General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump wants to reinstate Vietnam-era "emergency enlistment measures." Good. Let's start with his 20 y.o. son, Lurch.
The Trump administrations Selective Service System (SSS), an agency that keeps tabs on draft-age Americans, has proposed doing away with self-registration for enlistment and instead automatically updating its lists with names drawn from other federal databases.
Federal law already requires men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register with the agency in case the president decides to issue a military draft order. SSS expects eligible candidates to self-register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, but otherwise allows men to file late submissions until age 26.
Trump mandated the new rules, which remain under review pending regulatory approval, in December of last year. Trumps rules suggest that the president is interested in using emergency enlistment measures the U.S. has not otherwise activated since 1973, during the Vietnam War.
Trump, who attended the New York Military Academy, a prestigious military-style boarding school, did not serve in that conflict, or in any other capacity in the U.S. armed forces. In fact, the president avoided the draft on no fewer than five separate occasionsfour times using a student deferment, and a fifth time for medical reasons.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/draft-dodging-peace-president-donald-trump-to-register-boys-for-military-draft-at-18/
Walleye
(44,971 posts)If we had passed the rights amendment, they wouldnt be pulling this shit
617Blue
(2,518 posts)JBTaurus83
(1,476 posts)enigmania
(468 posts)Traildogbob
(13,048 posts)Are you saying they will not get paid like ICE, with bonuses and reward pay for capturing brown folk, and a guarantee of never being shot at and you can shoot anyone you dont like and NEVER face charges?
So I guess all draftees will join ICE to not be pawns in our military, and avoid being suckers and losers.
Wondering, will current ICE thugs get drafted?????
liberalgunwilltravel
(1,225 posts)I would be all for some form of mandatory service, be it military or some other government program for everyone, men and women. It would go a long way to making this a more egalitarian society. And it would force the interactions between people who otherwise would never even meet. The purpose and reality of such service would not be to promote more conflicts, in fact it would likely have the opposite effect, since more people would have skin in the game. That said, I wouldnt support such an action under the current administration.
evolves
(5,844 posts)Some sort of compulsory service either in the military, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps would go a long way towards building camaraderie in this country.
jmowreader
(53,233 posts)Police, firefighting, teaching, healthcare the list is endless.
MurrayDelph
(5,756 posts)My draft number was 225, in a year where they'd announced they would not go above 125, and ended the draft before that.
I would have made a lousy soldier, but was studying at the time to become a teacher. If they had offered that I provide my services as a teacher as a way to serve, that would have been acceptable to me.
49jim
(594 posts)also in the first draft drawing December 1, 1969. I was able to keep that number being enrolled full time in college.
I graduated May 1971, my draft board went to 200 and called numbers up to 215 for draft physicals. So I wasnt called.
I was able to secure a teaching position and was married June 1971.
Often wondered what direction our life would have taken if I was drafted.
617Blue
(2,518 posts)A national service program not a bad idea. Might bring us more together.
modrepub
(4,124 posts)It would also provide a lot more push back against military conflict in general by giving folks first hand experience with politicians war mongering.
I think civilian involvement in Vietnam via the draft eventually turned the county against the war once folks who served on the front lines returned and started sharing their experiences. Weve had wars turned into video games removing all the trauma and senselessness war actually creates. Reality is much different, hence its why a lot of people never bat an eye during military conflicts that dont directly affect them.
RT Atlanta
(2,752 posts)But is the current circumstances that make me say no effin way..... my children are not going to be cannon fodder for israel
TBF
(36,797 posts)You don't need to enlist in fighting wars to put people in an environment where they have to deal with other people.
GenThePerservering
(3,440 posts)And all I ever met in high school were people like myself. I think the idea has metit. Having said that, I wouldn't want to institute that under the current administration!
TBF
(36,797 posts)like we see in Israel. But Israel also provides their people with universal healthcare, so I'd like to see that up there for consideration also. And, yes, nothing sane is going to come from this regime. Under other administrations we could actually have conversations about these kinds of ideas.
