Dear Military recruiters...stay the hell away from my son!

[cynatnite]

He turned 18 a few months ago and will soon be graduating high school.

With tRump bringing the US to the brink, I will not allow recruiters in my home. They do have a habit of stalking high school students in our area.

The son and I have been talking about this a little. He does like the idea of the military since both me and his father are veterans. He does understand the costs of war, but with tRump playing with our military like they're toy soldiers, our talks will continue.

This is worse than when bush invaded Iraq. With Syria, Afghanistan and North Korea, I'm fucking scared as shit right now. I didn't feel like this back then.

I can't control his decisions, but I hope he makes well-informed ones.

[mcar]

1. My youngest is 19

I am terrified.

[lpbk2713]

2. Trump treats all people like they were expendable

I would hate to be committed to a multi-year enlistment right about now.

[alfredo]

12. So says his former wives

[Ilsa]

3. I'm going to make sure we opt out of

Receiving mail from them. I may wait on getting him registered for the draft until Trump is out. My understanding is that you have a few years.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Nope. They're supposed to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.

Although I don't know for sure if either of my sons ever registered. They're both over 30 now. I'll have to remember to ask them.

Okay, I just sent each a text message, and the younger one immediately responded saying he thinks it was part of getting a license.

And just heard right back from older son. He says he definitely recalls filling out a card and mailing it in.

I know I had no involvement of any kind in their registering.

[Ilsa]

6. Oh, you mean if the state has graduated DLs?

I've heard that a lot of young people aren't bothering with DLs, opting for Uber and Lyft services instead. But IDs are certainly needed anyway.

Still, if an 18 year old decided against getting a license, I'm thinking there is a multi-year window before you run into long term benefits problems.

[hack89]

16. You can't get federal college financial aid without registering. Nt

[Ilsa]

37. I knew that.

And there are other potential problems down the road as well.

With so many jobs in the military being opened up to women, I'm surprised women aren't required to register at age 18.

[madville]

48. Or get a Federal job

That's one of the first questions they ask, if you registered for selective service.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. The state we lived in didn't have graudated drivers' licenses.

All I can tell you is that one son told me that when he got his DL he had to register, and the other simply reported filling out a form. That second son didn't get a DL until he was at least 20.

Neither son was applying for financial aid at college, and obviously lots of kids, especially those who don't go to college or who attend a low cost community college and don't apply for aid aren't affected by that.

It's not an issue of how long it is before you run into long term benefits problems, but as has already been noted, there's the potential for a large financial and prison penalty, although I doubt that is often enforced. Men have until age 25 to register, and again, I suspect that if your son registers a few years late, the federal government won't really care.

A google search shows that 90% of young men do register. Only 10% don't, which strikes me as pretty impressive. I bet most of the 10% are genuinely unaware that they are supposed to register, and simply never are in a situation where it's an issue.

So if you want to encourage your son not to register when he should, it probably won't have any consequences. Unless he applies for financial aid at college. Or wants to take a federal job, or federal training of any kind. Again, neither of my sons has ever done any of those things, although they did register when they were supposed to.

Also, since it's been a requirement to get a Social Security number at birth for about 30 years now, I suspect the government knows exactly who is turning 18 every year.

[Sgent]

43. You NEED to register

the chances of a draft coming back are low / none, but if you don't register you lose eligibility for a lot of federal benefits -- sometimes even for life. If you don't register by age 26, you can never hold a federal job (for instance).

[Ilsa]

45. Got it, thanks! nt

[exboyfil]

7. At one point I think college student aid

was tied into being registered. I remember getting yelled at by my ROTC instructor in college for not registering. I told him I was 17, and he said that I still should have been registered because of the 30 day rule. Seems strange since I still had a month plus the grace period.

[roamer65]

17. It's a $250k fine and prison time for not registering...

and keeping the gov't posted of address changes until you are 26.


The gov't doesn't prosecute because we are not in a major war. If we were, they no doubt would.

I wouldn't be called up at my age and only way I would serve anyway is if US territory was under imminent threat...unless it's a solid red state.

[Ilsa]

38. Thanks. I didn't see the $250k fine on the site

Last edited Sat Apr 15, 2017, 11:06 AM - Edit history (1)

I was reading, but we should always rely on the intertubes, right?

He would want to enlist if the US was under direct attack. But is nature is to not hurt a fly.

Edit: deleted personal info here.

