Do you have a draft-age son?

[garybeck]

My son is 17. If the house of cards doesn't fall, there's going to be another war and probably a draft.

He won't fight, and I won't let them take him. But I wonder if there is anything we can do now to make it easier if it gets to that point. I've heard he can declare himself a conscientious objector now, so there is record of it later on.

Is it better for him to register when he turns 18, or not? He's been told that if he doesn't he might not be able to get student loans and stuff like that. I remember when I turned 18, I filled out the card and wrote all over it "I'm just filling this out because I have to. I will never fight. NEVER!" all over the card.

Are there others here in my situation, with draft-age kids? Are you worried about the next couple years? Are you doing anything to prepare for a possible draft?

[JuniperLea]

1. Yes

26 year old and 23 year old sons... and a 21 year old daughter, if they take it that far and I don't doubt for a bit they would.

The recruiters have been after all of them; yes, the daughter too. None of them will enlist or fight.

Frankly, I don't' think there is a thing that can be done in the way of preparation. The rules could change at any time.

I can't think of one good reason for registering.

[kywildcat]

2. I'm sweating this one

My son is almost 17. There are recruiters in his lunch room. And I see all of the signs for a conflict with Syria or Iran or both. The entire goal has been perpetual war, which 6 years ago I didn't even think possible.
I have no solutions. I am just at my wits end about this.


edit for spelling

[carolinalady]

3. close 15--and that was how I got my freep in-laws to vote for

Kerry.

[rosesaylavee]

4. My son is there too so I am posting to keep track

of this thread. Can't send him to Canada as that door was closed off last year, right? I remember reading something about Canada agreeing to turn away anyone avoiding the draft.

Sheesh. This is not something I want to worry about.

[garybeck]

9. Canada....

I heard the rumors about Canada too but I'm not sure they are substantiated. I would make sure you have a current passport. It can't hurt.

I'm also considering sending my son to Canada for college. It's cheaper and there are some good schools there. One other benefit is if there is a draft, and he wanted to cross the border, it wouldn't be so obvious that he's doing it to avoid the draft.

[carolinalady]

12. How long is a passport good for? I had one for Jake when he

was a small child.

[rosesaylavee]

21. 5 years I think - might be shorter with kids

as I would think they would want to the pics to be accurate. Can always get a new one.

[Bjornsdotter]

35. 10 years for adults n/t

[rockymountaindem]

34. I go to the University of Toronto

All but one of my American friends here (myself included) said we would return to the US if we were drafted. And yes, we're all Democrats.

[murielm99]

74. I think your post makes an important point here.

My kids are 21, 24, and 26.

My oldest would not be drafted. She is gay, and would let everyone know it. My daughter who is 21 is graduating from college in December, and is being heavily recruited. She does not want to enlist.

Both she and her brother, 24, could be called in a special skills draft.

They told me that they would go if they were drafted. My daughter said, " Yeah, I would just fucking go, the same as my dad did when he was drafted." They are good Democrats, too.

I have talked to them about getting involved with a peace church, and establishing some type of CO credentials. But I don't make their decisions for them. I can worry, and I can help them, but they are adults. I would have to respect whatever decision they made.

[JuniperLea]

13. With any luck

some gracious country will take pity on us and open the doors, knowing we are not all in agreement with our so-called leader!

Every day that passes I understand more and more how Cindy Sheehan feels and why she is doing what she is doing.

I feel like all our lives are over unless we can get this maniac out of office and our troops home where they belong! THis has gone beyond madness! It is pure insanity and I'm sick to death of the whole mess.

[abluelady]

5. Depends what the Draft Age Is!

I doubt we are going to see a draft. Less Americans would stand for this war than already do if a draft was instituted. More and more people are anti-war than ever. You may not see the protests increasing, but the poll numbers are definitely showing that trend.

[funflower]

6. Lots of good resources through the Quakers and peace community

http://www.centeronconscience.org/about_ccw.htm

http://quakerhouse.org/Draft-FAQ.htm

[mahina]

17. Thank you for those...

I appreciate that.

[funflower]

56. I have kids who aren't far from draft age. Believe me, I'm trying

to educate myself as much as possible.

[Horse with no Name]

7. My daughter is 17 and graduates this year

Scored high on the ASVAB and has had lots of mail and phone calls.
I am in the process of getting our entire family passports.
Need I say more?

[RebelOne]

8. I have draft-age grandson. He is 18 and his mother

(my ex-daughter-in-law) is encouraging him to enlist.

