Posted on 07/15/2004 12:54:32 AM PDT by Susannah
My daughter-in-law has a sister in a California college.
Recently, the sister attending college, said that her boyfriend had received a notice to register for the draft.
I know that Congress has passed nothing to reinstate the draft and that the main two sponsors of the resolutions for draft are both Democrats ( Rangel in the House and Fritz Hollings in the Senate).
Is it possible that individual states are sending notices to register for the draft?
My initial thought is that there could be someone forging the draft registration notices to scare the young voters and college crowd.
I'm thinking back to Jimmy Carter's 1980 SOTU address where he talked about reinstating the draft. As far as I can recall, the 1980 election was one of the few that showed 90% of college professors voting for Carter while 90% of their students voted for Reagan.
Hoping for help to verify that there are no draft registration notices floating around. Then, maybe some Freepers could spread the word on college forums, etc.
Come ON!
18 year olds (at least males) have had to register for the draft for YEARS AND YEARS.
You can't even apply for a college loan without showing proof of selective service registration.
This is nothing new.
Whenever a sound sleeper wakes up he or she will be surprised at the fact that there have been things going on without their knowledge.
That seems to be the case here. Imagine!
I'm on my local draft board, and I haven't heard a thing.
It wouldn't necessarily surprise me. All men are required to register for the draft at age 18, and well, if they're in college and accepting financial aid from the government, they're definitely expected to be registered. "Registered" doesn't mean there's going to be a draft at all. Certainly there will be a lot of people who get confused on that point, but it's not like it's not explained well enough in places that describe what draft registration is.
I certainly remember many years ago that I was reminded numerous times on no uncertain terms that I had better get registered or I was going to be in big trouble and would not be able to get financial aid of any form. The warnings were of course wasted on me, since I had gone right down to the post office on my 18th birthday and done it already!
The draft is not cost effective, unless we go back to pre-World War II standards and throw cannon-fodder at our enemies. If we are unable to pull troops out of the UN minutia [we have a lot of tiny detachments scattered all over the world], out of Germany, etc, then we will need to simply expand our volunteer force. That might mean needing to cut certain agencies. It might mean a pay raise for soldiers. Our incentives should be more career oriented and less 'after service' benefits, because proper training costs a fortune.
But you are continuing to register 18-year-olds, aren't you?
Susannah, Thank you posting this.
As a military member, I can tell you that there is no plan to re-up the draft.
The only persons speaking about it, congressionally, are Charles Rangle D-N.Y. and John Conyers, D-Mich. They are pushing this because they feel there are a disporpotionate number of African-Americans serving now. A draft would be more equitable in their eyes.
If a draft were to be reinstated, it would be by the Democrats. I do not see a need for it and would oppose it at this point. The majority of the people I work with support the War on Terror and will fight when called upon.
If a Communist sympathizer like Kerry is elected, a draft might be needed due to the mass exodus of the volunteer troops.
Flame away, but that is how I see it.
Males have had to register for years,this is nothing new.
Dear Jet,
You are right, of course.
But what was amusing to me is how Susannah has totally confused the draft registration process which has been in continuous operation since the 40's, with an actual call-up.
Where has she and her friends been the past half-century?
This has been law since the 70's.
Could be a leftist thing to get them in bulk and mail them out in specific states?
This post was not about someone getting a registration card, but a notice of the need to register.
These may be mailed erratically depending on the draft board, but I can assure you that notices DO go out.
I've seen them, and every time a young man tries to do anything that involves federal involvement, like to apply for a student loan, he is warned again. Register or lose benefits.
THIS IS NOT A CALL UP, alarmist mis-statements to the contrary.
When I turned 18, I registered to vote. Just before I turned 18, I registered with the Selective Service. I did not get drafted. In fact I went to college and then voluntarily joined the Air Force.
It sounds like your sister's, boyfriend's, cousin's, room-mate may have not registered with selective service and is getting a kind reminder that he needs to submit his name.
He might want to fill out the card. He is not being drafted. The country just likes to know who is available.
First of all, the SSS will not go beyond what is being done now (registration for males at 18) without legislation signed by the President. Second, if legislation were introduced, we'd all know about it. There would be committee and full chamber debates in both Houses (including (I hope) the subject of drafting women) before anything would be sent to the President. Third, nothing is going to happen before the election.
But, if the deployment tempo continues in to next year and beyond, with all of the associated problems (stop loss, IRR call-ups, delayed retirements, etc.), watch out.
A young man may also register by filling out a Reminder Mailback Card. Selective Service sends this card to many young men around the time they turn 18. Mailback cards are also available at some post offices. A man can fill out the card at home and mail it directly to Selective Service. Forms will be sent to: Selective Service System, Registration Information Office, P.O. Box 94638, Palatine, IL 60094-4638.I assume they send these out to anyone they know about due to having paid taxes or other methods.
Our troops may be stretched a little thin with the current volunteer military, but talk of re-instating the draft is only talk at this point.
I was born in '59 and didn't have to register for the draft. My brother, who is 4 years younger, did. As I recall, it was the early 80s when the law changed.
There was an article posted last week,I believe,that reported some idiot having a friend shoot him in the leg because he thought it would keep him from being drafted. HarHar! :o)
ping
Your thoughts?
I saw it. I thought is was a Darwin candidate but, he lived.
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