Draft

Been There

Been There

Well-known Member
Location
Florida
This is strictly a hypothetical question because as we all know that our armed services have been well populated for some time now, but it still remains a question that keeps coming to mind, especially during these troubled times and I just wanted to get some of you veterans out there that are still around and fought in the Vietnam War, or maybe the Korean War, or even WWII your opinion. Do you think the U.S. would be better off with having every young man (18 to 20) serve in one of the Armed Forces of their choice or if there is not a need in the one they chose, they would have to report to the one that would be assigned to them? If they are not drafted by the age of 20, they would not be called on to serve. This may or may not be a lottery system.

Do you believe that by serving in the military that it would make them a better person? By better, I mean, more knowledgeable of patriotism, loyalty, commitment, respectfulness and of course maturity and add character.

I would also suggest that prior to the start of sports games that we should have a moment of silence, which would allow anyone who wishes to take a knee, to do so. After that moment of silence, we would then have the playing of the National Anthem. Standing while the National Anthem is being played is just not showing respect for the flag, but also to honor the tens of thousands of men and women that gave their life, so that we can have the freedoms that we have today. Why must it be done during the National Anthem? Does it really make a difference?

I would appreciate hearing from the ladies as well. I know many women who have served in the Armed Forces and have done so diligently and respectfully. The ladies that work on the decks of the carriers perform their jobs every bit as well as the men.
 
I never served, but I'm the daughter, widow and girlfriend of veterans.

I think service was the salvation of many a young man through the years, young men who didn't know their direction in life and just needed a nudge.

It was also the ruination of many a life. I'm not talking about loss of life, even though that's the ultimate dead end. I'm talking about the young men who came home from Viet Nam with drug addictions and the young men who came home from Desert Storm and Afghanistan and Iraq and all the other "sh!t storms" with their compasses pointing in the wrong direction or their limbs missing.

I hope we never need another draft.
 
jujube said:
I never served, but I'm the daughter, widow and girlfriend of veterans.

I think service was the salvation of many a young man through the years, young men who didn't know their direction in life and just needed a nudge.

It was also the ruination of many a life. I'm not talking about loss of life, even though that's the ultimate dead end. I'm talking about the young men who came home from Viet Nam with drug addictions and the young men who came home from Desert Storm and Afghanistan and Iraq and all the other "sh!t storms" with their compasses pointing in the wrong direction or their limbs missing.

I hope we never need another draft.
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I oppose the draft. If given enough motivation, many young people would enlist - they did in the past and would do it in the future. I saw the Vietnam draft decimate my peers, either physically, socially, or emotionally. "What are we fighting for" (song line). None of them approved of our country's involvement. Many tried to dodge the draft. Many went to Canada. Others who ended up there came home severely damaged.

Why take our children, who have just reached a major life milestone? In my opinion, we could make the military just another job option - a lucrative one, offering good pay and benefits and job security - and open it up to older people! There are plenty of able-bodied grown-ups who would welcome this opportunity. (Perhaps the age limits have more to do with our established personalities and potential to challenge authority?)
 
I agree with Don M. The service teaches responsibility and believe it or not, racial tensions rarely exist since all are taught that not only are they brothers and sisters in arms, but they can rely on each have the other's back. The discipline teaches restraint as well, for it certainly is lacking in civilian life. As a perk, for each 2 years served, the government could offer and form of the G.I. Bill. Such as, one year of the college or technical school of their choice tuition, books and housing with meals free.. Plus a stipend. Pretty good deal.
 
IMO everyone should be required to register for the draft but the draft should only be used against an extreme threat to our country.

I also believe that a period of national service has been and continues to be a valuable path for many young people to get a start in life.

It's my hope that with all of the technology available today the traditional boots on the ground foot soldier will become a thing of the past and that our country's human resources can be put to much better use in serving our nation and its people.
 
Current law requires that with a few exceptions, every male citizen and immigrant (documented or undocumented) between the ages of 18-25 is required to register with the Selective Service. Men are required to register during a 60 day registration period, within 30 days of their 18th birthday (30 days before until 29 days after their 18th birthday).
 
Aunt Bea said:
IMO everyone should be required to register for the draft but the draft should only be used against an extreme threat to our country.

I also believe that a period of national service has been and continues to be a valuable path for many young people to get a start in life.

