I've been thinking, as one who it could hypothetically happen to, what would I do in the event of a military Draft? With Iraq not ending anytime soon, and conflicts possibly looming in Iran or Korea, I think the situation is more likely than ever. Personally, I would be afraid, but there is no way I am going to kill another human being. How I can avoid this, who can know.

So I ask you, people of VB, what would you do in the event of a draft?

I've been thinking, as one who it could hypothetically happen to, what would I do in the event of a military Draft? With Iraq not ending anytime soon, and conflicts possibly looming in Iran or Korea, I think the situation is more likely than ever. Personally, I would be afraid, but there is no way I am going to kill another human being. How I can avoid this, who can know.

So I ask you, people of VB, what would you do in the event of a draft?

I also would never go into any war... I think the only alternative is jail... or get really sick, or cut off a few limbs, and then they won't want you anymore.

As far as I know, in the US you can still register as a conscientious objector. If I were of the right age and gender to be drafted, that would be my first step.

ETA: this might be helpful. http://www.objector.org/advice/contents.html
http://www.objector.org/ccco/links.html#anchor2422323

If i was male i would try and drop off the radar screen. I assume their is an age limit like 18-40. Does anyone know what age it is?

I've heard that they'll probably be drafting males and females, so I've been thinking about the issue a lot lately. My problem is that I want to register as a conscientious objector, but I don't really feel that it's 'fair.' I have had a rewarding (and rather expensive) education at a private school. This education puts me in a minority. Most girls my age have not been exposed to as much information as I have and form their own opinions. In addition, I've heard that there is quite a bit of writing involved in being a conscientious objector, and my school has prepared me for this writing. I'm not saying that I'm the wisest, most knowledgeable, and most eloquent 16-year-old out there; it's certain that I am not. But I feel that I have an unfair advantage. Do I want to kill anyone? Certainly not. But I don't think that my personal beliefs and my education should excuse me from being drafted.
In addition, escaping the draft does not solve any larger issues, in my opinion. While being a conscientious objector would, to some extent, allow me to 'have my voice heard,' it would just mean that somebody else would be sent in my stead. I think that the problem is war. If the draft is what has to be done to get soldiers, then I don't think that I should try to get out of it.

If you plan on continuing life in normal society, begin the process of becoming a conscientious objector. You need to do this NOW, not wait until a draft is implemented. Every one of draft age (18-35) who doesn't want to kill someone should begin the process of becoming a conscientious objector NOW. Otherwise once there's a draft you'll need to drop out of life and become an unknown person, giving up all your friends and family (who might turn you in because that would be patriotic), etc., basically a wanted criminal, because that's what a draft dodger is, sadly, a criminal. :(

Also, with the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, wouldn't being openly gay be a way to get out of the draft too??

I believe draft age is still 18-25 though I have seen requests lately to raise it to 35 and 45. And expand it to women (which I totally agree with).

I can't see that we'd have conscription any time soon, though. Though it seems that it is in the news more often, mostly reports from the Pentagon. Which is interesting.

Being openly gay doesn't get you out of military service any more. Being openly mentally ill might help.

Being openly mentally ill might help.

Yess... I'm out then! :lol:

I've heard that they'll probably be drafting males and females, so I've been thinking about the issue a lot lately. My problem is that I want to register as a conscientious objector, but I don't really feel that it's 'fair.' I have had a rewarding (and rather expensive) education at a private school. This education puts me in a minority. Most girls my age have not been exposed to as much information as I have and form their own opinions. In addition, I've heard that there is quite a bit of writing involved in being a conscientious objector, and my school has prepared me for this writing. I'm not saying that I'm the wisest, most knowledgeable, and most eloquent 16-year-old out there; it's certain that I am not. But I feel that I have an unfair advantage. Do I want to kill anyone? Certainly not. But I don't think that my personal beliefs and my education should excuse me from being drafted.
In addition, escaping the draft does not solve any larger issues, in my opinion. While being a conscientious objector would, to some extent, allow me to 'have my voice heard,' it would just mean that somebody else would be sent in my stead. I think that the problem is war. If the draft is what has to be done to get soldiers, then I don't think that I should try to get out of it.I really have to disagree with this line of argument. To me that is like saying e.g. eating a chicken is fine because if you didn't do it, somebody else would. However, IMO saying no to conscription is a vote against war. Not refusing this system is a silent consent to the continued use of war (and the threat of war) as a means to solve conflicts.

If you want to save some of those poor, uneducated, and unfortunate people from almost certain moral corruption and possible death, you should use your writing and other skills to spread the word on how to fight war and at the same time save themselves by becoming conscientious objectors.

I guess what it comes down to is whether you just don't want to kill / be killed, or if you go one step further and say killing is wrong even if you are "licensed to kill" by your government.

Hope that makes sense.

<< Conscientious objector and very happy with that choice :sunny:

Pfft...I'm gettin old. No draftin for me. But if for some magical reason happened and they tried to draft me I'd enroll back in school, head to MHMR (mental health mental retardation) tell them I see dead people, start talking to myself, or somethin. Then again, with my criminal record I doubt if I'm eligible anyway. Pffft. The army. I'm too chunky, goofy, and stubborn for the army. I don't listen to authority well, and the sight of someone yelling at me about two inches away from my face makes me giggle. Girl2beaver, I commend ya, girl. You can have my spot. I'll happily admit I'm a coward that doesnt want to be in the military in 105 degree heat without an AC and a mistfan. (if that's how hot it is, dunno) I'm tan enough, don't need to be crispin out in the sun. Pfft @ being a hero. I'd rather be the coward that got out of being drafted. The coward lives to tell about how those heros got knocked off the map.

considering the political climate I'd say it's really unlikely they'd authorize the draft unless it really was important. I would serve.

from a friend in the air force i hear you can announce that you're a consciencious objector at boot and they will find a non-combat role for you or eject you out.

are you objectors refusing to fight in any war? for instance would you have volunteered to fight in WW2?

are you objectors refusing to fight in any war? for instance would you have volunteered to fight in WW2?

