THROWBACK THURSDAY: The national draft

Uncertain 80s troubled parents, 18-year-old males

Draft protesters face arrest as they leave the federal court building in 1980. Protesters face arrest today for failing to register for the draft within 30 days of their 18th birthday.

Mike Wilhite, staff writer
May 4, 2023

With world relations in certain areas on the decline, parents and young men 18 years of age are becoming increasingly alarmed at the draft.

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Since we have no right to be in Beirut, Lebanon, I don’t want my children to fight and maybe die there.

— Anne Poulting

Although the draft is currently not in progress, the mandatory sign-up is, and many parents do not like the chance that the draft could be reinstated. Several parents do not like the idea of their sons going off to fight in a country that several feel the United States does not belong in for any reason.

“Since we have no right to be in Beirut, Lebanon, I don’t want my children to fight and maybe die there. I pray every night that the situation over there doesn’t become heated to a point of forcing the United States into another Vietnam situation,” said Anne Poulting, housewife and mother of two.

Along with Poulting are several women who dislike the draft because of the fear of losing their sons.

One more problem that the mandatory draft laws bring about is some people do not sign up for one reason or another. These few people are subject to federal prosecution.

“Not very many people skip the draft sign-up, but the ones that do are the ones that can be the sticklers. They bring in unneeded publicity, and it is hard to keep their cases under wraps,” stated Paul Dayton, draft board commissioner.

“

Not very many people skip the draft sign up, but the ones that do are the ones that can be the sticklers. They bring in unneeded publicity, and it is hard to keep their cases under wraps.

— draft board commissioner Paul Dayton

Dayton also pointed out that the few that are prosecuted usually have lost and are forced to sign up for the draft as well as serve in a federal penitentiary. But, he stated, that the ones who skip the draft because of religious reasons cannot be helped, because if they are allowed to miss the draft then it would cause major problems with people saying they need to be exempt for one reason or another.

As the codes go now, any male of 18 must sign up for the draft within 30 days of their 18th birthday. If they do not comply, they can and will be prosecuted by federal officials. To sign up, one must go to either the draft board or the nearest post office.

On the application, potential draftees are asked their name, address, age, date of birth and other information relating to them. After signing up, the potential draftees lead a normal life until they are drafted.

Once drafted, the persons have one or two years of intense training at boot camp, where they learn to use the weapons of modern warfare. Upon completion of boot camp, the draftees are asked what services they would like to go into, and then are assigned a place to go.

One way often used to skip the draft is to join the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC). In the ROTC, students go through military training and get an education in the field of their choice. ROTC has branches in all of the services.

After completing school and ROTC training, students are low ranking officers. This contrasts to the draftee who is just a regular enlisted personnel.

This story was originally published in the Shield on Jan. 27, 1984.