Post by earthmother on Jun 16, 2004 3:49:19 GMT -5
No one knows for certain, but it seems there's a better than good chance that the military draft will be reinstated if the war in Iraq continues. Two bills currently before Congress, HR163 and S89, call for a draft to begin in June 2005, with the loopholes of college deferment and escaping across the Canadian border closed. While Rumsfeld and the Pentagon deny that we need or want a draft, there are many signs afoot that indicate that we do need a draft and that Selective Service is gearing up again for a full program that would make all men and women between the ages of 18 and 26 draftable.
Amidst much anxiety and hand-wringing, young adults of draft age and their families are wondering if there's anything they can do to stop the draft from being reinstated or, if it is reinstated, if there's a way to avoid being drafted. An article I read pointed out two options, one of which is a no-brainer, the other of which was news to me.
What You Can Do
1. Call the Capitol in Washington, D.C., (202-224-3121) or go to the Web sites www.house.gov and www.senate.gov for your congressmans' and senators' address or e-mail. Write to him/her about your concern.
2. You are legally entitled to block your child's name, address, and phone number from being given to military recruiters by their schools. To do this, mail a letter to the school district headquarters (preferably by certfied mail), with a copy to the school principal, directing that no information about your child be released to armed forces representatives.
The first suggestion here is something we all should do, whether we have draft-age children or not. The second is something that parents of draft-age children might want to consider. I don't know how effective it is, and I'd like to double-check on the legality of that and on what other ways a recruiter can get your child's contact info, but it's worth a try.
One question, though, for those of you who are better versed in this than I: Aren't you required, upon reaching age 18, to register with Selective Service? If so, what good would it do to forbid the school from sending out contact info? The above info came from Jan Goodwin, who is an award-winning journalist, and thus, of some credibility. Anyone have any ideas about this?
Amidst much anxiety and hand-wringing, young adults of draft age and their families are wondering if there's anything they can do to stop the draft from being reinstated or, if it is reinstated, if there's a way to avoid being drafted. An article I read pointed out two options, one of which is a no-brainer, the other of which was news to me.
What You Can Do
1. Call the Capitol in Washington, D.C., (202-224-3121) or go to the Web sites www.house.gov and www.senate.gov for your congressmans' and senators' address or e-mail. Write to him/her about your concern.
2. You are legally entitled to block your child's name, address, and phone number from being given to military recruiters by their schools. To do this, mail a letter to the school district headquarters (preferably by certfied mail), with a copy to the school principal, directing that no information about your child be released to armed forces representatives.
The first suggestion here is something we all should do, whether we have draft-age children or not. The second is something that parents of draft-age children might want to consider. I don't know how effective it is, and I'd like to double-check on the legality of that and on what other ways a recruiter can get your child's contact info, but it's worth a try.
One question, though, for those of you who are better versed in this than I: Aren't you required, upon reaching age 18, to register with Selective Service? If so, what good would it do to forbid the school from sending out contact info? The above info came from Jan Goodwin, who is an award-winning journalist, and thus, of some credibility. Anyone have any ideas about this?
