I agree with everything you said except for the above. While it may make some folks think twice, the vast majority of people who join the army are either not really thinking the long term consequences of their actions through OR they love this country and really feel it is their duty to do something to defend it. I don't think many folks are too concerned about what is 5 or 8 years down the road.

Unfortunately, I can't think of any better alternative for the military. The draft might be an option, but I don't think the politicians would let that happen again.

You may be right. My perspective on people who joined the military is based more on who joined when I was college age/graduating from high school. At that time (early to mid 80's) there was no threat of war, no thought of war, we had never experienced a war and didn't really expect to. We were too young to remember Vietnam and our biggest scare was Libya. Most of those I knew who were joining were doing ROTC and had to do 4 years after college, but were doing it as a means to go to college, rather than to defend our country. The Gulf War and 9/11 have changed things a bit.

Dee

It's good to know that there are laws out there about keeping jobs open if they are called to serve.

Businesses could hire temporary workers / contractors, though. You bring someone on with an employment contract that stipulates a term of one year (or however long the deployment is). Then, when the soldier returns to civilian life, you can either (a) let the contract lapse, or (b) if business is good and the contractor does good work, you can offer the contractor a permanent job in addition to keeping the soldier on.

I have not read the links but from what i understand that they have to hold A JOB for you with the same COMPANY. It may not necessarily be the same job but they have to put you in a job. If i was let go because of that i would fight it all the way.

So there not instituting the draft as of yet... they are reinlisting retired and former soliders who did not serve a full 8 yrs ? are they doing that with all branches before they even get to the draft?

Are they reinstituting the draft ina yr or two? You hear so much miscommunication on the street you don't know what is what ?

bump

No one has said anything about the draft as of yet.

If you look at the numbers, Bush I cut the army from 18 divisions to 12. Clinton cut 2 additional divisions.

Intriguing statistics from a political independent.

Intriguing, my friends.

Actually the US and Canada changed their agreements in 2001 regarding people seeking temporary residency/asylum due to US military duty. In other words: Canada will ship you back to the USA if you try to dodge the draft.

If the draft were to come back the call would be: Go South Young Man! To where the margaritas flow!

Ahem... a little simplified...

The legal issues surrounding the draft and or deserters is somewhat different than your "interpretation". Canada will only ship back draft dodgers and deserters if they are deserting or dodging a conflict that Canada is invovled in too... and then only if it is a war, not an armed intervention... and those laws have been on the books since the Great War. So draft dodgers and deserters were shipped back during the Great War and World War 2... but not Korea, or Vietnam, or in this case Afghanistan or Iraq (Canada doesn't recognize the legality of Iraq).

I was refering to the Smart Border Declaration (12/12/2001)- aparently it changes how US and Canada treat each other's deserters/dodgers?

Ummm... maybe I missed something but I didn't see anything in the language of the declaration refering to "deserters" or "draft-dodgers". The only reference to anything remotley conected to this subject was in reference to "deportee's"... which in effect said each country will notify the other of any deportees...

I had lunch today with a woman who's job is scheduling surgeries for orthopedics. She spent the day cancelling surgeries for people because the surgeon has been called up and has to report in a week. Some of these surgeons are booked three or four months in advance! Sad for them and for their patients.

Dee