With bombs dropping over Afghanistan, and National Guard members and reservists being called, some students are questioning whether they’ll be drafted. While the chance of reinstating the draft seems unlikely — or at least distant — to most students, males age 18 and older should not completely disregard the possibility, said Ronna Friend, a psychologist and draft counselor at the Community Alliance of Lane County.
Friend counsels high school and college students and community members who are considering pre-enlistment. She explains their options to them and also tries to describe military life in an unbiased way, she said.
“I don’t take positions for people, and I don’t encourage them to choose a direction,” she said. “We try and present as much information as we can to show them what life in the military looks like … the things recruiters don’t say.”
Friend said that during the Persian Gulf War, hundreds of people flooded into the office with questions and concerns, but since then, CALC has held few counseling sessions. After Sept. 11, however, the counseling service has picked up slightly.
Junior journalism student Patrick Adams said he hasn’t been mulling over the possibility of a draft.
“I have thought about it, and I know that I would try everything I could not to fight, but I am not worried about it,” he said.
Sophomore psychology major Cody Herman also thinks a draft is unlikely, although he pointed out that “every generation except ours has been subject to a draft … why do we get out of it?”
Military Science Professor John Sneed said there has been little discussion about the possibility of a draft.
“As far as I can tell, it is nowhere on the horizon,” he said.
Cadet Command Spokesman Paul Kotakis agreed that a draft is unlikely and added that it’s been more than a quarter of a century since the last draft.
The last time young men halted their day-to-day lives to fight for their country was in 1973. In 1980, the government reinstated Selective Service, and since then male citizens age 18 and above have been required to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
But government representatives have said a draft will not go into effect, despite military action.
“The focus of this war will be more on intelligence than massive manpower,” Kristie Greco was quoted as saying in the Emerald on Sept. 25. Greco is the spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Eugene.
If President George W. Bush did instate a draft, men who are 20 years old would be the first called upon, which is why Friend said students need to know their options so they can act quickly. She said if someone gets a notice to serve, and he hasn’t filed for conscientious objector status or a medical deferment, he has 10 days before he presents his case to the Selective Service board. If he meets medical criteria, he is then exempt from the draft.
Men whose moral or religious belief system doesn’t allow them to participate in war can apply for conscientious objector status. The person doesn’t have to be a member of a specific religion, but he must show the board proof that fighting conflicts with his beliefs. It takes time to put together a deferment once someone receives a notice, Friend said, which is why she recommends people be prepared.
“It’s essential that people be thinking about their options,” she said.
Students who want counseling can call CALC to make an appointment at 485-1755.
Diane Huber is a student activities reporter
for the Oregon Daily Emerald. She can be reached at < AHREF=”mailto:[email protected]”> [email protected].