# So has anyone ever dodged the draft? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149 "2006-11-20T15:14:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/21 "2006-11-22T14:10:31Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I don’t get that. Only US citizens can be drafted. Was your cousin a Canadian or American. Resident aliens can join but are not drafted. US citizens abroad can be drafted but of course it would be difficult to make them comply. [/QUOTE] He was drafted, as I understand it. I’m unsure if he was a naturalized American; it was entirely possible since a few people in that branch of the family did move to the US and put down roots. I do know he was back here by 1969 or 70 and possibly a little earlier. Unfortunately, I was very young at the time and remember little, and the relatives who would know are dead now. Well, except for him–he’s still alive–but I haven’t seen him since 1992, and living a couple of thousand miles away now, it is unlikely I’d run into him. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/22 "2006-11-22T14:32:15Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] He was drafted, as I understand it. I’m unsure if he was a naturalized American; it was entirely possible since a few people in that branch of the family did move to the US and put down roots. I do know he was back here by 1969 or 70 and possibly a little earlier. Unfortunately, I was very young at the time and remember little, and the relatives who would know are dead now. Well, except for him–he’s still alive–but I haven’t seen him since 1992, and living a couple of thousand miles away now, it is unlikely I’d run into him. [/QUOTE] He either became an American citizen or this is a family legend with little basis in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/23 "2006-11-22T15:21:17Z")
_Both_ my GFs were too young for WW1 and too old for WW2. My dad didn’t want to be a dogface after college, so he went Navy ROTC (1954). He needed the scholarship help, and he had to work like hell not to flunk the navigation courses. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/24 "2006-11-22T15:30:27Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I don’t get that. Only US citizens can be drafted. Was your cousin a Canadian or American. Resident aliens can join but are not drafted. US citizens abroad can be drafted but of course it would be difficult to make them comply. [/QUOTE] Resident aliens can most certainly be drafted. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/25 "2006-11-22T15:41:11Z")
My dad became a minister so he could claim CO status. He’s a little old minister to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/26 "2006-11-22T15:41:44Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Resident aliens can most certainly be drafted. [/QUOTE] Cite please? Resident Aliens are not required to register with selective service. It is required for citizenship if you are in the country prior to age 26. Aliens are categoized as 4-C. I’ll keep looking but I don’t see any proof of resident aliens getting drafted. They of course can enlist and some do because it is the fast track for citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/27 "2006-11-22T15:45:35Z")
[QUOTE=Caricci] My dad became a minister so he could claim CO status. He’s a little old minister to this day. [/QUOTE] Ministers do not fall under CO. They have their own category and are also exempt. Ministers: 4D, ministerial students: 2-D (deferred), Conscientious Objector:1-A-O (exempt if reason is found to be valid). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/28 "2006-11-22T15:50:20Z")
Never mind I found it. Although it there are many more reason why a resident alien would be exempt. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/29 "2006-11-22T15:52:31Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Ministers do not fall under CO. They have their own category and are also exempt. Ministers: 4D, ministerial students: 2-D (deferred), Conscientious Objector:1-A-O (exempt if reason is found to be valid). [/QUOTE] I think he did it to support his status. It may not have been the only step he took. Or maybe he was 4D or 2D as you mention and just didn’t get it. I will say he didn’t do the alternate service that I think CO’s do. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/30 "2006-11-22T18:28:09Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] _Both_ my GFs were too young for WW1 and too old for WW2. [/QUOTE] I just had to spend a second wondering why you felt it necessary to mention that both of your girlfriends were too young for WWI and too old for WWII. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/31 "2006-11-22T18:33:59Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Never mind I found it. Although it there are many more reason why a resident alien would be exempt. [/QUOTE] Such as? The only one I can think of is concurrent national service in your own country of citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/32 "2006-11-22T18:41:39Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Such as? The only one I can think of is concurrent national service in your own country of citizenship. [/QUOTE] Or if we’re at war with your country of origin. 😉 It’s also possible we might have treaties exempting certain nationals from conscription. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/33 "2006-11-22T18:55:03Z")
I tried to fake back problems, and succeeded in being discarded. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/34 "2006-11-22T19:30:04Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Such as? The only one I can think of is concurrent national service in your own country of citizenship. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > An alien who has lived in the U.S. for less than one year is exempt from induction. > A dual national whose other country of nationality has an agreement with the U.S. which specifically provides for an exemption is exempt from induction. > [Some countries have agreements with the U.S. which exempt an alien national who is a citizen of both that country and the U.S. from military service in the U.S. Armed Forces.] An alien who requests and is exempt under an agreement or bilateral treaty can never become a U.S. citizen, and may have trouble reentering the U.S. if he leaves. > An alien who served at least a year in the military of a country with which the U.S. is involved in mutual defense activities will be exempt from military service if he is a national of a country that grants reciprocal privileges to citizens of the U.S. From [SSS.gov](http://SSS.gov). ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149/35 "2006-11-22T19:52:48Z")
I dodged the draft! I woke up at 2:AM and closed my bedroom window! :rimshot: Actually my only two stories: 1. My father got his letter in the mail, and was told that he was eligible to be drafted (in '70 or '71, IIRC). When they pulled the numbers, his birthdays\* were so low on the totem pole that he never got called. 2. I registered with Selective Service. I had to in order to apply for student loans. I’m now active duty Air Force–have been since 2000. In 2001, 2003, 2004, and earlier this year, I got a notice from my county clerk indicating that I needed to register with the Selective Service program, or else many of my benefits could be withheld. I promptly threw most of 'em away, but my mother (quick wit that she is) wrote them back telling them that I no longer lived at my home address, and in fact, they could send the notice to Bagram, Afghanistan. I haven’t seen a letter yet this year. Tripler - Note: Pop Trip has _two_ official birthdays. The State of PA’s birth certificate has the 6th of July. The Hospital’s birth certificate has the 7th. Mom-Mom Trip is too senile to remember which is the right one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-anyone-ever-dodged-the-draft/381149.md?page=1)