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Message
re: ? Is there any advantage to volunteering to enlist instead of
Posted on 6/15/24 at 1:20 pm to Bwmdx
Posted on 6/15/24 at 1:20 pm to Bwmdx
Discussion is pretty academic since the draft is currently inactive.
The Vietnam-Era decision to wait for the draft or enlist depended on trading service duration for risk. Drafted, you were "on the wheel" for two years. The greatest time for being sent to Nam was between the end of 6 months of training and the end of your 1st 12 months.
If you enlisted you got to pick your service, possibly your job (MOS), but you got an obligation of 3 to 6 years active duty depending on the enlistment package you signed up for. The very best service options were usually booked up and had long obligations due to extensive training.
Drafted or enlisted "needs of the service" could wipe out all the choices you thought that you had made. Army basic made everybody infantry.
The duration of service part had an added complication. Drafted into the Army you actually had a 6-year obligation. Two years were active, and four in the reserves. Most draftees never got called up for the reserves (my case)... some were ( a friend's case). Reenlistment NCOs lied a great deal about the 6-year obligation to make kids sign for more active years. Four years after you processed out you got a discharge lettter. Mine had been run off by a dot-matrix printer low on ink...never did frame it.
Who knows what a renewed draft might look like? Coed? Universal National Service.
The Vietnam-Era decision to wait for the draft or enlist depended on trading service duration for risk. Drafted, you were "on the wheel" for two years. The greatest time for being sent to Nam was between the end of 6 months of training and the end of your 1st 12 months.
If you enlisted you got to pick your service, possibly your job (MOS), but you got an obligation of 3 to 6 years active duty depending on the enlistment package you signed up for. The very best service options were usually booked up and had long obligations due to extensive training.
Drafted or enlisted "needs of the service" could wipe out all the choices you thought that you had made. Army basic made everybody infantry.
The duration of service part had an added complication. Drafted into the Army you actually had a 6-year obligation. Two years were active, and four in the reserves. Most draftees never got called up for the reserves (my case)... some were ( a friend's case). Reenlistment NCOs lied a great deal about the 6-year obligation to make kids sign for more active years. Four years after you processed out you got a discharge lettter. Mine had been run off by a dot-matrix printer low on ink...never did frame it.
Who knows what a renewed draft might look like? Coed? Universal National Service.
0
Posted on 6/15/24 at 1:21 pm to BFIV
quote:
Didn't the Coast Guard have sailors and ships off the coast of Nam and up in the Mekong River? Memory is a little fuzzy on that.
IDK, but this guy wouldn't be there. He was 5-5, 90 pounds and was a math genius who got 'A's in math I, II, III all in the Fall semester of his freshman year of college. I'm sure he got placed in a high tech job.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 2:40 pm to BFIV
quote:
Didn't the Coast Guard have sailors and ships off the coast of Nam and up in the Mekong River? Memory is a little fuzzy on that.
They sue did. A guy a few years older than me flunked out of school and joined the CG before his draft board was notified. He ended up on a Swift Boat on the Mekong.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 3:07 pm to Bwmdx
Enlisting is a really big decision. Unless you are prepared to live off scraps for a few years, then I wouldn’t recommend enlisting. Joining as an officer is a different matter.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 3:08 pm to GatorH8r
I’m a vet with Bronze star in combat and there is no way I would let one of my kids serve our government of today. We would have to be attacked at home for me to allow a kid to fight.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 3:55 pm to Bwmdx
quote:
That’s a good point. I guess during Vietnam it essentially luck of the draw as far as which branch
If we were to see a repeat of how things were done during the draft-era of the Vietnam War, some of what we'd be seeing is people who are in potential criminal legal trouble being offered the opportunity to volunteer for one of the branches as a "bargaining chip" for avoiding jail. A couple of my best friends' dads ended up in the Marines in Vietnam and Cambodia (which we still officially deny) during that time, in exchange for leniency from the court.
Much time has certainly passed since then, but I'd expect the gov to pull some rabbits from their hat to bolster their numbers of enlisted. GOD knows their rainbow flag peterpuffer-palooza PR campaign has backfired like nothing we've ever seen.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 3:58 pm to TheHarahanian
quote:
Guys who enlisted went Air Force or Navy during the Vietnam era.
Interesting! Appreciate the feedback, sincerely.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 4:05 pm to Bwmdx
You could join one of the weaker non combat branches. However if you’re an adult and not a senior you’ll be priority for shipping and less focus on jobs more so on the needs of that branch.
Same mostly applies currently. A senior will have a better shot at job choice and a few other things. If a grad enlists they are gonna be a priority to ship faster and may not have same options.
Same mostly applies currently. A senior will have a better shot at job choice and a few other things. If a grad enlists they are gonna be a priority to ship faster and may not have same options.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 4:24 pm to BamaScoop
Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Was in college during 9/11 and knew a lot of guys that enlisted. They came back with a lot of problems through no fault of their own. It’s really sad how many lives are lost both physically and mentally.
I don’t trust our leadership and that any conflict wouldn’t be at a minimum led astray by MIC if not downright unjustified.
Once in there I also worry that soldiers are used for all sorts of experimental and questionable treatment which I would want to avoid at all costs for my son (part of my thoughts to not enlist).