Yes, and probably not.

To me that is like saying e.g. eating a chicken is fine because if you didn't do it, somebody else would.
There will be a set number of people who are being sent to war. There is not set number of chickens being slaughtered.

However, IMO saying no to conscription is a vote against war.
I agree, and I would like to cast my vote against war. But I don't think it's fair to send someone else in my place.

If you want to save some of those poor, uneducated, and unfortunate people from almost certain moral corruption and possible death, you should use your writing and other skills to spread the word on how to fight war and at the same time save themselves by becoming conscientious objectors. I agree, to some extent. I think that this would be a lovely idea, but only if EVERYONE were a conscientious objector. As long as someone has to go, I don't think it's fair to excuse myself. I've not completely ruled out applying to be a conscientious objector, though. I'm going to do some more reading about it.

girl2beaver, because not everyone conscientously objects, no one should?! Forgive me for sounding incredulous, but how do you expect all people to object conscientously if no one will right now? A large group of people don't change their minds overnight. It takes time and persistance by the few who believe something strongly.

If there were a draft, I'm quite certain women would be drafted along with the men. How about drafting full-time students? Full-time college students were exempt from previous drafts, to my knowlege, so they likely would be again.

Out of curiousity, are American citizens who are working or doing missions overseas also called up in a draft?

In a war "that will not end in our lifetimes" there may not be a "set number" of people sent to war. It may be that everyone who can be sent, will be sent.

girl2beaver, because not everyone conscientously objects, no one should?!
I think that a lot of people don't get the chance to. Applying for CO status can be difficult and time consuming. Does everyone without the means to apply want to? Certainly not. But it's likely that some do, and I'm not sure that I should be able to excuse myself from combat while these people cannot. I'm not certain, though. I'm still considering doing what William Stafford did (non-combat service).

I recall reading that some sort of measure/bill was passed in relation to college students. Rather than allow them to finish to their degrees, it changed to being able to finish the current semester. Sounds just dandy to me. Recent, by the way.

Don't send in your draft card. I haven't. No one's been formally prosecuted for not doing so since the mid-eighties I believe.

Nirvana19105: Can you explain what a draft card is please?

I think that a lot of people don't get the chance to. Applying for CO status can be difficult and time consuming. Does everyone without the means to apply want to? Certainly not. But it's likely that some do, and I'm not sure that I should be able to excuse myself from combat while these people cannot. I'm not certain, though. I'm still considering doing what William Stafford did (non-combat service).

Do you turn down your other opportunities because some people don't have them? Some people cannot use computers but want to. Should you give up your computer use because of them? Some people would like to be American citizens but aren't. Do you give up your citizenship as a symbolic gesture of solidarity?

With every aspect of offense intended, all you people need to move the **** away.

To answer the question, I'd serve.

Interesting thread. In Switzerland, we still have conscription. Although our army is more of a militia than a conscription army, because men (for women it's voluntary), they stay members of the armed forces even once they have completed their compulsory training and they have to do camps every year to keep up to scratch. But recently we voted (in Switzerland we vote for everything) to get the militia down from 524'000 men to 220'000 which includes 80'000 reservists.

But it's getting easier to do a civil service instead and there are some consciencious objectors as well.

We even have a navy!! (Which is very funny because we're a landlocked country.)

There is a movement that is trying to get the army abolished completely. When we voted on this a few years ago (I told you, we vote on everything), they got about 30% of votes which was a very good score considering that the Swiss are very conservative and do not like change.

We are of course a neutral country so the army is supposedly for defence purposes only.

With every aspect of offense intended, all you people need to move the **** away.

To answer the question, I'd serve.

I didn't realize we live in a police state where dissent is barred. :p

Considering that the Conscientous Objector option exists, my guess is that the federal government sees conscientous objectors as valuable citizens. If people who didn't support the wars were that awful for the country they're in, the US government would kick us out, eh? So we could be a detriment for some other country.

Pfft...I'm gettin old. No draftin for me. But if for some magical reason happened and they tried to draft me I'd enroll back in school, head to MHMR (mental health mental retardation) tell them I see dead people, start talking to myself, or somethin. Then again, with my criminal record I doubt if I'm eligible anyway. Pffft. The army. I'm too chunky, goofy, and stubborn for the army. I don't listen to authority well, and the sight of someone yelling at me about two inches away from my face makes me giggle. Girl2beaver, I commend ya, girl. You can have my spot. I'll happily admit I'm a coward that doesnt want to be in the military in 105 degree heat without an AC and a mistfan. (if that's how hot it is, dunno) I'm tan enough, don't need to be crispin out in the sun. Pfft @ being a hero. I'd rather be the coward that got out of being drafted. The coward lives to tell about how those heros got knocked off the map.

Same here. My karate teacher (when I was just beginning karate quite awhile ago) told me I punched like a girl. Two days later, I was punching like the boys. :D :up:

My mom, the minute she turned 18, went out to look for a college or a job or something (don't know what she was really doing, but oh well) and she saw a...and I quote her words..."real cute guy handing out marines forms."

So, what did my mom do? She joined the marines. All because a cute hottie was handing out forms.

Grief, she hated it and she had to redo it four times before she got kicked out. (My mom was one of those people who brought hair dryers and a bunch of "girly" stuff.)