If you were drafted, how would you respond?

This question may also apply to what you would do if you have draft age children.

On edit: This question should be understood as applying to the current war with Iraq and George W. Bush's obvious plans for future wars of conquest.

However, I volunteer for the Underground Railroad!

I'm 197 years old. They won't draft me until Kansas is speaking Farsi.

Maybe a bit flattered?

of course i'm old (48) and diabetic and...

well, i suppose * would let me take a bullet as long as I don't take it.....

I would judt tell em like it is!

I'm gay, although I suspect they'll forget about that if they reinstate the draft..... I may be too old though, I'm 25 now, and I suspect by the time a draft got up and running, I'd be too old, though I am not sure what age is the upper limit.

avtar

an excuse that's reality

and a link to let others know about the regulations regarding 'sole surviving sons' and the draft...

http://www.sss.gov/FSsurviv.htm

I'm an only child too.

<snip>
Contrary to popular belief, "only sons," "the last son to carry the family name," and "sole surviving sons" must register and they can be drafted. However, they may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.

Provisions regarding the survivors of veterans were written into Selective Service law after World War II. Details have varied over the years, but the basic premise remains the same; where a family member has been lost as a result of military service, the remaining family members should be protected insofar as possible.

It is important to keep in mind that the provisions are directly related to service-connected deaths. The mere fact that a man is the only child or only son does not qualify him for consideration - he must be the survivor of one who died as a result of military service.

<more>

http://www.sss.gov/FSsurviv.htm

The fattening of America may inadvertly put the breaks on the neocon agenda.

but really, I don't believe a draft belongs in a civilized, democratic society.

If there was a war that I believed in and a genuine threat to America I would volunteer.

The fact that I was (hypothetically) drafted implies that I didn't support the war enough to volunteer and therefore I would go to jail in protest.

after i finish college (in 2006) i've been considering joining the military (Air force most likely), unless of course shrub resteals 2004, then they'll have to send me a draft notice before I enlist

on edit: spelling

Don't have to worry about that, drug test me now and I will fail.

completely disobey the drill sargent... or purposely fail the marksmanship test...

or organize some sort of protest... get it on out to the white house and burn the draft letters at the gates of the white house.

-LK

I'd be very suprised, because right now, I'm one catagory above perminantly disabled and besides, I've already done my 20...

If my 11 year old stepdaughter was draft age and they were looking to re-instate the draft, chances are that since we live in SanDag, our family would be looking to moved down Baja way by now.
Either that, or moving in with my folks up Seattle way while we look to getting a job in Vancouver or Victoria.

Haele

I did enough damage to that country during the first gulf war I dont need to do any more.

I was drafted and I went to war. War is Hell ~ Truly.

The way I see it those are the only two that would seem to be enough of a lock on staying out. I've heard that often the standards are relaxed during times when they need soldiers so gay or drugs might be overlooked by the board. Similarly they may not believe the fraudulent doctor and insist on checking themselves. CO, once again I could see them rejecting or just plain not acknowledging it. I'd first go for an academic deferment, but I hear those are not as generous as they once were (only last until end of academic year rather than until graduation) My parents had a friend who had a pizza each night for dinner to dodge the draft and then lost the weight when he was safe, that doesn't sound too bad. Better than an injury which would stay with me forever. On the other hand they might just send me to fatty boot camp, so an injury would be the most certain way out. Maybe a hernia, or take off a few toes. Anyone know how bad an injury I'd need?

Of course, I'm not overweight enough, they'd just make me miss sleep and run extra with R. Lee Ermey riding my ass.

By that, I mean I would do the following:

First, I would have my rich dad get me into a local service where I barely have to show up or do any work, and will never have to even leave the country, let alone see combat. Then, I would train as a pilot. I would then do a ton of drugs, and actually fail my drug test, therefore getting my flight privelages revoked. Once that happens, I will just stop showing up. Maybe I will run for office somewhere while I am supposed to be showing up for military duty, who knows.
Once the whole mess is over, I will start several failed companies, have Saudis sponsor me as a business partner, purchase an MBA from a respected University, do more cocaine than the origional cast of SNL, buy a baseball team and force the public to fund my brand new stadium, run for governor and execute as many prisoners as possible (I may even mock and ridiclue them), and finally run for president.

