Why I Hated The Draft

Tim O’Brien, a famous author, once stated, “I hated the draft, but at the same time, it’s something that made every American take war seriously” (BrainyQuote). This quote brings light on the fact that not everyone favored the war, although it ultimately opened the eyes of the people on the fact of how detrimental war really was, especially the Vietnam War. The draft is a government ran lottery type system to help solve conflict on who would serve during times of crisis. The draft should not have been made as it caused fear, high death rates and caused families to break apart. Why the draft was formed, how people avoided it and if it is still around today will be the topics used in proving that the draft should not have been used.

Back in

1940, president Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act initiating the start of the draft (News, ABC). In the beginning stages of the Vietnam War about two thirds were volunteered soldiers, making the remaining one third drafted into the war. The draft is described as a lottery system used to select men to participate in war duties. There were two types of drafts, one was based on your birthday and the other was off the 26 letters in the alphabet. Age was a huge factor in as well. The view used to be the older was to be chosen first, but it soon changed to the young meeting their draft fate first, the average age that was drafted was 18-25. Each man would be forced to sign up and they would receive a draft card, which is basically proof they signed up and were enrolled. Almost twenty-five percent of the men drafted came from a poor background and fifty-five were from the working class (“Vietnam War Draft.”). According to a Christian Applicant on the working class war states, “Most of the Americans who fought in Vietnam were powerless, working-class teenagers sent to fight an undeclared war by presidents for whom they were not even eligible to vote.” (“The Military Draft During the Vietnam War”). This shows that the war took young men who hadn’t made it very far yet, but they still had the potential to go somewhere, until the draft called for them. As someone’s name was announced they were directed to go to their local draft board, which was made up of community officials. There they would finalize their enrollment.
During the Vietnam War, between the years of 1964 to 1973 the U.S military drafted about 2.2 million men (“The Military Draft During the Vietnam War”). Many people viewed the draft as a death sentence for all who entered. Draftees accounted for about 30% of deaths in combat during the Vietnam War (Vietnam War Statistics). However there were still a lot of volunteers that were willing to put there lives on the line, believing they were fighting for a good cause. Nevertheless so many people believed the draft was death waiting to happen as it caused people to take drastic measures to flee from fear of being drafted.
There were many ways that people avoided the draft legally and illegally.

One legal way was to have health conditions that would exempt you from participating in the war. This included mental and physical illnesses. Things like ulcers, hepatitis, gastritis and diabetic were all physical conditions that people had or claimed to have, so they would be denied entrance. If you were enrolled in college or was involved in an industry that was important to war efforts you would be excluded from the draft. This ultimately created a bias towards educated and wealthy young men. (“Vietnam War Draft Dodgers Pardoned 1974 History.”). Many other people who didn’t have a physical illness or the luxury to attend college would stay awake for days, take illegal drugs, or do anything detrimental to there health so the military would reject them. Another way men avoided going to war were to flee the country. Many men saw Canada as a way to escape war. About 125,000 draftees fled to Canada in hopes of seeking refuge from the draft and war. (“11 Ways People Dodged the Vietnam Draft.”). While going to Canada many stayed even after the war was over eventually claiming their citizenship, about half came back when President Carter granted them amnesty in the late 1970’s. A Draft Dodger was a nickname given to those who decided to run north from the draft (War Resisters Remain in Canada with No Regrets). The draft changed many lives as people had to pack up everything and flee out of fear of dying,

it broke apart families and it affected almost everyone in America at the time of use.
Today the draft is no longer in use.

The last time it was used was in 1973 towards the end of the Vietnam War. With the extinction of the draft, it relieved many men as they knew they would no longer have to fear when or who would be the next one drafted. “Young men today no longer face the prospect of being called to compulsory military duty” (Moody, R. Norman). Many people would say the ending of the draft was a good thing. People especially young men wouldn’t have to worry about leaving their whole lives behind, when they would return, or if they would. With out the draft they can focus more on education and further building their lives. On the other hand some people still support the draft and what it stood for. The draft stood to fill potions that the amount of volunteers couldn’t, there were still a demand for solders even with the exceptional amount of volunteers. As of today there is a requirement for all men to sign up for Selective Service System (SSS) when they turn 18. Although individuals that have a non-immigrant visas are exempt from the SSS. The Selective Service is back up system to the draft. “In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in a sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth (Registration). When registering for the SSS one is not signing up for the draft, the draft has not been used in years it is just a back up plan for times of crisis. It is the law to register within 30 days before males 18th birthday and 30 days

after; however if they chose not to do so within the 60 day period they are breaking a law and will serve the consequences. Those who chose not to register will not receive federal student aid, federal employment and for some U.S. citizenship for immigrant men. Not only will men miss out of some benefits there is a $250,000 fine and a prison term of up to five years and in some cases both. The government represents the Selective Service System as a law; however it creates fairness and equality for all men no matter their education or wealth. Also it’s insurance for the nation to know there is always a backup plan if needed (Registration).
The draft was intended to replace the gap in the lack of volunteers needed to serve in the war. It caused many people to fear military intentions, as well as fear for their well-being and lives. While it is no longer in use it caused many people to lose their lives, flee the country and question whether or not the draft is or will happen again with the Selective Service System in place. The draft caused a lot of terror for young men and their families; terror should never be an emotion when thinking of serving for your country. The draft created fear and terror, and for that it should not have been made.