Enlisting now to avoid combat after the draft?

[cheezus]

There's been talk today about the impending(?) draft. Would enlisting now help keep me alive?

I'm 23 years old, recently married, and will be graduating this May with a bachelor's degree in computer science.

What branch of the military and doing what would I shoot for? Is there something that can keep me behind a computer in the states?

[Renew Deal]

1. Have you heard talk outside of DU regarding a draft?

The best branch to work for would probably be the Coast Guard. They do get sent away, but the domestic assignments are pretty cool.

[Bozita]

5. Bushco may privatize the domestic work, leaving CGers available for...

...overseas assignments.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Air Force.

As long as you aren't part of an air crew, you'll likely not be shot at. Unless they bomb your base. 100% stateside duty can't be guaranteed. However, my dad spent 30 years in the Air Force, and while Vietnam was raging, he was either in Europe or the US.

[Dems Will Win]

6. This is Dems WIll Win, the DRAFT poster

DON'T DO IT! If you're 23, you will not likely be DRAFTED and if you don't list computer programmer or analyst on your IRS return, they won't get you for that in the Special Skills DRAFT. They won't take you fresh out of school on that anyway. Just hang tight, live your life and you'll be OK.

Now if you were 19 or 18, different story. But enlisting is not a good idea unless you really want to enlist. In the last draft, up to 50% are deferred, although there are no more student deferments.

[Earth_First]

3. I would sit tight for now...

at 23 years of age, the likelihood of being drafted increases in your favor the older you get, the first round of draftees in the event of a draft would begin with age 20, 21, 22 and then 23 and so on. The closer you are to age 24, the likelihood of being drafted is near nil.

[cheezus]

7. oh, certianly not about to enlist now

/just like to have some escape routes planned out.

[TheMightyFavog]

4. I'm lucky...

If I get called for a physical, once they take one look at my mental health records and 4F my ass before you can say "Section Eight".

[Zookeeper]

8. A friend's son was diagnosed "Bi-Polar" and tried to join..

the military. He was rejected. I am wondering where they would draw the line during a draft. What about Major Depression? Anxiety Disorders? ADHD?

[m-jean03]

14. Well, the military doesn't seem to care about PTSD

and /its/ ensuing depression and anxiety disorders.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=461588&mesg_id=461588

[Zookeeper]

20. Thanks!

I sent my friend the link to the article.:thumbsup:

[m-jean03]

23. Sure, glad to help.

:)

[Bozita]

10. hmmm ... You may have something there

If I were a family doc, I'd probably write a script for a youngster going off for his physical.

[TheMightyFavog]

12. Lets see..

I got a whole littany of stuff that would get my ass 4F'd

ADHD
OCD
Depression
Period of suicidal thoughts due to bad reaction to Seroquel
Possible PTSD from the the bad reaction (still having some problems, in fact.)

[happyslug]

29. Tell them you pissed the bed and/or sleep walk.

Those were reasons to reject people into the military when I was in (You had to admit you did both AFTER you turned age 12, so just tell them you still do both).

[Earth_First]

9. Not necessarily...

the Coast Guard is under the Department of the Navy, and overseas coastal combat security missions have occured...

[m-jean03]

11. Brrrr... this subject gives me chills.

I've been reading "Secrets" by Daniel Ellsburg. He talks about young people being "sucked up by the intake". Such a horrific turn of phrase. I am just a year younger than you and I worry, too. Not only for myself but for everyone I know. I think we may be old enough to avoid it if it happens, -- but nonetheless the thought of it happening in my generation makes me feel like I am standing right on the edge of a pit of quick sand. Not secure in the least.

[Bridget Burke]

13. A friend of my mother's, high school class of 1939....

Figured the draft was in his future. He thought the US would get involved in the War & wanted to avoid being an infantry mud slogger.

He was a very fine horn player. So he joined the Navy & got a cushy gig on a ship's band. It was the Battleship Arizona. He's still there.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. That's like giving a hamburger to a crocodile hoping it'll eat you last

If * wins, flee.

[happyslug]

16. Married, BA in Computer Science????

Unless you are a raving Communist (Saying thinks like Mao said this...., Lenin said this..., Comrade Stalin said .....) the chances that you end up in the Infantry are slim and none. The Army has said they need computer people, and even if you do not get into the computer field the army will put you someplace where they can hope to use your education.

Thus unless you decide to be an officer, the chances that you end of in the infantry are slim and none even if you are drafted.

Furthermore any draft will have a limited time frame to draft (at least in the beginning). You are age 24, I believe the draft will be limited to 18-21 year old males (at least at first). You to old, the army likes its 18 year old inexperienced males, such the right age to do as they are told and not enough experience to tell their superiors to jump in a lake when a stupid order is issued.