ROFLMAO!

I prefer Cheney's "I've got bigger fish to fry!" response.

Lets just say that it would be a bad idea for Bush to take a bunch of people who hate him, group them together and force them to go to war so he can make profits, and then give them guns. It has bad idea written all over it.

I spent nine years in the Army. I'll be 43 in December. 43-9=34. They take your years of prior service and subtact it from your real age to determine if you're still under the max enlistment age. But, being as I'm almost 43, I've forgotten what the max age is! Doesn't matter anyway. I'm female.

I have four sons. 25, 24, 19, 14. My oldest is a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, now serving in Afghanistan. If there were a draft, for say, Iraq, or some other PNAC misadventure. I would probably try to get my younger boys out of the country, if they didn't want to serve. If the draft were for purposes of REALLY protecting OUR country, I wouldn't try to influence them in any way. BUT, if we were involved in a war in which OUR country needed to REALLY be defended, I would volunteer to serve again myself.

Kimber Scott

I'm really not eligible. I've got Crohn's Disease, which makes me a really bad investment for the military. I have to have a lot of drugs to keep my colon from destroying itself, and I'm more likely to have a medical discharge.

Damn. A crying shame, too.

I'm a gay man who's in remission from a nasty bout of cancer. I also have asthma, and I'm a conscientious objector.

I'd be busy working to ensure that friends and family members are safe. And working to throw the bums out of office.

The oldest is 31 and he served 8 yrs, Army and Calif. National Guard, two yrs in the reserves, he is now out completely, thanks goodness! My other son just turned 26, so hopefully he won't be affected by a draft. I do know this, I don't blame any parent of draft age children for wanting to protect their children(by whatever means possible/necessary) from dying to protect the oil interests of the warmongers who are currently in charge.

I've noticed a lot of people think maybe the fact they're fat, or on dope, or gay might keep them out of the service. I have a feeling, were the draft to be reinstated, those things won't matter. Fatness can be fixed. Potheads can be cleaned up and gay just won't be an issue.

How bad do I have to hurt myself? I think I'd be willing to loose a few inches off of one of my feet. I really wouldn't want to put my left hand in a mulcher or something like that.

I volunteered

4-A: inelegible to serve due to current active service; soon to shift to 4-C: ineligible to serve due to retirement from active service.

I can't be 'drafted', however I can be 'reactivated'. Retirees are technically 'inactive reserve' for 10 years.

...he is 13.
he is not serving in any Bush-induced conflict, no matter what.

I mean, 20% of Americans already occaisionally smoke pot. It stays in your system for a while. I could just see the straight laced young people who had never considered pot asking the known stoners for some so they'd avoid the draft. I really think that most of the draftees who didn't want to serve would end up testing positive this way. More likely, I don't think that a positive pot or most other drug test would be a disqualifier for the draft.

Better to go to jail for telling them to stuff their war up their asses than start smoking pot so you can go to jail.

I suppose that they could make some law that would make it illegal to have metabolites of a drug in your system, especially for the draft exam. I believe that only possession and possibly public intoxication are illegal. Marijuana metabolites are present long after you are high so you wouldn't have to be intoxicated or in possession of anything at the time of your test.

I have nothing better to do. j/k
Actually, if I find a way out, they'll have to find some poor 18 year old kid who doesn't know how to get out of the situation to take my place.

And if there was a draft, up to the day they draft me, I'd spend my time working with lower income youth informing them of their options in wiggling out of the draft.

I can't be drafted because I am IRR. I'd get activated. If they want a out of shape, color-blind 38A, I'll need time to shave, get my Nexium perscription filled, and cross-train for about three months.

I'd fail the physical due to some pre-existing health conditions. Although I'm on the old side now (34), I know that it's still possible to get drafted in a long-term situation.

I have a great-uncle who was drafted during WWII. He was 38 years old, recently married, with no kids (he was my great-aunt's husband). Even though he was "old", he was still called up and put into service in the Army as a rifleman. He died in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.

So old you old fellas, watch out, especially if you're childless (like me). You STILL could get drafted, if we have yet another excuse for a war...

