Military drafts - male and female

[Nyoibo]

Drafts are a bad idea, people who don't want to be there end up making bad soldiers which just puts their fellow soldiers more at risk.

[Rageaholic]

Drafts are a bad idea, people who don't want to be there end up making bad soldiers which just puts their fellow soldiers more at risk.

ITA. The minute they start drafting is the minute I say "Fuck America" and GTFO. I am of the belief that under NO circumstances is drafting a good thing. People should join the military by choice, not by force.

[Vagabond]

If I've read correctly in Israel's system, IDF
<snip from wiki site> "Other than the National Service, IDF conscripts may serve in bodies other than the IDF in a number of ways. Non-combat services include the Mandatory Police Service program, where youth are instead serve in the police, Israel Prison Service, or other wings of the Israeli Security Forces."
So, as such, you wouldn't have to serve in the military. You could serve as a policeman or prison guard, or other wings of the Security Forces.
They also make exceptions for religious, conscientious objectors, physical and psychological grounds.

And I believe I said it before, I only think that it would be a good idea. I doubt it could or would be implemented - it would be political suicide to even suggest that idea. However, I would like to throw out this idea - America's military comprise about less that 1% of the population, right? What are the figures for Unemployment and/or homeless? The military/prison service/police may not be a great job, however it is employment - at least enough to feed and clothe yourself.

[the_std]

However, I would like to throw out this idea - America's military comprise about less that 1% of the population, right? What are the figures for Unemployment and/or homeless? The military/prison service/police may not be a great job, however it is employment - at least enough to feed and clothe yourself.

There is a problem with this idea. A large percentage of the homeless are in that situation because they have undiagnosed/untreated illnesses, usually mental illnesses, which would make them unfit for the draft. It is a good idea to help them out, but it would definitely have implementation problems.

[Vagabond]

the_std - I agree, however, before going into any of the services (military, police, prison, etc), I would assume there is a screening for being unfit for any reason. But, how many people could likely be helped in such a situation? How many people would it need to help?
Implementation would be almost next to impossible to implement in the US, and I'm sure not only for the political suicide that would occur.

[daleduke17]

ITA. The minute they start drafting is the minute I say "Fuck America" and GTFO. I am of the belief that under NO circumstances is drafting a good thing. People should join the military by choice, not by force.

If you were around during Vietnam you would have been hated more than the soldiers who went and fought if you left the country.

Draft dodgers aren't looked very friendly upon.

[protege]

Draft dodgers aren't looked very friendly upon.

...unless you're one Bill Clinton. Then you get two terms in the White House. Sorry folks, couldn't resist

Seriously though, I do have a cousin who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. Even though he, and thousands of other draft-dodgers were pardoned by then-President Ford, as far as my family is concerned, he doesn't exist. That fucking pussy can stay in Canada. Why is he a pussy? Well, considering that my great-grandfather, grandfather, several uncles, and my father...all *volunteered* for military service...they all saw it as a slap in their faces that he chose to run away.

[elsporko]

Women being drafted is just a bad idea. The drafted people are usually out on the front lines and women often times aren't as strong or physical as men. If you were put in a situation that was life or death would you want a 200 pound man next to you or a 120 pound woman.

[McDreidel09]

Seriously though, I do have a cousin who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. Even though he, and thousands of other draft-dodgers were pardoned by then-President Ford, as far as my family is concerned, he doesn't exist. That fucking pussy can stay in Canada. Why is he a pussy? Well, considering that my great-grandfather, grandfather, several uncles, and my father...all *volunteered* for military service...they all saw it as a slap in their faces that he chose to run away.

That's kinda not fair. If he was too scared to go, then it was probably good that he didn't go. Not everyone is cut out for the military, even if many relatives are a part of it. For example, my father will be the only one in the family without at least one child in the military. I'm too chickenshit to be deployed and my sister just wouldn't be able to handle basic.

There should never be a draft again. Let anyone who is 18 join no matter their ethnicity or orientation who can mentally and physically handle it.

[daleduke17]

That's kinda not fair. If he was too scared to go, then it was probably good that he didn't go. Not everyone is cut out for the military, even if many relatives are a part of it. For example, my father will be the only one in the family without at least one child in the military. I'm too chickenshit to be deployed and my sister just wouldn't be able to handle basic.

There's always the Coast Guard, which is a branch of the armed forces that you could serve in, yet not have to see combat action.

[Hobbs]

There's always the Coast Guard, which is a branch of the armed forces that you could serve in, yet not have to see combat action.

According to the re-distribution of the military following 9/11, the USCG is under the Dept. of Homeland Security. Only in a time of war is it put under the Dept. of the Navy.

That's kinda not fair. If he was too scared to go, then it was probably good that he didn't go. Not everyone is cut out for the military, even if many relatives are a part of it. For example, my father will be the only one in the family without at least one child in the military. I'm too chickenshit to be deployed and my sister just wouldn't be able to handle basic.

There should never be a draft again. Let anyone who is 18 join no matter their ethnicity or orientation who can mentally and physically handle it.

Hojo Awa no kami once gathered together his disciples in the martial arts and called in a physiognomist, who was popular in Edo at the time, to have him determine whether they were brave men or cowards. He had them see the man one by one, telling them, "If he determines 'bravery,' you should strive all the more. If it is 'cowardice,' you should strive by throwing away your life. It's something that you're born with, so there's no shame in it."
Hirose Denzaemon was then about twelve or thirteen years old. When he sat down in front of the physiognomist, he said in a bristling voice , ''if you read cowardice in me, I'll cut you down with a single blow !"

[protege]

That's kinda not fair. If he was too scared to go, then it was probably good that he didn't go. Not everyone is cut out for the military, even if many relatives are a part of it.

I can understand being scared--he would have been foolish not to be. But, to turn his back on his *obligation* is another story. Rather than face his obligation, he chose the easy way out. That's why my grandparents were pissed at him, and why he's no longer a part of the family.

[Nyoibo]

The draft was not an obligation though, it was, for want of a better term forced labour.

[Hobbs]

The draft was not an obligation though, it was, for want of a better term forced labour.

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. -John Stuart Mill

[Rageaholic]

If you were around during Vietnam you would have been hated more than the soldiers who went and fought if you left the country.

Draft dodgers aren't looked very friendly upon.

Than they could hate me all they want. My life and my freedom too important to worry about what other people hating me.