[garybeck]

10. ug. I'm sorry.

I just heard that a friend of a friend enlisted. I just don't get it.

[JulieWisc]

11. I have a daughter

that just turned 18 but she has a 18 month old and I wonder if they can ever take her tho? I totally feel for you and your concern for your son . My nephew is over there in Iraq for 18 months. He signed up for non active duty with the guard after 911 and now he runs fuel, ammo, and whatever else the bases need all over Iraq. I worry so much about him as he is like a son to me.

[Horse with no Name]

18. They don't care about her parental status

They'd take both of her parents and leave their child with grandparents.

[JulieWisc]

32. she told the recruiters........

when they called (thank god I wasn't here) that she had a daughter and even if she didn't she wasn't enlisting to go to war for oil and no recruiters have called here since!!! I'd injure her myself so they couldn't take her! j/k!!

[mahina]

14. Mine is 17,

and our family has served in every major war but Iraq since the Revolution, including VIetnam...isn't it sad that he can't feel good about following in our family's footsteps?
Over my dead body, not for this crowd, not with depleted uranium and war without end on the table. It makes my heart heavy.
As to what to do about it, I don't really know...his school secretary sends in registration notices on the kids 18th birthday. I have a little time to tell her to leave him alone.
sigh.

[carolinalady]

26. Do they have to register? Do girls have to register?

[Selatius]

15. Pray the war ends before your son turns 18

It's not much I'm offering, but I'm 23 myself. I understand. I pray it'll be over tomorrow, but my gut tells me we'll be stuck there for roughly until 2008 if not longer, and that's three long, hard years away.

[Bjornsdotter]

16. In one month

...my son will be 18.

We are putting together his CO file. My son asked his teachers to each write a letter for his file, each and every one of them said no. The only one who agreed to write a letter was the principal of his school.

One teacher even laughed at him and told him there would not be a draft; I left a voice mail for that teacher, just to let him know that if there was a draft he would fall into the age group available to be drafted.

There are some great links in the Draft Discussion boards that will tekll you exactly what you need to do. If you have any questions PM me.

Cheers and good luck!

[garybeck]

24. wow, can't believe the teachers all said no. n/t

[LurkerGirl]

85. Why not?

The teachers are not required to write CO letters. And they're right...the draft isn't about to be reinstated. Any social studies teacher will tell you that.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

19. I know I will be flamed for this because I was flamed just after

the 2004 theft when I threatened to move to Canada.

If the house of cards does not fall, I will move out of the states, get settled in and then send for my child. I fear that if I do not move prior to him getting older, he will feel obligated to go because his friends will be forced to go.

Edited to explain the flaming - I was flamed for threatening to leave - they called me a quitter, etc. I have stayed and I have worked hard to help bring down the house of cards but if we fail - I am going away from this hell hole we call America!

[Horse with no Name]

20. I agree with you

The whole case is laid out.
The corruption. The lies. Election fraud. Illegal war.
If none of this sticks, it is over.
That will be the end of what we knew as our country.
I am hoping for the best...and I feel good about it.
However, I am preparing for the worst and hoping it doesn't come to it.

[garybeck]

22. I do not flame or blame you for wanting to leave.

The thought crossed has my mind too. Better health care. No draft. Better gun laws. Better marijuana laws. So it's not just like I'm jumping ship because I'm scared; I think Canada has a lot to offer.

[rosesaylavee]

29. Too cold and you forget, they don't like us there

either as a general rule. But if it is a choice between there and death, I choose there for my family.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

38. it is getting warmer because the iceberg meltdown, etc. n/t

[garybeck]

44. I find most Canadians understand we don't all support Bush,

and they don't all "not like us."

[July]

82. I don't think it's as simple as "they don't like us there."

I've been to Canada countless times, and I've NEVER had that impression. Canadians, being Canadians and not U.S. citizens, don't see everything the same way Americans do, and they also have reason to question our actions, since they are affected by many of them.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

41. My biggest concern is that my son will think he *has* to go because

his friends are going. That is why I want to get the hell out of dodge before it comes down.

[kywildcat]

43. That's my biggest fear as well

The friends factor.

[garybeck]

53. have you talked with him about it?

i always find that helps. I talked to my son about it and he said flat out, he would not go. he doesn't care what his friends say. i also asked him, if there were ANY circumstances under which he would fight, like, if there was another hitler putting people in ovens or something. he said he still would not fight. he said he might take a "desk job" in the effort but he would never fight. heavy stuff.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

65. Yes, I talk to him about it alot.

He said he wants me to make the move soon, then he will join me in a few years when he is 17. I know though, when the chips are down, he would believe it wouldn't be fair of him to dodge when his friends are going. My choice is to go ASAP if the house of cards do not fall and take him with me. He doesn't want to leave his friends, he says, "Until it is necessary." Just hoping that won't be the case when the time comes.