I just looked it up. So, you're still - as they say in the Army -"Good to Go!"

although we have made our feelings known should it happen. I would prefer him to apply for CO status, but I don't know if he has the fortitude for it. He would probably just cave and go. His mom (lives out of state) thinks the military is just dandy.

and then ask them to show me Bush's, Rummy's, KKKarl's, and Condi's papers. (Even if they gave Georgie Boy his paper, he's still a wartime deserter IMHO.)

But if I wasn't,I would get the hell out of the US. Maybe I could come back later,maybe I couldn't,that's just a chance I'd have to take.

I served when I was a youngster and am proud of my service.However,I would not participate in this Goddamn war to make some fat robber barons rich.

and I declined to serve, burned my draft card, entered the underground, and spent lots of time at draft boards helping others go underground too.

I was caught and ended up in Government service to attone for my sins. Good Lawyer. Bad move for the US Govt.

I went, was lucky, never left the states(except to Mexico). But, I was hopelessly uninformed. If I had it to do over I wouldn't have gone. The poll shows how this government will always be able to get all the "souls" they need. If they drafted us old guys(health not considered) they wouldn't get hardly any of us. That's why they go after the young.

He'd be studying abroad. Hell, I'D volunteer if America was in danger, but I will NOT sacrifice my kids so an oil company CEO can dd a couple of grand to his bonus. Period.

on the war - i would've accepted being drafted to fight in Afghanistan but not in Iraq

telling him to share with Shrub, Dick, Condim, and KKKarl

LOLOLOL!!

:D

But hypothetically, if I did qualify it would be probably the most difficult decision of my life. Serving for me would not be an option. My first thought would be to apply as a conscientious objector, though I know that is not a cakewalk by a long shot - I'm not looking to do what is easy, I'm looking to do what I think is right. If somehow that didn't turn out as I felt it should - well, I'd give strong, strong thought to leaving the country...

The reason why is because every day this country represents me less and less. Leaving the country is a tiny thought in the back of my brain that I've had for a long time now. Mostly fear and uncertainty have stopped me from giving it more thought. But to be quite honest, if this country was to reinstitute a draft for a war so horribly unjust as this, I think that really might just be the straw that breaks my back, and I might pack my bags
.

I would ask to be used in a RE/support position somewhere. I wouldn't run away.

I have ulcerative colitis that when it acts up can keep me on the crapper for a LONG time.

I'm a healthy (if not terribly physically fit) 20 year old - easily draftable. But I would rather jail than serve in this war, considering that I don't see burning the draft card for this war as a real crime anyway.

This probably isn't much of a surprise, but I would go with "Conscientious Objector" status, myself. Either that or just not show up, Bush* style.

When I was drafted they gave you a battery of tests to see what you would be best qualified to do(not that that was what you were going to do). One test asked the questions "do you like the outdoors, sports, hunting, being a leader " and stuff on that macho level. I caught on to that right away and answered almost straight no's. Turned out that was a sort of infantry test. I was a clerk typist!

What would you rather do: Hunt, fish, camp, or sleep?
I landed an oxymoron job in military intelligence. Go figure.

Just another dumb draftee that is steamed at Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for saying that draftees added "no value, no advantage, really, to the United States Armed Services over any sustained period of time."

if the draft is ever reinstated.

He seems to forget that draftees fought in the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Maybe the son-of-a-bitch ought to visit the Vietnam Memorial some time and count all of the draftees whose deaths were of "no value, no advantage, really, to the United States Armed Services over any sustained period of time."

And over the age limit to boot. :)

But if it were my son, I would encourage him to either file for CO or get the hell out of here.

And I'd make sure they KNEW I was gay anyway. (Hey, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" isn't MY fault.)

If they still wanted me, then C.O. status -- and pray.

oh, and I have anal cysts...

Did I mention that I'm addicted to hillbilly heroin?

If not, your excuses are no excuse!

Damn it, my plan has been foiled!

Guess I'll just have to get my daddy to run for Congress and get me a cushy post in the Air National Guard flying an obsolete plane...

"Sir, I have a problem. Could you refresh my memory? Who am I supposed to shoot at? Ohhhh! I thought you wanted us to shoot at each other! My bad."

That's a bit like the way to get out of jury duty: Show up in the costume of a medieval executioner, and announce that you support the death penalty for all crimes.

I'm kidding, of course.

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