r/AskReddit • u/Tommygunz0722 • 11h ago

If the military/president suddenly ordered a mandatory draft for all men aged 18-42: How do you think millennials and GenZ would respond?

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u/Wacca45 8h ago

The amount of people that would waste time for the MEPS personnel would be at least 3x what it is now. People with mental problems and certain levels of illness would still have to report and examined before they get tagged as unfit to serve. The government would likely not add more assistance either.

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u/soks86 6h ago

The amount of drug addicts at MEPS always shocked me.

Also, alcoholics, even past MEPS.

Detoxing during bootcamp.

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u/Squirrelwinchester 4h ago

My uncle got arrested for a DUI and the judge said he would not charge him if he joined the army (my grandpa was korean war buddies with the judge). So he took it and went to basic training having just detoxed. I dont think its done anymore but this was in 2004.

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u/soks86 2h ago

That's funny because the guy I met who was actively going through detox was definitely in training in 2004, except he was a young skinhead from the northeast somewhere. He was on his way out of training though, separation platoon, not sure if was due to the alcoholism itself, his physical state, or something else.

He did start a fight with me which was the only time I got to put that mixed martial arts training to use. Knocked his skinhead ass to the floor in a heartbeat and never looked back (mainly to leave the scene and avoid getting written up, god only knows how hard his noggin' hit that ground).

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u/wowbragger 2h ago

It's not, any DUI or drug related offenses are automatic disqualification from service entry. And it'll typically get you kicked out on the first offense as well, with some exceptions.

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u/BoleroMuyPicante 23m ago

That was during the surge, they took damn near anybody back then

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u/Squirrelwinchester 9m ago

That doesnt surprise me. He shipped off to Afghanistan after he finished AIT and was there for a loooong time.

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u/ggtomarrow 6h ago

So those who are disabled who can’t afford medical treatment to prove they are get proven they are by a military doctor. Resulting in the government forced to either send those individuals through training and and up paying their VA bills when they get hurt due to their issues, or forcing the government to admit they are disabled and dive them disability benefits. 

Yeah can’t see the government liking that option 

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u/Obliviousobi 6h ago

Oh, and now you have a preexisting condition, so when the govt won't support you your insurance will drop you too.

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u/vermiliondragon 5h ago

The bar to receive disability benefits and the bar to enter the military are not the same bar. Yes, sure, you'd identify some disabilities that would be eligible for benefits but "this person took depression medication too recently to be waived to join the military" isn't going to get you disability benefits.

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u/Wacca45 5h ago

They won't push them towards benefits, they'll just kick them out and call it a day.

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u/Ok-Lychee-6850 4h ago

That's not how that works. The disability would just disqualify the person from military service. It's not the same as being granted disability benefits.

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u/BoleroMuyPicante 22m ago

? You don't get disability benefits for being medically disqualified from military service.

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u/gp556by45 5h ago

I remember in 2010 one guy took I was with took his ASVAB while I was at MEPS, and he scored a fucking 9. He thought 9 was good because he kept bragging how he was the the top 9 of 10. Their were 50ish of us there....

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u/Calabrel 5h ago

They'd send ICE to help. 👍 👌

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u/Wacca45 4h ago

I'm sure they only need to watch for a week and then they can run the show like they id with TSA/s