[kywildcat]

81. I as well discuss this with my son.

I also discuss this with his friends. I talk to one and all about the recruiters in the lunch room, about my sons father who did 2 tours in Vietnam, about options (CO, Leaving the country), everything I can think of to counter what I see is an intense effort to glamorize war for oil. My son is steadfastly anti-war. His base of friends is diverse and fairly vocal. But his base includes a few kids who come from extremely religious/conservatives homes. I do know that the church these kids belong to pushes patriotism, and my sons seems to enjoy the camaraderie of this group of kids.
BTW, what was your sons take of Jarhead? Was it 2 hours of Boo rah and recruiting messages? That movie and the timing of its release have me thinking.......

[funflower]

64. Better change your citizenship, then. Just moving abroad won't keep you

or your child out of legal trouble if he is drafted.

[dchill]

23. Mine turned 18 last month.

And I don't want to even think about it. He's NOT going.

[garybeck]

27. Right. But what would you do?

move to canada? go to jail? I'm just wondering because I'm in the same boat.

[Sydnie]

31. Mine did too

He has his registration information, but I just can't bring myself to mail it yet. He has already said he will go underground and leave the country rather than go to this war. I still fear for him ... his "field" is turning out to be computer programing and we all know what the 2002 skills draft was planning and who they would net in that search.

I am holding my breath ... waiting to exhale.

[dchill]

80. Mine registered.

You know - "it's the law." He gets calls from recruiters often, but usually his mother or I answer. (Love that caller ID, eh?) If it comes down to a draft (and I really don't think it will), I don't know what we'll do, but we agree that he's not going.

[July]

83. Even though it's the law, compliance varies by state.

I believe the state with the lowest compliance rate is Texas.

[garybeck]

25. my son is at the Jarhead movie right now.

that's what made me start this thread. I hope the movie makes him feel more against war than he already is. But I get the impression it's a gung-ho movie. I tried to discourage him from going but all his friends are going.

[annabanana]

49. I think maybe "Syriana" with George Clooney

might end up being a good counter weight to Jarhead.

[garybeck]

55. he just got back and I talked to him about it

he said it wasn't really pro-war, but it definitely wasn't anti-war, like say private ryan was. i'm going to ask him more later about it. it seems it would be one or the other.

[nonconformist]

28. My sons are only 10 and 7, but my baby brother just turned 18

And I'm terrified for him. I also have a 20 year old sister.

I passed on advice to him and our mother about how he needs to start a CO paper trail now. He's vehemently anti-war and a Catholic who went to Catholic schools, so I'm hoping that will help him.

I told him to write "conscientious objector" right on his draft registration card.

I've been so concerned about my little brother... but sometimes I wonder if I should already be afraid for my OWN kids. Unless things change very dramatically, I suspect we'll still be in Iraq and god knows where else in 8 years...

[mandyky]

30. My oldest son is in the Army - he's 24

My middle son is 15 and I hope he won't want to follow his older brother. My youngest son is 8, so I won't think about that, since he is also autistic spectrum.

[NC_Nurse]

39. I'm counting on my son's

Asperger's syndrome to keep him out too. He's 17. I hope it qualifies as a reason to be excluded, he wouldn't want to go anyway. He thinks Bush is a "clown" anyway. :-)

[AnotherMother4Peace]

63. My son has never been diagnosed, but from my experience

working with children with Autism, I believe he may have Asberger's. He has those characteristic "peaks and valleys" of abilities. And my other draft age son has a pylodinal cyst, the same condition that kept Rush Limbaugh out of the draft. It's a pretty insignificant condition, but I figure Rush set precedence. I'm hoping it will keep him out when the time comes.

Yes, I'm concerned for both my sons, because Bush has ruined our armed forces, & I'm afraid a draft will be needed to reestablish it. And I will do everything in my power to keep my sons safe.

[rockymountaindem]

33. I *am* a draft age son, and you're registered automatically

I thought I'd have to actually sign up at the post office or something. But no; prior to my 18th birthday I got a card in the mail saying I was already registered. So, that was easy.

[garybeck]

52. woah. that is new. and strange.

where does the military get the info about you from? this is very weird. I thought that was the reason why you had to register - because of privacy laws, the military didn't have access to school records, or social security stuff.

