I like this thread, I hope we can it open, been bugging my brother about this stuff for a few weeks now. Started when we were talking hull numbers for the Aircraft Carriers. I remember asking my Dad about it and he thought it was when the keel was laid but there was a new one with a keel of 78 or something. So that idea was out.

However, back on topic, what a lot of folks need to keep in mind; we're no longer using former battle tactics and things have changed quite a bit. We've now entered the era of modern warfare. The slug fest of the past World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam aren't really how its done today, oh don't get me wrong the US Military is still all about shock and awe.

Keep in mind, if the draft ever needs to be reinstated it's because the entirety of US Reserves will most likely have been so depleted. So I'm thinking if that's the case the entire US Industrial complex will transition mobilize its economy for wartime production.

But yeah, if the draft has to come into play we're pretty much screwed, cause that's a lot of bodies to churn through before it even comes into play; people are going to be so horrified the enlistment lines will be around the block.

At that point you'll either be supporting the military in an industrial capacity ie making more toilet circuit boards (cause you're never told what you're building) or if a draft notice shows up in your mailbox you more than likely will be going. It's like, freaky, to think of an entire nation's industry supporting a war effort. Gives me chills

So those my thoughts are on the matter, if I'm incorrect in my way of thinking, by all means lmk....

 

Then we were having different conversations, I guess. Been good anyway.
*handshake*

 

Man, it was so long ago I'd almost forgotten about having to register for the draft back in high school and that young women couldn't even if they wanted to, lol.

Yay for progress.

 

Oh well, just a matter of time. Doesn't change anything for me though.

Why would women want to register, other than serving our country? (I'm not anti-military I'm just wondering)

 

Yes. There have been procedures in place in the services for decades because both parents can be deployed. Every military member with one or more children HAS to keep a family plan on file and updated that details who will be taking care of the children in the event both parents are deployed or sent TDY - usually grandparents or aunts and uncles. Not having a workable family plan is grounds for involuntary separation of at least one parent.

We have that happening NOW. The Powers That Be really don't give a fuck once the military member is no longer useful - that's why so many veterans have to fight to GET care, and the VA has to fight to get funding EVERY YEAR. Talk to the vets outside of the clinic you're interning in, the ones in the various waiting areas. They'll give you an earful of the troubles they've had getting proper care, and damn near every one of us has a similar story.

They're not the people who stayed in long enough to retire; retirees can go to the active duty clinics and hospitals on the bases. The ones that go to the VA are everybody else who did their duty, and were broken in some way.

--Moony

 

Welp its just like feminists say, they want equal rights.

 

They only want to be equal as long as it's convienient for them if it's not it's the men opressing them.

 

So a question about the draft.. Do you have to be eligible? For example I heard you can't have asthma or be flat footed... Which I both have. So if I was 18 would I get drafted?

 

Thanks for answering some of my questions.

And yeah, the VA does have to fight tooth and nail for funding. It looks better for re-election atm to not appear to support the VA, so it's an uphill battle for the hospital employees who truly care to get anything done. No joke, the Service I'm in has been waiting over A YEAR just to get some people hired. A 12 member Service is operating on 5 people + me interning to help out. No wonder the care is so slow.

 

I'm pretty sure you'd just have to sign up anyway, and if they feel your asthma and flat-feet would hinder you in service (which I'm sure it does), I think you'd be exempt from the draft.

I don't have to sign up for another year or so, but if I have Asperger's (which I do) or any form of autism, would I be exempt?

 

Flat feet is no longer automatically a disqualifying item. Asthma past age 13 is a permanent DQ , as with autism.

 

All of the women feminists I know say this change is the right thing, because yes: it's equality.

Horseshit. While any group will have its share of hypocrites, what you've put here is not feminism. And as above, none of the ones I know believe anything like what you've described.

 

I really can't get into it but from what I've seen not everyone (other veterans Ive met along the way) is VA eligible.

Oh they tried very, very, very hard to mark my Dad as 90% but a trip to the Supreme Court of Virginia and that was pretty much squashed.

My Dad was active duty 26 yrs planned on doing a full 30. Back in the late 80's to early 90's we were able to utilize Military Healthcare but in 93 or 94 all retirees and their dependents were forced to Champus out and then we got Tricare. The only thing we have access to now is the Base Pharmacy, Exchange, Commissary, and MWR. And then when you age out of Tricare you get scammed into paying every month for Medicare and Tricare is now free.

 

Thanks for clarifying.

 

Does that vary by branch? Or maybe depending on the form or severity of autism? Or does it not apply to non-combat roles? My GF's brother has diagnosed autism, but he's "high functioning" and they let him join the Navy.

 

Ok apparently I missed this, so since when did the draft come back? I don't think the draft is ever going to come back, not like it was during the Vietnam era

 

The draft didn't come back, but the bureaucratic apparatus that exists for the sole purpose of possibly having one was brought back in 1980, under Jimmy Carter. All males have to register for a non-existent draft starting at age 18. Your tax dollars at work.

 

I only worked for a year at MEPS in recruiting but from what I know was that Autism itself was PDQ, however since Asperger's falls within the autism spectrum I honestly don't know. I do know that any issue with "mental" has to have so much documentation, had to be off meds for x period of time, or certain meds taken at anytime in a person's life past age 13 is PDQ. Then it would go to a local doc review board to be locally denied, or pushed up to the next level. All mental issues needing to be cleared before signing an enlistment contract need waivers most likely at the top spot, which for the Army, was USAREC, US Army Recruiting Command, ie the top guy, had to sign off on the waiver.

I did once have a Marine recruiting bring me a highly Autistic candidate to test - it was not a good experience for the candidate since the ASVAB at that time was still given as a 9 section timed paper test - not go as fast as you can.

With all that said, right now its easier to get a medical waiver than a moral waiver in any branch.