# How badly would a war have to be going before you get drafted? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388 "2016-08-29T12:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/21 "2016-08-29T20:43:06Z")
I’m 54 and out of shape. And I’ve never been in the military. But I do have lots of experience running prisons. So I’d end up guarding POW’s like Sgt Schultz. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/22 "2016-08-29T20:45:13Z")
Before they drafted me, they’d have to be nearly out of medics or completely out of infantry. Unless there were some remote-control drone-killin’ that needs done. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/23 "2016-08-30T00:16:54Z")
Given my politics and my clumsiness, they’d ask me to volunteer for the other guys. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/24 "2016-08-30T00:18:19Z")
I couldn’t handle infantry duty, but I could handle a support job (tooth to tail ratio and all that). ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/25 "2016-08-30T01:45:11Z")
I’m basically 60, had a stroke, have had heart issues but I can shoot to kill first shot out to 150 yards and 1 in 3 at 300 yards. With a handgun call the enemy dead at anything under 25 yards, probably dead to 50 and solving his constipation issues at 100. So I went other ----- call me when the Red Army turns left on Broadway. Seriously; I would make a hell of a partisan but I’m just not in shape for even cannon fodder on the front line IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/26 "2016-08-30T04:31:41Z")
I’m 70yo, heart problems, spinal problems, poor eyesight, diabetic, PVD, can barely walk, etc., etc., etc. At this point they could use me for target practice. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/27 "2016-08-30T06:35:13Z")
I’m 76 and can barely walk without a cane. I guess I could fill out forms or something like that. I wouldn’t even make a good hostage. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/28 "2016-08-30T07:27:36Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > Given my politics and my clumsiness, they’d ask me to volunteer for the other guys. I’m apolitical, but so clumsy that – me likewise, I think. And I’m 68, fat, and not physically fit. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/29 "2016-08-30T16:17:45Z")
As a veteran I can’t be drafted and my Inactive ready reserve time has already passed. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/30 "2016-08-30T17:15:40Z")
I did a twelve-mile ruck march this morning. It was lame. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/31 "2016-08-30T18:17:44Z")
“I’m only 16, got a ruptured spleen,” I’d have to ask if military pay would affect my Social Security. Maybe I can get drafted to do some coding, but I don’t think I’m going over any walls any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/32 "2016-08-30T18:25:40Z")
There was this incident, you see, and the military will not be drafting me under any circumstances … or I go to the Press … get the idea? ---
**Author:** ![ultimate11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/49beb7/32.png) [@ultimate11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultimate11)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/33 "2016-08-30T18:41:10Z")
I’m going to be Security+ certified so if the draft is in, I should be okay as a Navy plumper protecting my ship (or eating hot dogs near home, if they keep me home). Considering my father’s draft status circa 1968 (he’s deaf), he’s not going into the draft (and being 65 now, he’ll never be in), and my mother wouldn’t be allowed either (she’s deaf). My uncle that lives with us isn’t going either, but he’s not entirely useless, he’d probably do well in a soft job if the armed forces were desperate. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/34 "2016-08-31T00:19:50Z")
I fancy I would be suitable for the home guard, capable of duties like plane spotting and scolding neighbors whose blackout curtains have gotten disarrayed and are letting light escape. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/35 "2016-08-31T00:27:00Z")
They’d never get me. I never registered. When I turned 18, registering for the draft was not required. By the time they realized that having a database of male citizens, their address, and their birth-date was in their interest, I was no longer eligible. There is a small segment of males than never had to resister, and I fell in that segment. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/36 "2016-09-01T00:14:23Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > Given my politics and my clumsiness, they’d ask me to volunteer for the other guys. That made me laugh. Mostly because that’d be me too. I am female, middle age, unathletic, out of shape and dangerously clumsy. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/37 "2016-09-01T00:16:10Z")
I’m over sixty. Things would have to be down to a last-ditch effort. ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/38 "2016-09-01T00:28:02Z")
Well, let’s see . . . I’m 61, diabetic, poor eyesight, overweight . . . The war must be going _very_ badly if they draft me. I suppose I could do some clerical stuff, or help out at the field hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/39 "2016-09-01T01:22:05Z")
I’m a 28-year old man in good health, so I imagine I’d be among the first few millions drafted. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388/40 "2016-09-01T05:19:39Z")
I guess most of us are going to be called up during the “we won’t be taken alive phase”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-badly-would-a-war-have-to-be-going-before-you-get-drafted/764388.md?page=3)