[LeftInTX]

39. Just keep all of his paperwork

I believe he would be exempt from the draft, but not registration.
It used to be that you cannot enlist if you are taking any psychotropic meds. (This includes adderall or anti-depressants)

My son received services for ADHD and Emotional Disturbance.
He seemed to be on the up, but just shy of his 19th BD, we found out he had a serious substance abuse.
He was unable to work and all of that paperwork helped when he applied for SSI.

All through school, we knew he would never be eligible to enlist.
But he was required to register.

[Ilsa]

41. Thank you. nt

[LeftInTX]

40. Edit to add:

I thought it was overkill to not allow anyone who takes any type of psychotropic meds.
There are many young people who take meds and they function quite well.

My son obviously wasn't stable enough, but there are many young adults who take meds and function fine.

[Sgent]

44. Especially in a draft situation

where everyone is a private, they don't want to have to worry about getting meds to the front line. If your already in and start needing the meds, they will make accommodations although you may lose access to certain jobs.

[tammywammy]

35. Failure to register will also prevent access to federal student aid via FAFSA

Including grants and loans.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Do your best to make sure he has plenty of other options

besides enlisting.

Try to get him focussed on training or education that will lead to a good job. Community colleges are excellent for those.

[wildeyed]

8. I have younger teens.

After DT won, I told them clearly that they needed to stay really focused on school. They younger one is very math-y so I am pushing him toward programming. If he is going to be drafted, I want him writing code or decoding enemy messages. Maybe propaganda. He is vicious with the memes....

Are females required to register now? Embarrassed to say that I don't know. Logically, it SEEMS like they should be if the government is serious about fielding the best fighting force, but many in the military are such hidebound chauvinists, it might be that they are not.

My daughter talked to a military person at some sort of jobs fair and won a prize for doing more pull-ups than the recruiter too, but don't know if she got on an actual list.

[erpowers]

31. No

As far as I know females still do not have to sign up for the draft. One Congressman tried to put forward a bill hat would have required females to sign up for the draft.

[Cairycat]

9. As part of No Child Left Behind

students' information is given to military recruiters unless the parent "opts out". If you choose to do this, just Google "military recruiter opt out" and you'll find a number of links to get the form. We filled this out at the beginning of high school for our daughter and two sons, and were never bothered by recruiters.

Young men must register for the draft shortly after turning 18. My understanding is you can't get federal student loans if not registered. States may tie it to drivers' licenses, etc. My family is pacifist for religious reasons, it was heartbreaking for the boys to have to register. We figure it was kind of mitigated by them registering to vote upon turning 18.

[Baconator]

10. What matters is what he wants to do...

Let that guide you...

[Laffy Kat]

11. At my sons' school they had an "opt out" check box fort that sort of thing.

The recruiters did come to the middle and high school but could only talk to the students that were not opted out. Frankly, I think it should have been the other way, so parent's had to "opt in", but at least it gave the parents some amount of power. Naturally, many students forget to bring the slip home either accidentally or on purpose. I feel the same way as you: Hands. Off. My. Boys.

[Equinox Moon]

13. Have you been in touch with Veterans for Peace?

www.veteransforpeace.org

It might be helpful for all of you, parents and son.

[nini]

14. My grandson is 13

I'm thinking of leaving the country so he has somewhere to go if this crap doesn't stop.

[DK504]

18. If they reinstate the draft, the country will go up in flames.

Just found out my older brother was going to be shipped off to Canada if the Vietnam war continued or his number came up. Still makes me sick thinking my oldest brother might have been shipped off to Vietnam.....

Now we've been in Afghanistan of over 15 years and we will never leave. Another 14 in Iraq and he's talking about Syria? Who the fuck is he going to side with? Russia or The Rebels.

[7962]

24. No need for a draft. we have an excellent force now who signed up.

Not that a draftee force would be that bad, but we dont have a need for a draft when more people sign up than can be accepted

[nini]

33. My brother was drafted and went to Vietnam in 68

Hell no will my grandson go through the crap my brother did for something like what's going on now. Thankfully my brother made it home but he's carried that ptsd to this day

My dad and uncles were in WWII and that was necessary at least. This crap? no way.

[BeekeeperInVermont]

22. If the draft is reinstated

there are a lot of conservatives who will be just as angry as liberals. They may like the idea of sending other people's kids off to war, but they aren't going to want their own in the line of fire. I strongly suspect that our representatives in Washington are well aware of this and will do everything they possibly can to avoid a new draft. Any senator or representative who votes 'yes' will be making his/her re-election a whole lot harder. I didn't like the idea of my own sons signing up for selective service, but I never thought they'd actually be drafted.

