NationStates Jolt Archive


Old, Old, Old Guys -- What was your draft number?

Myrmidonisia
19-02-2005, 18:56
Anyone? Lowest number that didn't get drafted wins a date with the NSer of your choice. Well, maybe not. How about a all-expense paid trip to Hattiesburg, Mississippi?
Seosavists
19-02-2005, 18:58
What do you mean?
Myrmidonisia
19-02-2005, 19:00
What do you mean?
If you don't know, you're too young for the contest.
Seosavists
19-02-2005, 19:11
If you don't know, you're too young for the contest.
Yeah I know I'm too young, also not from the US if that makes a difference. Still want to know what you mean though?
Haken Rider
19-02-2005, 19:24
1 ;)
Celtlund
19-02-2005, 19:24
I never got one. I joined the Navy Reserves when I was 17 and then went active duty in the Air Force when I was 18. Because I joined the military before I had to register for the draft I never got a number or card.

P.S. I'll be 62 in May.
Celtlund
19-02-2005, 19:28
Yeah I know I'm too young, also not from the US if that makes a difference. Still want to know what you mean though?

At one time all males had to register for the draft when they were 18 and were given a draft number. When Viet Nam got going hot and heavy, they had a lottery system and if your number came up you were drafted into the military.
North Island
19-02-2005, 19:36
At one time all males had to register for the draft when they were 18 and were given a draft number. When Viet Nam got going hot and heavy, they had a lottery system and if your number came up you were drafted into the military.

You still must register for the Selective Service (Draft) today if you are American, male and 18 years of age. If you do not then you could get a fine of $250.000 and 5 years prison I think.
They do not draft today because of the enlistment military but in a future major war they could reinstitute the draft.
Gurnee
19-02-2005, 19:51
At one time all males had to register for the draft when they were 18 and were given a draft number. When Viet Nam got going hot and heavy, they had a lottery system and if your number came up you were drafted into the military.
My grandpa and uncle were trying to explain this to me. My Grandpa had a regular number in the middle so he got drafted in WWII (although pretty much everyone got drafted so I don't think the number made too big of a difference), but my uncle had a high one so he got lucky and didn't have to go to Vietnam... so how do the low/high numbers make it more or less likely you'll be drafted?
Eutrusca
19-02-2005, 19:51
I didn't get drafted, but I have forgotten my draft number :headbang:
GoodThoughts
19-02-2005, 20:10
Mine was 52 and most everyone of that age knows what the number was. The higher the number the more likely you would not be drafted.
Eutrusca
19-02-2005, 20:45
I never got one. I joined the Navy Reserves when I was 17 and then went active duty in the Air Force when I was 18. Because I joined the military before I had to register for the draft I never got a number or card.

P.S. I'll be 62 in May.
Me too! The 27th. :D
Myrmidonisia
19-02-2005, 20:54
Mine was 3. I was still in high school, so I had that deferrment. The year I graduated, the draft was killed. Celebrated by burning the darned thing. Ironically, I joined the Marine Corps four years later.
Myrmidonisia
19-02-2005, 20:57
Yeah I know I'm too young, also not from the US if that makes a difference. Still want to know what you mean though?
Now that I've smoked out a few of the old guys...Everyone got a number from 1 to 365. I think it was assigned by pulling birthdays out of a barrel. Anyhow, the DoD would start calling for everyone with, oh, 1 to 35. Then as they needed more fodder, they would start adding to the list.
Celtlund
19-02-2005, 22:16
Mine was 3. I was still in high school, so I had that deferrment. The year I graduated, the draft was killed. Celebrated by burning the darned thing. Ironically, I joined the Marine Corps four years later.

ROFL :D
Celtlund
19-02-2005, 22:22
Now that I've smoked out a few of the old guys...Everyone got a number from 1 to 365. I think it was assigned by pulling birthdays out of a barrel. Anyhow, the DoD would start calling for everyone with, oh, 1 to 35. Then as they needed more fodder, they would start adding to the list.

The guys with the low numbers would often join a branch before they got a draft notice. The Air Force never had to draft, lots of guys signed up so they wouldn't be drafted into the Army or Marines. I don't know if the Navy had to draft or not, but they were considered a relatively "safe" branch of the service, swift boats excepted.

A great big thank you to all my brothers in arms out there who served and are serving.
Myrmidonisia
19-02-2005, 22:30
I don't know if the Navy had to draft or not, but they were considered a relatively "safe" branch of the service, swift boats excepted.
I guess it all depends on who was commanding the swift boat, eh?