I Got A Most Surprising Phone Message Today - From The Selective Service System

[ThomWV]

Background: About the time of "Mission Accomplished" there was a lot of talk floating around about the return of a draft. I still think its coming and in fact I think its a good thing to have compulsory national service for a couple of years, though not necessarily serving in the armed forces.

Many people are unaware that although we no longer have a draft that there is still an active -though small- Selective Service System (SSS) still in place. Of course young men upon turning 18 still have to register but after that thoughts of the SSS soon disappear. Well, as it turns out there are also still people appointed to serve on local draft boards.

So it occurred to me when it looked like we were going to get a draft again that it might not be such a bad thing if I were to serve on the local board. Before you jump back in disgust let me explain. People tend to see the local Draft Board as the ones who heartlessly snatches our young to force them into the meat grinder of the military machine. I looked at it this way, if you were about to be called and didn't want to go you would be hard pressed to find a more friendly ear on the board than mine, if I could get there.

So I went looking to see how to serve. I do not recall much of anything about how I found the local board but I did and after finding them I contacted the regional guy in charge (a Reserve Major if I remember correctly) and offered my services. He sent some forms that I filled out and sent back and that was pretty much the end of it. I never heard from them again. I figured my application to serve had fallen into some sort of black hole and pretty much forgot about it. So how long ago was that, 4 years or so?

Today's call and message was from the Major. The training is now available and how and when would I like to take it, correspondence, or internet, possibly in person? They apparently are staffing up.

[jody]

1. OK but it's wrong to prevent retired military personnel from serving on draft boards.

:puke:

[PDJane]

2. yeah, well...........

They've missed recruiting quotas and have been taking anyone, even if they have a criminal record or are certifiably loony.

Someon close the door. It's drafty in here.

[alfredo]

3. I signed up a long time ago. No word yet.

[shain from kane]

4. Selective Service System surge. n/t

[spotbird]

5. Not surprising

It's a pity that it will happen without an end to the Iraq war. They need the troops for the war with Iran, I guess.

[Wiley50]

6. RUH RO! n/t

[AndyTiedye]

7. I Had These Stickers Made Up

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. Nice little tidbit of news there...

I'm hoping that this goes nowhere as far as the connotations hidden behind the phone call... :scared:

[kimmerspixelated]

9. Well, all this makes me really anxious

considering all this "terra,terra!" buildup. KABAM!-then a good reason for Iran.

[tnlefty]

10. I applied 3 yrs. ago and was accepted and just recently

went through the first training session in Nashville. I decided to apply because no one will be able to bribe me, period! I've taken some heat from people that I know, too, but I won't be corruptable when a politician or a politician's kid might come before our local board.

There's more interaction in person and if your training is similar you will do role-plays and mock simulations of actually being on the board.

Good luck!

[ThomWV]

11. Our thoughts are the same and I expect just what you are relating.

It could be that some other old codger who's name on the list has fallen off for whatever reason - who knows.

[tnlefty]

14. Well, in my case a board member died and they needed to

fill that slot. I truly hope that there won't be a draft, though! :hi:

[uppityperson]

12. oh oh. I signed up a few yrs ago also, haven't heard back recently.

[tularetom]

13. They'd fire me in about a week

I'd check the addresses on the prospective draftees. All of them from Tightass Estates - in. Kids from the wrong side of the tracks - out.