I have become increasingly worried about a large scale global war in the next 10-20 years, even if the odds are slim. I might be too old to be drafted, but I could easily see my 2 sons being drafted.
Obviously, as a father, I don't want to see my sons killed or maimed in war, so I'd like to start giving them skills and abilities to avoid physical conflict should a war arise. This is less "How do I teach them to fight" and more "What unique abilities would be so valuable that, in the event that they were drafted, it would make overwhelming sense to keep them off the frontlines?"
My first thought would be computer programming/coding and foreign language sufficiency (Mandarin or Russian seem like the most obvious choices), but what else? How could I help them have a natural proclivity for, say, logistics or media, etc.?
I think the US would collapse from revolts if a draft was instituted again. Teach them how to program and they can run the future drone armies.
“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” - Matthew 10:28
Another route would be to put them on a track where the NSA or CIA could be an option to pre-empt it (and maybe help prevent a war in the first place!) - history, linguistics, programming, etc. could position you to make a run at an analyst role or something with the CIA. Certainly time spent in other countries, study abroad programs, etc. probably help that. May not avoid the draft - but if you are already there, and valuable, not sure why you'd get pulled to go somewhere else.
It really depends if you’re riding a desk job as an analyst in the CIA or if you’re in operations and in the field. Most people in CIA operations would probably want to get deployed and fight for our country.
Good point - I was thinking more desk job vs. the operational. The latter as you said is probably already over in whatever country we are fighting this future war with.
Nearly all CIA jobs are desk jobs (i.e. analysts mostly) and not operational jobs. Its something like 90% to 10% from what I've read. And even if you are operational you are probably acting under diplomatic cover so there isn't much risk involved.
Trades.
I have family that went to Nam as a mechanic/technician and another who was a chef. In their words, it was about as safe as you could get on site.
The chef also commanded incredible respect as he was tasked with feeding the infantry. Someone pissed him off and he refused to feed him. The cocky infantry dudes attitude changed real quick after missing a few meals.
My dad was a pilot for 2 tours in Vietnam and didn’t face any conflict. His classmate from flight school (John McCain) was shot down though and became a POW.
Your dad's classmate was John McCain? Impressive stuff.
I plan to identify as a woman for the duration of a draft and then switch back to a male after the war. We shall see how much the federal government actually believes their own virtue signaling. God bless America.
Lmao
Shhh, don't give people ideas
As the law currently stands, every “male citizen” and immigrant — regardless of legal status — between the ages of 18 and 26 must register with the Selective Service System, the agency responsible for running a draft. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a Democrat and former U.S. Air Force officer, wants to strike the word “male” from the bill and expand the registration to all Americans, regardless of race, color, sex or gender.
Oh man it would be funny to see how quickly the feminists don't actually want equality all of the sudden
I thought they put women on the front line now too
Honestly, best move would be to stats max them out so they spend all their time in training. Something like Bachelors>Ranger>Green Beret> OCS>CIA.
Why would you enlist when you have a bachelor's and can become an officer immediately?
I'm not a vet by any means, but from what I understand, Officers do not get to choose where they go when they graduate OCS, they get to merely put out preferences, so they may have to fill out a full contract in a unit that they do not want. Also, I thought it made sense to recommend elite units because he will get the longest/ best training/ best support when stuff does head south.
Keep in mind historical precedent, the US Army in WW2 ran out of infantrymen and sent everyone from tank destroyer crews to clerks and typists to the front. You might get a "safe" job but end up being infantry anyways. A legitimate way you could get out of such pains would be to join another branch, eg Air Force as soon as things look tight, that way you're less likely to see action. Also can consider the National Guard/Reserves precedent during Vietnam, they sent draftees but didn't call up the reserves out of fear of economic disruption. I don't think this still applies though, during GWOT you saw every unit in the "total force" deployed so not exactly a way out.
Do your sons share your views on avoiding service in the event of war? I know quite a few people my age who would be happy to fight for their country and some who already are reservists.
No matter what, your focus should be on raising healthy, well rounded individuals. You can't predict the future, but you can prepare them for the best life they can have. If they are physically fit and educated they will have a better shot at tackling whatever life throws at them.
Tell them to join the Coast Guard
Just break one of their arms when the times comes
If you saw or read "The Godfather", you should already know that you can pull every string and still not control the decisions of your adult children.
Respectfully, I don’t think you are going to get the best advice on how to prepare someone for war on a sight with a bunch of finance geeks. Go study what the Israeli’s do during their two year compulsory service.
The thread title is misleading. The OP explains he wants to prepare his sons to avoid a future war, not train them to fight.
Vote MAGA 2024
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori …
"it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country"
- Horace
Have them play a sport that involves hits to the head like football, boxing, or throw a ball a little inside during BP in little league.
I got nailed by a line drive once in HS on my face and went from having 20/10 vision to not being able to identify my friends out of a lineup from 5 feet away without glasses. I looked into trying to do spec ops for like 6 months after I stopped playing college ball and found out I couldn’t qualify for anything in the line of duty due to how bad my vision is.
the best potential soldiers, according to army recruiters, aren't the ones that spent 12 years on Call of Dury, but the ones that are physically fit
so just involve them in as many sports as possible and that's the max they can do. It's easier to learn combat sports, hunting, survival than to become healthy and fit (years)
Give them a shot of whiskey and tell them to quit being pussies.
As for you, go kick yourself in the dick repeatedly because you are acting like a cuck.
War is a reality of the human experience. Is it horrific? Yes, but it is also a reality.
Trying to spend time and energy worrying about this shit is a waste of yours and their time. The best way to keep them out of the infantry is to let the explore and develop on their own to discover things they are naturally drawn to. This might lead them to, oh the horror, the military and infantry. But for you to force them down a path that you think will protect them from some theoretical danger will end up turning them into weak ineffective men.
How old are your sons?
They're toddlers.
I legitimately don't understand the MS or some responses to this post--I can't imagine a more natural or ingrained emotion than a man's desire to protect his family from death. There's nothing heroic or noble about ignoring that.
Read the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis. Abraham is revered in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. You are being the opposite of him.
This is a sad, sad post, OP.
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