It's my hope that with all of the technology available today the traditional boots on the ground foot soldier will become a thing of the past and that our country's human resources can be put to much better use in serving our nation and its people.
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I agree with you, with the sole exception of registering for the draft. If there was a legitimate, extreme threat to our country, we would all stand up, sign up, and go into a defensive posture. I don't believe drafting our youngsters would be required to fill the ranks.
 
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My belief is that people born into the freedoms the US offers its citizens, would more appreciate the cost of those freedoms (and holler less about "their rights") if they had to serve in some capacity to protect those freedoms. I leave open what that "some capacity" should be and am just putting forth the idea. I don't think that having to go through another Vietnam is the way to teach the value of those freedoms, but wars prior to that were. However, there could well be many other avenues other than war in which to productively use young folks' time and effort.

Tony
 
So, what I get from reading your posts is that I didn't explain myself very well, but I have found your posts to be very interesting and helpful with writing my op-ed piece for a tabloid that would not interest anyone on this forum. (Trust me.) I promise not to use any of your descriptive names.

My objective was to get viewpoints of having a draft, but leave out the thoughts that we would be drafting to send young men and ladies just out of high school overseas to fight a war. The average age of the Vietnam era draftee was 19, while the average age of the draftee for WWII was 26. So, I failed at that. I apologize for not doing a better job.
 
squatting dog said:
Current law requires that with a few exceptions, every male citizen and immigrant (documented or undocumented) between the ages of 18-25 is required to register with the Selective Service. Men are required to register during a 60 day registration period, within 30 days of their 18th birthday (30 days before until 29 days after their 18th birthday).
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I had no idea that is the case. I read long ago todays' army is too technical for a draft similar like we had.
 
Ready Five said:
So, what I get from reading your posts is that I didn't explain myself very well, but I have found your posts to be very interesting and helpful with writing my op-ed piece for a tabloid that would not interest anyone on this forum. (Trust me.) I promise not to use any of your descriptive names.

My objective was to get viewpoints of having a draft, but leave out the thoughts that we would be drafting to send young men and ladies just out of high school overseas to fight a war. The average age of the Vietnam era draftee was 19, while the average age of the draftee for WWII was 26. So, I failed at that. I apologize for not doing a better job.
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It gave us all a chance to vent, so no issues here!
 
No one has been drafted into the military since 1972. The registration is used now only in case of a national emergency.
 
squatting dog said:
Yeah, I didn't know they still did it either until about a week ago while waiting at the DMV, I saw the poster reminding people to sign up.
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I remember once when I was in San Diego and attended Topgun and we would go into the city to have a little fun, this Mexican came up to me and said that he had a green card to be in the U.S. and he wanted to know if he had to register with the Selective Service. I told him that I really didn't know, but why take a chance? If you have a green card, go in and register.
 
Ready Five said:
I remember once when I was in San Diego and attended Topgun and we would go into the city to have a little fun, this Mexican came up to me and said that he had a green card to be in the U.S. and he wanted to know if he had to register with the Selective Service. I told him that I really didn't know, but why take a chance? If you have a green card, go in and register.
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As I understand it, registration is required - but, I don't believe that applies to holders of green cards - That's more of a work/school visitor's permit, not citizenship. I could be wrong!
 
Em in Ohio said:
As I understand it, registration is required - but, I don't believe that applies to holders of green cards - That's more of a work/school visitor's permit, not citizenship. I could be wrong!
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"immigrant" (documented or undocumented) is part of the federal law. That would include green card holders since they are immigrant's.
Found it.......

Federal law requires that men who are at least 18 years old, but not yet 26 years old, must be registered with Selective Service. This includes all male non-citizens within these age limits who permanently reside in the United States. Men with "Green Cards" (lawful permanent residents) must register. Men living in the United States without USCIS documentation (undocumented aliens) must also register. But men cannot register after reaching age 26.

A male non-citizen who first enters the U.S. as a permanent resident after he has already passed his 26th birthday is not required to register because he is over the age limit. Non-immigrant men who are in the U.S. temporarily (diplomatic corps, trade mission personnel, men holding valid visitor or student visas, etc.) do not register. Women do not register because the law does not apply to them.
 
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Don M. said:
I think every Able Bodied young person should be obligated to serve 2 years in some sort of National/Community service. That would be a great introduction to "reality"....which is so lacking in many of our young.
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I agree with you Don M. My Husband got drafted a few months before we got married. It was during the Viet Nam War. Today we are living in a crazy world and some of the leaders of our countries are crazy. I would hate for my grandsons to get drafted. I wouldn't mind if they were obligated to do some kind of community service.
 
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