[funflower]

57. Whether to encourage our son to register is a question we've been tossing

around lately. Guess we won't have to make that decision.

[garybeck]

58. don't you think that's a little f'ed up?

I don't recall hearing anything about this before. All of the sudden, they don't have to register? When did this happen?

[funflower]

62. Completely f*d up. I think all of the babies get social security #'s in

the hospital now. I suppose it's nothing for the guvmint to track them throughout their lives via our tax returns of their school records or whatever.

Time to buy property in the Caymans.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

68. No child left behind act

requires high schools to fork over the information to the Pentagon so our kids can be recruited. You can opt out of the program, planning to call the school next week to start the opt out process. Unsure if this act set up the auto registration or not? This is the first I heard about automatically being registered.

[garybeck]

75. we opted out a while ago

so does that mean he's not automatically registered?

this is really f'ed up.

[Sydnie]

71. It must be either a state thing where that poster is or maybe because

they renewed a drivers license recently? My son got the traditional card in the mail and will not be registered until they either recieve that card, he goes on line and registers at the site directly, or calls a phone number to provide the info directly. He did not need to renew his drivers license, so I know that didn't trigger for him.

Could it have something to do with registering to vote where the previous poster lives?

[garybeck]

76. why did your son get the card in the mail?

how did they know your son turned 18?

[Sydnie]

91. I have no clue how they knew that he had just turned 18

I have opted him out of NCLB for the last two years and reminded him to do it for himself as soon as he turned 18. I have to assume it was from his drivers license, although he didn't have to renew it on his birthday, they must track that information that way too.

He did get a card in the mail. It gave him three options for registering; mail the card back filled out, register on line, or call a number to register over the phone.


Sorry for the delay in answering ... I have been out all day.

[rockymountaindem]

61. NCLB states that the schools have to give information to recruiters

I think that's how it happened.

[July]

84. My son (two years older than you) was not automatically registered.

He did get a registration form in the mail, but it was not an "automatic registration."

[NNadir]

36. I'm trying to make enough money to get out of the country.

My oldest is 11, which is only 7 years away. I may sound paranoid but I'm not; I went through the selective "service" system in the Vietnam era, which lasted more than 10 years. The worst was pretty much midway through the war, which is exactly when my boy will be of age.

As bad as things are now, we are only up to 2000 dead, about where Vietnam was on about '63 or '64.

(I got my draft notice in '72, and I was definitely concerned about being killed in Vietnam.)

We are trying to get enough capital to move overseas and to ensure immigration to another country. I don't think the US has much of a future anyway. We've effectively been plundered by barbarians.

[fed-up]

37. My son turned 17 last week and has compiled a file of his anti-war

protest participation which started way back in 2002. He will soon start asking his teachers to write letters.

I have been worried about a draft since * was appointed dictator in chief.

The good news is that I have a sister that moved to Belize so that is where I will ship him if necessary. He also has stated that he will leave the country willingly ever since I gave him a copy of "Addicted to War" a few years ago. Since then he has joined Michael Moore's email list and does read current news (alternative) stories about the war.

Good luck!

[Bjornsdotter]

40. The Objector Website

http://www.objector.org/

Good luck all!

[garybeck]

45. thanks n/t

[RepublicanElephant]

42. the recruiters came to my youngest's school yesterday...

he said they were two of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen...
and their uniforms were extra-tight.

geez.

what next, girls from "hooters"?

[Midnight Rambler]

46. Draft age myself, with a soon-to-be draft age brother

I'm 23, he turns 17 in a few weeks. I already told my mother there's no way in hell I'm serving, and I know my brother would never be willing to serve. I may have a potential medical deferment in an injured leg that might get conveniently reinjured, but I'm worried about my brother. If it comes down to it, I'll smuggle him out of the country, whatever it takes. Fuck prison, * is not taking my brother.

[garybeck]

47. What did your mother say?

you don't have to answer, but if you want to share what she said I'm curious. for me, as the father, I would say, "I'll pack both of our bags. Go fire up the car."

[Midnight Rambler]

48. She said pretty much the same thing

Funny thing is she voted for *

[AirmensMom]

50. I have daughters.

One of them, and her husband, my son-in-law, are already in the Air Force. The other one is almost too old at 28, I think ... I hope.

I believe the next draft will take them all, sons AND daughters. Not to start a sexist flame war, but it seems that a lot of people assume that (or at least talk like) our "servicemen" are all men ... and many of them are women. Parents of draft-age daughters are just as vulnerable.