[nini]

34. The song Fortunate Son comes to mind

They always seem to keep their kids out of this stuff way more easily than the average joe can.



I hope it doesn't come to all this but we're in an alternate universe these days it seems.

[keithbvadu2]

15. Tell son to stand near the Trump and Romney boys... Mil recruiters have not broached that wall.

[bpositive]

19. Teach your kids to think,

solve problems and make confident decisions and they will probably avoid joining. And, if they still want to join encourage them to do so after a college education. Chances are that once they are educated they will not join.

Don't get me wrong, military service is an option in "normal" times- we are not in normal times!

Our niece just joined and her brother is looking to join- my oldest daughter is at that age has no interest. I'm hoping my youngest (twins) 12yo. Follow in her steps. They are all very independent and very smart. Much smarted than me😀

I have never persuaded or disuaded them from the church or military but they have been making the right decision thus far IMO.

[Raster]

20. Old men scheme and vie, young men fight and die.

[sarcasmo]

21. "Military Men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy" Henry Kissinger

This quote might help your son make the right choice.

[7962]

29. He's denied saying it. And theres no real proof he did.

Only bob woodwards book. And he's had issues with truth in the past

[still_one]

23. As of right now there is no draft. I don't know what the latest polls say, but older polls the

public was overwhelmingly against reinstating the draft.

[Demtexan]

26. Look who is in white house.

An insane person.

Trying to start two wars.

The body bags will fill up fast.

It is easy to sent other peoples kids off but nobody wants their kid to go.

Crazy days ahead.

[still_one]

27. Agreed, but I am not sure even the republicans would want the draft reinstated

[Demtexan]

28. This is Putin war in Syria.

Thump is owned by Putin.

I think all hell will happen if a draft is even talked about.

[wildeyed]

32. Do we even fight wars in a way that requires a draft now?

Economy gets bad enough, the working class and poor kids sign up as a way out. I swear to god, this has got to be Trump's plan to help the economy and make jobs for his supporters. They like honor and being told what to do, so war is probably a good fit. They can wave their flags and chant USA right into the grave, I guess

The rest is probably skilled labor. It's all drones and airplanes and bombs and hacking computers and propaganda war now. All waged second hand and through surrogates. All jobs requiring advanced training. I hope they have a plan for that.

Nobody wants to fight us head-on, like in WW2, because we have too much economic and military power. So they wage unconventional war, in ways where we are still vulnerable.

[Orrex]

49. Well, here's something that should comfort you:

No matter how many wars Trump starts, I'm certain that super-wealthy white males won't be subject to the draft.

The rest of us? Well...

[MarianJack]

25. My son just turned 17 two weeks ago, and...

...he's a handsome, bright young man whom many see as having a great resemblance to a young Denzel Washington. He is the only child my wife and I will ever have. He is working part time at the local KFC and is in 10th grade. He isn't likely to go to college immediately after High School (if ever) and he is most certainly NOT a perfect human being. However, he IS a wonderful boy and my wife and I are very proud of the man he's growing into.

My son will NOT die in a war that was fabricated by a treasonous illegitimate and corrupt so called "president" whose first loyalty is to a Russian despot to whom he owes his ass many times over.

I will throw his muscular brown ass into the car and DRIVE his ass to Canada if the reigning Grand Wizard were to reinstate the draft to provide Vladimir Putin with the cannon fodder he desires in their mission to destabilize our country.

FUCK THEM ALL!

Let the deplorables and teabaggers sacrifice their sons and daughters on the alter of the Putin/Trump/Pence junta, but not my son. Not now and not EVER!

PEACE!

[nini]

42. That's exactly how I feel about my grandson

no freaking way... I'm gonna set up home in Mexico or Portugal where he can come if necessary.

[MarianJack]

46. Yes, ...

...if not Canada, than Brazil or Australia or New Zealand or the wilds of Borneo. NOT in f**khead's war!

PEACE!

[ansible]

47. I got permanently disqualified at MEPS for failing the hearing test

If your son ever gets drafted, just fail it. It's a series of beeping sounds you listen to with a headphone and you're supposed to push a button when you hear it. Passed every other physical test and already had my signing papers until I failed it twice and got kicked out for it even though my hearing is fine enough for human speech.