DraftWatch: Reserve Officers Resigning at Rapidly Rising Rate

[LynnTheDem]

On the heels of David Hackworth's report on groundforces recruiting, the Seattle Times reveals a brewing crisis in the Army Reserve:

The Army Reserve is facing an extreme shortage of company officers, a situation aggravated by a surge in resignation requests. The shortage -- primarily of captains -- has seriously reduced the capabilities of the Reserve, and continued losses will further reduce the readiness of "an already depleted military force," according to an Army briefing document submitted last month to Congress.

The Army Reserve is responding with two tactics.

More at link;

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002113845_officershortage09m.html

Short version: We are so fucked courtesy of bush & Cartel.

[blue neen]

1. I am so afraid for my 21 year old son

and for all of his friends (male and female).

[noamnety]

2. Has he registered as a CO?

He ought to.

[blue neen]

3. What does he have to do to register as a CO?

I've heard people talking about it and mentioned it to him, but we don't know what is involved.

Thanks.

[prairierose]

4. take a look at the draft discussion group...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=269

I think there is some information there.

We have many interesting groups here!

:hi:

[blue neen]

5. Thanks a million!

DU rocks, doesn't it?

[noamnety]

7. Here's a direct link

http://www.objector.org/coclaim.html

There's some good specific step by step advice there, along with a good paragraph after step 6, about documenting yourself going to anti-war rallies.

[prairierose]

15. Yep, I'm awfully glad that I finally joined instead of....

just coming in to read stuff.

Good luck! :hi:

[radar]

11. Got another link...

how to stay out of the military
primer on draft resistance
by David Wiggins

http://www.duckdaotsu.org/resist.html

"The legal requirement to register for the draft demands a decision: give up your freedom and your conscience, or conscientiously resist. All the good reasons that would prevent a free man from volunteering for military service, also apply to resisting the draft. How in a "free country" can the first requirement of a young man, when he comes of age, be to sign up to accept orders to kill for the state in an organized way? There is never a need to compel a free man to take up a cause that is both necessary and just; but a man who is drafted is never free, and thus his cause can never be assumed to be either necessary or just.

...In addition to the Military Selective Service Act, the "Health Care Personnel Delivery System" was authorized by Congress in 1987 to deal with large-scale casualties that outstripped the active-duty military's ability to handle them. If implemented, the bill would require a mass registration of male and female health care workers between the ages of 20 and 45. At this time; however, the Selective Service has no statutory authority to draft medical personnel. That authorization would be provided by legislation to be introduced and passed in Congress at the time of a national defense mobilization. That "M-Day" legislative package has not been made available for public comment or congressional debate. See the Center on Conscience and War’s "Health Care Professionals and the Draft" for details regarding the Health Care Personnel Delivery System.

[robre]

6. You guys really freak me out when you start talking about this stuff.

I'm 19, will be turning 20 in 2005.

[noamnety]

8. We aren't trying to scare you!

It's more a better safe than sorry deal. Think of it like wearing a seat belt, we don't expect you to be in an accident, but we want you to take every precaution you can to make sure you are safe.

[NEOBuckeye]

9. Forewarned is Forearmed

If you know what's coming, you can take steps to prepare so that you can deal with it on your own terms, if and when it arrives.

[njdemocrat106]

16. Couldn't have said it better myself

I just turned 24, which means I'm still ripe for a draft. Reading DU often makes me feel better regarding the draft. I still think the mere mention of a draft by Bush will be political suicide for all Republicans.

[Liberal Chad from WI]

10. STAND UP PEOPLE

STAND UP AGAINST THE GOVT. WE ALL NEED TO STAY TOGETHER AND REFUSE TO GO OVER IF THEY EVER RE-ENSTATE THE DRAFT. TRUST ME......TRUST ME.....THEY CAN NOT PUT US AAAAALLLLLLL IN PRISON. WE NEED TO STAY TOGEHTER IF THIS EVER DOES HAPPEND.

[noamnety]

12. Question about Vietnam

Was it a crime to harbor a draft dodger in your house?

[Liberal Chad from WI]

13. srry...explain

[Liberal Chad from WI]

14. OH HAHA

DUH........ummmm ya sorry i didnt get that at first. i hope we can do that. itd be really nice b/c i tell ya one thing i sure as hell will do anything to not go over there. granted i dont beleive the govt will buy it.