Is this true? "College kids don't get drafted"

[SeaSpray]

The other day at work, the woman I work with said "College protects boys from being drafted, so it's only the poor and blacks who get drafted".

I have to say, I was quite surprised to hear this. First of all, I had never heard that before, and secondly, I was shocked to hear someone say something as blatant as that. As if "poor and blacks" never go to college? And to say "blacks"?? I don't know, maybe "blacks" is not an offensive term, but to lump an entire race of people into a category that is assumed to be so poor that none of them would go to college???? Do people even use the term "blacks" anymore???? I mean, conversely, would anyway say "whites"? Or "yellows"?? Or "reds"??

I'm beginning to think that I'm working with a nutcase.


So, my questions are:

#1. Is it true, if a boy is in college the government will not draft him??

#2. What do you think of what, and how, my work mate phrased her comment?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was under the impression that in the drafts way back when it was true. But white folks did get drafted back then and once you were out of college--it was open season.

How it would work if it came back, I don't know.


As for your co-worker--she's a bigoted idiot.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

At this time, we do not have a draft....but if my memory serves me correctly, if you were in college during draft time, you would get a deferment and a different code for the draft... If you were married and had children, you also had a different code for the draft if you were the right age.. in other words, they would take others before you.....those who were not in college or married with children.

Now I am going back in time to answer this question and asked my husband who had been drafted many years ago...and as far as the co-worker, I would not get into these discussions with her....just better to stay clear of that kind of thinking.

 

[phillybeth]

Back in the 50's and 60's, yes, young men attending college FULL TIME recieved draft deferrments so they could complete their educations.

They were supposed to serve their military service once they graduated. However, a fair number would get married just a few weeks after graduation, as the draft was only for unmarried men.

I find your coworker's comment outdated, since she is assuming blacks don't or can't go to college.

 

[disneyfreakk]

Yes its true. They did this during the Vietnam war. Since we dont have a draft in place anymore, you dont have to worry about it. Your coworker was correct in what she said. Only the poor were drafted since most were unable to afford college.

 

[Cindy B]

That would be true. My father (college was not an option for him due to many circumstances) would have been drafted if he didn't join first. His rationale was "if I enlist first, I get the assignment I want" instead of the army telling him where to go. He wasn't "black" but he was lower income.

Back in 1966-68, that is what he did. He also got married at a very young age, and had kids extremely young. My sister and I were "Vietnam prevention babies".

Apparently married soldiers/kids went to Germany, unmarried went to Vietnam.

 

[DawnCt1]

The other day at work, the woman I work with said "College protects boys from being drafted, so it's only the poor and blacks who get drafted".


?

No one gets drafted.

 

[SeaSpray]

No one gets drafted.

Well, no kidding. LOL

We were talking about things in general; the Vietnam war, and the current talk about the draft being reinstated, when she made that comment. She was, however, speaking in the present tense when she made the comment, as if to say that if they do reinstate the draft, college kids wouldn't be drafted.

 

[DawnCt1]

Well, no kidding. LOL

We were talking about things in general; the Vietnam war, and the current talk about the draft being reinstated, when she made that comment. She was, however, speaking in the present tense when she made the comment, as if to say that if they do reinstate the draft, college kids wouldn't be drafted.

Since there is no draft, how can one possibly speculate. Near the end of the Viet Nam war, there were far fewer draft deferments. We didn't have to worry about that however because DH joined the Army after high school, became a Green Beret sargent (E-5) and served 15 months in Viet Nam. He went to college after he was discharged. He is now a colonel in the Army Reserves.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Hey Dawn... tell him my husband and I thank him for his past and present service....

 

[Galahad]

My understanding is that the Selective Service acts that we are currently under, where 18 year olds must register, does NOT include education deferments. They became very unpopular as a way to "unfairly" avoid the draft. It's pretty academic though. If a draft were re-instated, the parameters would be debated anew in Congress anyway.

 

[DawnCt1]

Hey Dawn... tell him my husband and I thank him for his past and present service....

Sure will Marsha; alias Mahsha. He enjoys his service and is well past the age and length of service for which he could retire.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes that was true back in the old days...however there is no draft....OK....starting to think of "Stripes"....anyone else.

 

[phillybeth]

My understanding is that the Selective Service acts that we are currently under, where 18 year olds must register, does NOT include education deferments. They became very unpopular as a way to "unfairly" avoid the draft. It's pretty academic though. If a draft were re-instated, the parameters would be debated anew in Congress anyway.

I thought they did away with Selective Service registration a few years ago?

Honestly, I think EVERYONE, regardless of sex, educational, reproductive or marital status, should do 2 years of federal service starting at age 18. Not necessarily military service, but some sort of obligatory service to our nation. Everyone in Israel does military service- I worked with a woman who was missing her left hand (birth defect) and even she did 18 months in the Israeli army!

 

[mrsklamc]

This was true during Vietnam, but you did have to maintain certain grades or academic progress.

I had a professor who was in his 80s and just still teaching for something to do. He had once been the dean of students and had to tell a kid he was required by law to report his bad grades to the government. The kid begged him not to, saying he knew he would die in Vietnam. Sadly, the student was correct, and as of 2001 that professor was still going to visit his grave.

I'm probably oversharing as a response to your question, but obviously that story really stuck with me.

 

[rie'smom]

Yes its true. They did this during the Vietnam war. Since we dont have a draft in place anymore, you dont have to worry about it. Your coworker was correct in what she said. Only the poor were drafted since most were unable to afford college.

Not true. You might want to let my aunt know about this. They were and are millionaires,her son didn't go to college and she visits his grave once a week. I know of several instances of "rich boys" who didn't go to college and were drafted. Many middle class people were drafted as well.

 

[cardaway]

I don't think it's that hard to speculate since the reasoning for the deferments haven't really went away. If it all went down again I see things being the exactly the same way they were before, and IMO that one of the reasons I'm against the draft.

 

[Galahad]

I thought they did away with Selective Service registration a few years ago?

Nope. Every male must register (just a post card at the post office) when they turn 18. If they don't they will be ineligible for student loans and such. There were really only a few years in the late 70's without resigistration. I was a member of the last h.s. class that got draft cards in the Vietnam era. Still have it I think.

 

[ahutton]

Perhaps her remark came from hearing John Kerry's words recently? Where he told a group they needed to do well and study hard in school or they would end up in Iraq. Lots of people took offense to this - it was a big debate back in late October/early November.

 

[jsmith]

I thought they did away with Selective Service registration a few years ago?

Nope-every young man must register on his 18th birthday-failure to register means that you are ineligible for federal student financial aid. The purpose is to keep a pool of candidates to draw from in the event of a major national need (i e a pearl harbor type of situation) when the all volunteer military simply could not provide for the nations defense.