SpankMe
(3,727 posts)There are cooks, drivers, communications techs, mechanics, lawyers, civil engineers, electricians, plumbers, information technologists, researchers, analysis, intelligence, doctors, nurses, medical lab techs, accountants, secretaries...the list goes on and on. A very small number actually get involved in combat ops, per se. And all of these are operational even during peacetime.
The military is practically a whole society within a society. It has all of the same functions and disciplines, just on a much more structured level - perfect for post-high school training, discipline and socialization. Public school doesn't cover all the same bases that national service would. National service - be it the military, peace coprs, Americorps, forrest service, whatever - would be a great follow-on for non college-bound Americans.
I wouldn't balk on mandatory national public service - as long as kids aren't forced into combat roles and can chose a skills discipline to their liking.
But, as other have said, I don't approve of executing it at this time with this administration. Mainly because this administration can eat my ass.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,164 posts)It's called the Peace Corps. IIRC, it popped up in early 70's as option to the draft.
Still going strong, tho only 3,000 or so members.
Wednesdays
(22,707 posts)It was a plank in his presidential campaign. I've been to the spot at the University of Michigan where he announced his plan.
https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/peace-corps
JBTaurus83
(1,476 posts)Should have to do something for their communities for a few hours each month as a requirement of graduation.
NHvet
(302 posts)when asked what I felt I got out of the service. It was the interactions I would have never had otherwise, the people I would have never met, eat with and had drinks with and lived amongst. I found people are the same everywhere, they want life, worth, family and security.
riversedge
(80,942 posts)Walleye
(44,971 posts)He doesnt know the meaning of clear and present danger. In fact, he doesnt know the meaning of any words, he uses them anyway.
Arthur_Frain
(2,379 posts)It helps them twist the words better.
Food Insecure vs hungry people
Housing Challenged vs homeless
Sanitize the conversation so its easier to do nothing about any problems.
Walleye
(44,971 posts)Arthur_Frain
(2,379 posts)Is what they labeled Grenada lest we forget.
Walleye
(44,971 posts)bdamomma
(69,563 posts)thinks he's bringing back the 70's, that how demented he is.
Johnny2X2X
(24,271 posts)They affect thousands of children of billionaires every war.
Miles Archer
(23,467 posts)I think that if we can only raise awareness, we can help.
MyOwnPeace
(17,575 posts)Greybnk48
(10,734 posts)3825-87867
(1,956 posts)from stock that's 6 feet?
I smell HGH at an early age to make sure he's "royal".
Just a thought, and as an anchor baby, who's your daddy comes to mind.
ITAL
(1,343 posts)It's not common, but I've definitely unusual height differences between parents and their kids. I grew up with a guy who had parents on the average to short side (maybe 5'3 for the mom and 5'7 for the dad) and their son was at least 6'4.
karynnj
(60,988 posts)so it is not surprising that she has an extremely tall son.
Omnipresent
(7,462 posts)Grabbing at airplanes from on top of the Empire State Building wont work for the orange orangutans son.
Ilsa
(64,404 posts)I have a married cousin who is about 5'9" or 5'10". Her husband is about 6'2" or 6'3". Their daughter is cracking on around 6'. She was half a foot taller than the tallest classmate since elementary school.
You never know what genetics can render along with a good diet and exercise.
Ilsa
(64,404 posts)twenty years ago. Our frames weaken with age. I've lost ½" in height.
ColoringFool
(748 posts)Indeed, Trumps official medical report is that he is 6'3"!
Ilsa
(64,404 posts)I think trump has publicly pushed his numbers up and down, added lifts, lied about his weight, etc, according to what suits him in the moment. Still, it isn't unusual to have lost 1-3 inches due to spinal disc degeneration, lack of exercise, and other issues by age 80, with most of the loss after age 70.
