isn't a better country in the world, we have more and do more for people than anyone else in the world!

I am not sure how drinking got drawn in to this but ok, yes I agree if you are old enough to vote, or join the armed forces then you should be able to buy alcohol. Now if you are old enough to do all those things then you are old enough to go to jail if you are caught drinking and driving or being stupid. That should be a new thread!
:beer:

 

[johndeere]

The reason drinking got brought into this is because.In away that is are draft the kids get caught they get a choice jail or the service.Has nothing to do with drinking and driving.

 

[Stewart]

I understand that in the past judges gave guys a choice, join up or be sent to jail.

What a choice, I understand the thought behind it but disagree. Just what our military needs is a bunch of juvinal delinquents. We have enough problems already with people stealing and cheating in the military, lets send more in!!
We spend 90% of our time with 10%of our people.:argh: To supervise and direct doesn't mean babysit and hold hands. We still get folks that don't understand why they can't smoke a little grass, a little x or meth. "but I am minding my own buisness!!!"
So instead of handling these issues the first time in civil court lets just postpone it and let the military handle it. So we handle it with a little nonjudical punishment and end up discharging them a year later. Then they are back out on the street claiming how the military just treated them so badly!!!!!:argh:

Yes I will admit that a little discipline and order will straighten some up, but isn't putting them in the military passing the buck?

Underage drinking is still underage drinking, we have serious issues with this in the military. We still have to follow the laws of the land, 21 to drink. There are some exceptions, there is a base in TX because they are so close to Mexico and one in ND because they are so close to Canada. Those are just the AF bases I can think of.:yum:

 

[johndeere]

I did not say I agreed with it or thought it was a good idea.I mean it as a fact.My son is doing well in the AF and has been in over 2 years now.He is not a drunk or Pot Head he got away from the small town BS.Two of his friends were in the same boat as he and joined the Marines.One is near getting out and did his part in Iraq.The other is on his second time going to Iraq both are doing fine as well.His other so called friends who new people in high places and daddy paid it off.Are either working for peanuts or are in College on the 4 year hang over plan.Many think there kids are not drinking when there under age but they are some just get away with it and others do not.This is a small town and the Barney Fifes turn there head to the kids with the right last name.My son was on the hit list along with his friends mentioned.The ones with the right last name however will never grow up.In away im glad it is this way as it turned out.Because what goes around comes around.

 

[Michael]

.

I will be simple and direct to this question.

The draft? NO WAY AND NO HOW

After seeing the problems of drsftees when I went into the Air Force 30 years ago. I would not want the destruction of morale by having draftees.