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Originally Posted by 2one3E90
Dude how did the draft work? Were people forced to just go? Did some families able to keep there sons away from the draft? Did you know anyone that evaded it?
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All young men are required to register for the draft at age 18 and subject to conscription from age 18 to 26, as I recall. During the Vietnam era, young men were being called up by the thousands every month. Most went to the Army. The remainder went to the Marines. There are various ways to evade the draft including leaving the country, obtaining fake disqualifying medical diagnosis, or just go surfing and fail to show up (and risk imprisonment).
The honorable way to avoid the draft was to simply enlist in a branch of the military of your choice such as the Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard. One could even enlist in the Army. The advantage of enlisting is that you get to pick your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).
I don't know anyone who evaded the draft. They either enlisted or just waited it out, hoping to not get picked. Some got drafted, others weren't. It was a luck (or not) of the draw.