TheRickles
(3,414 posts)Rob H.
(5,861 posts)My dad served early on in his US Navy career with a sailor who had done just that.
TheRickles
(3,414 posts)Ocelot II
(130,693 posts)Let's see how well that works out for you. You think the young 'uns are pissed off now? Just wait...
forced conscription ought to win hearts and minds. Just like it did in 'nam. (Do I need the sarcasm thingy?)
MustLoveBeagles
(16,593 posts)Neither will their parents, some of whom voted for the jackass.
Walleye
(44,971 posts)I think the boys would just refuse to go, Like their orange daddy did
bdamomma
(69,563 posts)Ocelot II all hell will break loose. Young people aren't going to die for Israel.
Baitball Blogger
(52,427 posts)Vietnam's conscriptions were a lesson in why you don't conscript. Too many soldiers were not happy to be there and didn't like the idea of being ordered around by college educated lieutenants who had no field experience. If they found one who was especially incompetent, they fragged them as a form of survival.
This time around, no one likes the cause and no one likes the leader who will send them there. If the MAGAs are in the minority in the barracks they will never have a good night's sleep.
sinkingfeeling
(57,844 posts)OGBuzz
(360 posts)dem4decades
(14,129 posts)Needs bodies for his war machine.
bdamomma
(69,563 posts)Putin's orders to scrap NATO too. That was one of his many orders from Putin.
Like Orrex says each day, "Is He Dead Yet?"
multigraincracker
(37,721 posts)We dont want your dirty war.
Back to the 60s
Norrrm
(5,137 posts)Someone commented that the Army upped their enlistment age to 42 so Eric can now enlist.
He has a college degree, so make him an officer.


MineralMan
(151,345 posts)I can't even imagine, really...
twodogsbarking
(18,873 posts)Aviation Pro
(15,614 posts)Its reform school for wealthy, future child rapists.
niyad
(132,691 posts)Last edited Thu Apr 9, 2026, 11:51 AM - Edit history (1)
of every "r" member of congress, and the cabinet of kkklowns.
*yes, I know we don't draft women, but she loves her grampy so much, surely she will volunteer???
Submariner
(13,379 posts)then when his body bag arrives at Dover for the honorable transfer to his mother and pedo dad, maybe she will answer the calling of the Great Orrex and end this living hell for all of us.
WinstonSmith4740
(3,441 posts)But I remember reading a while back that at one point Don Jr. was considering enlisting in the Army, and Mango Mussolini threatened to disown him if he did.
Bookreadingliberal53
(167 posts)Im sure Fred Trump was the same.
Attilatheblond
(8,971 posts)bdamomma
(69,563 posts)there's plenty of them!!!!! Those Jan 6th Insurrectionists would be willing.
Dave Bowman
(7,239 posts)ashredux
(2,935 posts)This didnt go over very well during the 70s, and it certainly aint gonna do well for the GOP now
Deep State Witch
(12,729 posts)He's what, 20?
nitpicked
(1,875 posts)Barron is reported to be 6 foot 9.
Army's normal maximum height for enlistment is 80 inches (6 foot 8)
https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/army-weight-rules.html#:~:text=Below%20is%20the%20Army's%20weight,then%20further%20into%20age%20groups.
and I think the other services are the same. IMO, one factor in this is that the US military may be not routinely "geared" to equip and use taller individuals.
The Madcap
(1,924 posts)having only daughters is a great blessing.
Traildogbob
(13,048 posts)Will ICE be eligible to be called up, take a HUGE Bigley pay cut, and lose total immunity for murder and a guarantee of never being shot back at?
If not, whats to stop all drafters from joining ICE to avoid danger and get rich doing it.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,788 posts)With golden stripes for his uniform..........
surfered
(13,596 posts)I remember it as the draft.
bdamomma
(69,563 posts)must be on crack, if he thinks this is going to happen. Get Barron first!!!!!!!