“I’m somewhat confused by your post. What do you mean by “volunteered for the draft”? Was he drafted, or did he volunteer because he knew he would be drafted anyway? If he volunteered because he knew he would be drafted, hoping to get some leverage by playing the system a bit, he was certainly a more strategically aware person than most, probably superior in many areas.”
Back in those days, if you were IA with no disaualifiers, you KNEW you would be drafted. If you volunteered, you got NO special assignments or training. You simply got your two years started. He could have enlisted, for three years, and received certain assignment/training opions, but did not.
Obviously he turned out to be superior. But he was a young man, somewhat struggling with life, back then. I know, I was his friend with similar problems, but a couple of years younger. His father kicked him out, he was living at grandmas, goofing off in community college.
It was one of those decisions-—”I might as well get this over.” He came hme from Basic and said “I like it—they are going to send me to Jump School.” Next came Ranger and OCS. Of course by then a person has had to re-enlist.
I understand. Thanks for explaining. I know that there is a certain type of bright but unfocused young man who thrives on the clear expectations and rigid discipline of the military.