:cry:

FUCK Bush* and his warmongering friends! Why can't we just enjoy our grandchildren without wondering if they're going to have to grow up without their parents? :mad::banghead:

[LynneSin]

51. Go to the Quaker site - more stuff about CO there

Being a CO does NOT get you out of the draft - it just means they are required to place you in a non-combatant position. And this isn't Vietnam, they are hard-up for soldiers so they might be even more strict with how someone qualifies as a draft soldier.

One would hope that as soon as we get a democrat in office that he/she will pardon anyone who dodged the draft, but then again hopefully there won't be a draft

http://www.quaker.org

[EFerrari]

87. This is a great suggestion AND have a back up plan

because these criminals are rule breakers and if they have to, will not honor the law.

I feel like ALL draft age kids are my kids. My two sons are just about out of the window but don't forget, we are an army of people who will help in any way we can.

:grouphug:

[helderheid]

54. my son is 5 and my daughter is 3. Wars happen - they will be going to

Quaker meeting with me so they can learn pacifism and to be protected no matter what age they are as C.O. status

[mopinko]

59. son- 19 dropped out and hoping he will stay that way.

the sane parent in me wants him to get his shit together, get his g.e.d., get back in school. the rest of me wants him to keep his head down until we wake from this nightmare. he isn't registered. he gets a piece of mail now and them from a college, or the navy or whatever, but no phone calls from recruiters. despite his paperlessness, he has skills they would like to have.
i am entitled to dual irish citizenship, and should get my shit together and get it. i started trying to gather documents, and couldn't get what i needed. but if i search a little harder, i can get it. he will likely be granted if he applies after i do, although it is not automatic. i know people in ireland who would hide him. and it is an eu passport.
this kid cannot be a soldier. he would be the kid in full metal jacket in the bathroom. i am ready to do whatever it takes if there is a draft.

i do not think that bush could start another war, or start a draft, tho. until this week, i would not have said that. but i think the tide has turned.

[NVMojo]

60. 3 sons, all draft age ...

[Ksec]

66. Yes, my son is 16

And theres no way thats gonna happen to him.

[LifeDuringWartime]

67. i didnt have the opportunity to fill out a card

i was forced to check a box when applying for federal finacial aid for college - a box saying "yes, sign me up if i havent already." no other options. its like that with driver's licenses in many states as well.

[Lilith Velkor]

69. I had a draft-age lover

His family sent him to Europe :(

He'll be safe :)

[Telly Savalas]

70. So you're saying that Bush wants to see the soccer moms

hop out of their mini-vans and riot in the streets?

Because that's certainly what would happen if there were a draft. Given the growing unpopularity of the Iraqi occupation, another war with a draft certainly wouldn't go over very well.

Furthermore, Bush was re-elected a year ago. If he has such a hard-on for a draft, what's he waiting for?

[NoBushSpokenHere]

89. He could care less about soccer moms

He is waiting to sell us on another war.

[shugah]

72. yes - a 17 year old also

he will register as CO when he turns 18. at least i assume he will. he won't go to war if drafted tho - he is buddhist (thus CO) and would not be able to fulfill the obligations sometimes required by the military.

[Corgigal]

73. My son just turned 18 in Sept

He's completing his senior year in High School. He will be applying to colleges in Jan. We have gotten him a passport and I have asked our former foreign exchange student if a draft happens would she be able to take him for awhile. She lives in Serbia and told us she would help. I certainly hope it doesn't come to that.

I feel better when I have a plan.

[garybeck]

77. yup, a plan is key

that's why i'm trying to learn about it now. I don't want to be caught off guard. we are near the border to Canada and he's interested in a couple canadian colleges so that's my thinking at this point.

[Ladyhawk]

78. My 14-year-old nephew is being raised by freepers.

His step brother will soon be in Iraq. Sigh. I really have no idea of what to do or say because the freeper-fundy family will get pissed at me.

[maveric]

79. Three sons. 23, 19 and 15.

If they bring back the draft I'll drive them 10 miles away to Tijuana.
Cheney and bu$h will NOT get my boys!

[pdxmom]

86. I have 2 draft age kids - a 20 year old son and a 17 year old

daughter. I've been worried about this for 3 years now. My son and daughter both have already said they're outta here if the draft is reinstated. I'd be glad to help subsidize their move to Canada.

[ComerPerro]

88. I am a draft-age son

[NoBushSpokenHere]

90. Recommend this post please n/t