Thus my advice is do NOTHING and wait.

[Bozita]

21. Folks with medical, foreign language, or computer skills are eligible...

...to age 44. That's forty-four.

from a post by Dems Will Win:

December, 2003 - The Selective Service Register magazine talks about the new Special Skill Draft, a top priority for Director Lewis Brodsky. Like the Medical Draft, the Special Skills Draft will induct men and women up to age 44 if they have needed DoD skills like computer expertise, engineering or they are a linguist. As with the health care draftees, no medical deferments are allowed except for total disability. Anyone with these skills will have to register with the SSS if Bush is re-elected and asks Congress for this. Moving quickly!

http://www.sss.gov/PDFs/NovDec2003-Register.pdf (go to P. 6) – from sss.gov home page

[happyslug]

25. Yes, but the question was to avoid Combat

And the draft of people with skills will NOT be to fill out the combat units (Which was his concern). Thus I seriously doubt if he is drafted he will be anywhere near where they is shooting (other than at a target range).

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. Well, since most of the crap is in the Middle east...

I suggest the Navy. There's always a bed to sleep in, hot food in your belly, and you don't have to worry about either of them. And the Navy has the best food in the military. If I ever decide to go in, I'll be going into the military. I've thought about it seriously if there is a draft, I'll be a year from the cut off point. I'll have a degree by then, and then I'll join and be some kind of MP or something, maybe see if they'll send me to law school or something if I pledge a few years. That sounds interesting. But see, this is just a JUST IN CASE plan.
Duckie

[LynneSin]

18. At your age I would think you're safe

I highly doubt the draft will happen unless Bush gets another 4 years. Plus you're 23 and married. Maybe have a kid will help keep you at home

:shrug:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. the Navy will keep you out of the urban combat in the streets of Bagdad

[happyslug]

28. Riverine Service is the Navy's Job

And such service will be required in Iraq given its two rivers. While any sailors may not have to worry about being shot at while in a unarmored Humvee, those light weight swift boats can not take many bullets either.

No joining the navy will not keep you out (and remember the Medics for the Marines are NAVY CORPSMEN not marines).

[Mick Knox]

30. I wonder what the corpsman would say

who are with the Marines in Fallujah etc right now.. to the "navy will keep you out of the streets" comment.

That said.. the poster has a degree and experience not found in most enlistee's and would likely end up in a support position and quite possibly an officer.. at least a warrant.

I wouldnt go rushing out to join to avoid the draft. If you want to join .. join. But thats a long committment and could turn out to be a real mistake if your not prepared to do your time for the right reasons...

[LastKnight]

22. 25 is the max age to draft at this point anyway...

as far as im aware, that is, and thats what my registration card says the one im procrastinating filling out). i dont think you have anything to worry about, unless chimpy is reselected that is.

-LK

[Zookeeper]

24. Read the link to the Selective Service newsletter...

posted above. Pages 6 and 7 in particular.

[noonwitch]

26. If the draft is reinstituted, tell the board you're gay

Bush is president, so "Don't ask, don't tell" is probably not being practiced anymore.

[happyslug]

27. When we had the draft last that did not keep you out.

All the military has to say, you in and remember while the Supreme Court has ruled State sodomy laws unconstitutional, it is still listed as a criminal act in the Uniform Code of Justice (UCMJ) and Congress will NOT change it. Thus if you commit an act of Sodomy you will be Court Martial and set to a MILITARY PRISON not a Federal Prison

Note of federal MILITARY PRISONS. YOU do NOT want to go to a Military Prison, Military Prisons unlike the Federal Civilian Prisons, are formed on the idea of Rehabilitation THROUGH DISCIPLINE AND TRAINING, i.e. making you RUN everywhere, making you do push ups, it is is Boot camp with sadistic Drill Sergeants. It is NOT a place you want to go.

As to the UCMJ sodomy section being unconstitutional just remember this the Military has to say we do not care what they do once they are out but if they are in the military we do not want anyone to have sex outside of marriage. The military can declare Sodomy (and has declared sodomy) a discipline issue and unless the issue gets to the Supreme Court, the lower Courts will uphold any conviction as violation of discipline.

The Court will have a harder time striking down the UCMJ clause of Sodomy than it had on the civilian sodomy law. The difference is you are in the Military 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and thus ANYTHING you do reflects on the Military. Given that the Military has a concern for DISCIPLINE, not having sex can be part of that Discipline. Thus the Sodomy section of the UCMJ is NOT anti-homosexual, but pro-discipline. I Can see the Court upholding the Sodomy Section of the UCMJ just on that ground alone.