How did you deal with the draft?

[RetiredGySgt]

Why?

Wanted to serve.

 

[BothWings]

My father was drafted in 1965 and went into the 82nd Airborne. He wasn't even naturalized yet, just here with a work visa (came here in 1960). Instead of going to 'Nam they sent him to the Dominican Republic where a small revolution was taking place.

 

[Grau]

Why?

Good question.

I joined the Army soon after the Tet Offensive because I was wrecking motorcycles, jumping off of waterfalls, drinking heavily, mastering the art of home made "Firecrackers" and getting into so much trouble that my dear old mother told me:

"Oh, I'm so glad that you're going into the Army where you'll be nice and safe."

I have absolutely no enmity toward those who chose not to serve and could have avoided service altogether but felt that doing so would have been unethical.

Who knows what to do with your life at the age of 18?

 

[odanny]

You don't win a war by drafting an army. Listening to people discuss how lucky they had a REMF job (you'll figure it out) tells you all you need to know about fielding a fighting force through a draft. The only way this could have a chance to be successful is if you are fighting on your own soil.

Look at little Ukraine, more importantly, look at the Russian draft. They are getting the same result we did in Vietnam.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

we did well in vietnam

 

[AZrailwhale]

Good question.

I joined the Army soon after the Tet Offensive because I was wrecking motorcycles, jumping off of waterfalls, drinking heavily, mastering the art of home made "Firecrackers" and getting into so much trouble that my dear old mother told me:

"Oh, I'm so glad that you're going into the Army where you'll be nice and safe."

I have absolutely no enmity toward those who chose not to serve and could have avoided service altogether but felt that doing so would have been unethical.

Who knows what to do with your life at the age of 18?

I have no animosity for the very small percentage who had moral qualms. In fact I admire men like Ali who refused to serve and went to prison to support their beliefs. Most draft dodgers had no moral qualms, they just were either cowards or didn’t want the inconvenience of serving.

 

[AZrailwhale]

You don't win a war by drafting an army. Listening to people discuss how lucky they had a REMF job (you'll figure it out) tells you all you need to know about fielding a fighting force through a draft. The only way this could have a chance to be successful is if you are fighting on your own soil.

Look at little Ukraine, more importantly, look at the Russian draft. They are getting the same result we did in Vietnam.

Draftees have won almost every war in history. The Romans and Spartans were singular exceptions. Professional armies were very rare and only existed where manpower wasn’t an issue. Even the British Army couldn’t mass enough volunteer troops to fight in the American Revolution, more than half the deployed troops were German ( Hessian) mercenaries.

 

[Zavulon]

Wanted to serve.

I got it. Why did you choose marines?

 

[odanny]

Draftees have won almost every war in history. The Romans and Spartans were singular exceptions. Professional armies were very rare and only existed where manpower wasn’t an issue. Even the British Army couldn’t mass enough volunteer troops to fight in the American Revolution, more than half the deployed troops were German ( Hessian) mercenaries.

That all changed with the Information Age. The time period you mention is correct, but can't be compared with now.

Information Age - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[frigidweirdo]

The first thing on the Peanut Man's agenda was to pardon every freaking traitor who fled to the people's republic of Canada to avoid the draft. In ten years the traitors were running college campuses and the federal government.

You people hate draft dodgers.... then elected one to be president.... go figure.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

I got it. Why did you choose marines?

Because I had a bad reenlistment code from the army when I was 17 and they were willing to waive it.

 

[Grau]

I have no animosity for the very small percentage who had moral qualms. In fact I admire men like Ali who refused to serve and went to prison to support their beliefs. Most draft dodgers had no moral qualms, they just were either cowards or didn’t want the inconvenience of serving.

I think that you're right to admire principled young men lie Ali but I think that enlistment and re-enlistment levels were especially low by the early 1970s because morale was so low at the time.
For example, I remember one day when Jane Fonda came to Ft. Bragg to remind anyone who would listen how stupid they were to serve in the military.

In spite of the dismal, dangerous and stressful times, there were plenty of fun times.
While at Ft. Bragg, I had a T.S. security clearance, could check out some firearms and an amphibious vehicle. Next, I'd grab some friends, stock up on beer and really good reefer and then enjoy an afternoon of off-road target practice.

 

[sparky]

Jane Fonda came to Ft. Bragg

they let her in??

~S~

 

[Unkotare]

I put tape around the windows.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

My Uncle was an armor Officer (lt) and had to physically remove her from one of his barracks

 

[Zavulon]

Because I had a bad reenlistment code from the army when I was 17 and they were willing to waive it.

Nice. Were there any regrets from your or MC sides?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Nice. Were there any regrets from your or MC sides?

No I served 16 years and got a medical retirement

 

[Zavulon]

No I served 16 years and got a medical retirement

And what this 16 year service gave you?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

And what this 16 year service gave you?

retirement I was discharged from the service in 1995 and haven't worked since 1999

 

[AZrailwhale]

That all changed with the Information Age. The time period you mention is correct, but can't be compared with now.

Information Age - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I disagree, so far in the information age, no army has been able to replace losses suffered in mass combat by expensively trained professional troops. Iran and Irag had to resort to draftees, both Russia and Ukraine have had to resort to draftees despite Ukraine starting out with a very American-like well-trained peacetime army.