Was in college during 9/11 and knew a lot of guys that enlisted. They came back with a lot of problems through no fault of their own. It’s really sad how many lives are lost both physically and mentally.
I don’t trust our leadership and that any conflict wouldn’t be at a minimum led astray by MIC if not downright unjustified.
Once in there I also worry that soldiers are used for all sorts of experimental and questionable treatment which I would want to avoid at all costs for my son (part of my thoughts to not enlist).
Posted on 6/15/24 at 4:52 pm to Bwmdx
Older guy I worked with got drafted, after BC they were getting assignments and 6 guys in a row ahead of him were infantry going to nam, he came up and got cook heading to Alaska lol.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 5:14 pm to Bwmdx
Take the ASVAB in high school. Do you're absolute best, it matters. If shite happens , wait for the Draft Notice to show up. Run like hell to the nearest Air Force recruiting station. Those excellent ASVAB scores get you into the AF when others won't. You don't want to be in the Navy in a take no names war. You sure as hell don't want to be in the Army or USMC.
If you're a College Grad ,or about to be Grad, learn where Officer Recruitment Stations are. Civil Engineering, Logistics, Law, Accounting, and Medicine have their own Specialty Branches which will keep far away from flying bullets and ordinance.
If you're a College Grad ,or about to be Grad, learn where Officer Recruitment Stations are. Civil Engineering, Logistics, Law, Accounting, and Medicine have their own Specialty Branches which will keep far away from flying bullets and ordinance.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 5:17 pm to Bwmdx
Anyone know what the exemptions are or will be or is this just a ploy to get some national database. Don’t agree to anything they can change after you do.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 5:34 pm to Sixafan
This would be if great interest to me as I'm trying to eventually get to med school.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 6:13 pm to The Tiger322
My dad was drafted in 1966 and ended up on the front lines in a rifle company with the 1st Cav. It wasn't like today - you had no APCs to carry you, so you choppered in then walked. (Couldn't get heavy vehicles in the jungle). You couldn't see 10 feet in front of you and you always had a risk of ambush. The jungle was swampy and you were often up to your knees in mud in 100 degree heat with 90% humidity. You wouldn't see base camp for 2 or 3 months and had to bathe in creeks. In other words, it sucked. I remember my dad always saying "I will never camp out or sleep in the woods ever again."
My uncle wanted none of that and joined the Air Force. He did go to Vietnam, but he had an office job.
One of my dad's good friends somehow got stationed in Germany. Another friend got drafted, but got lucky and worked in the depot. Lots of guys dodged in various ways.
So when you hear people say "2/3rds of Vietnam vets were volunteers" it may be technically true, but lots of them joined to avoid the draft (and wouldn't have joined otherwise).
When you got drafted you were guaranteed Army or Marine Corps (yes the Marines drafted during Vietnam). Not many people wanted that. But when you volunteered, you had a little more choice in MOS even if you had to go Army or Marines.
My uncle wanted none of that and joined the Air Force. He did go to Vietnam, but he had an office job.
One of my dad's good friends somehow got stationed in Germany. Another friend got drafted, but got lucky and worked in the depot. Lots of guys dodged in various ways.
So when you hear people say "2/3rds of Vietnam vets were volunteers" it may be technically true, but lots of them joined to avoid the draft (and wouldn't have joined otherwise).
When you got drafted you were guaranteed Army or Marine Corps (yes the Marines drafted during Vietnam). Not many people wanted that. But when you volunteered, you had a little more choice in MOS even if you had to go Army or Marines.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 7:56 pm to momentoftruth87
How would that work for college grads? Would they automatically be officers or still be enlisted. I know when I was in, and I imagine it is still the same, a lot of enlisted had degrees. Although, I bet most of those were obtained after they were AD.
I came through medical corp as a physician so my course and experience was different than most.
I came through medical corp as a physician so my course and experience was different than most.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 8:04 pm to Pandy Fackler
quote:
You want out of the draft? Well then buy your way out, otherwise you're fricked.
Ah, Civil War rules.
Look at how well that worked out in NYC in the 1860s.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 8:33 pm to TheHarahanian
quote:
Guys who enlisted went Air Force or Navy during the Vietnam era
My Dad enlisted in the Navy instead of waiting to be enlisted. He said that when they sworn them in they made them call out numbers starting with 1 and so on, after the last guy called out his number, they made all the odd numbers take a step forward, the guys said congratulations, all those that stepped forward are now US Marines. That would have sucked.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 8:39 pm to Bwmdx
quote:
Are there exemptions for college or professional school?
My Dad had a student deferment during Vietnam but he was in engineering, completing a PhD in thermodynamics on a NASA fellowship.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 9:03 pm to LuckyTiger
My father joined the coast guard just prior to the Vietnam war. Was stationed in Miami Beach Florida for most of the war - true story. I have a son in high school, have been considering pushing for him to sign up for the coast guard reserves.
Posted on 6/15/24 at 10:17 pm to The Tiger322
quote:If you’re accepted, the military will pay for all your of your med school and a stipend.
This would be if great interest to me as I'm trying to eventually get to med school.
quote:LINK
As part of the HPSP, the Military will pay your tuition, provide a living stipend and reimburse you for required books, equipment and supplies. Once you are accepted for the HPSP, your Service branch will contact your medical school and start paying your tuition.
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