If a *HUGE* war starts up will Med students be drafted or can we avoid it?

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do med students get drafted?


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FallenHero

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Say we go to war with Russia or China or something and the oba needs more soldiers to fight... and your name is drawn in the lottery. Does being a medical student exempt you from going to war? Or would they draft you for sure but just make you an army medic and not the guy with an M-16 or flying an F-16. I was gonna ask my interviewers but I forgot :sleep:

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We would not go to war with China because we owe them WAY too much money, they would basically break our economy in one move.

If we fought a war with Russia it would probably go nuclear very quickly so there would not be a need for an excess of soldiers.

There is no draft so the point is pretty moot. The only past precedent you can go off of is the draft back in the day and even for Vietnam anyone enrolled in a collegiate program was exempt, as well as those in medical school. Plus women. Plus if you were the only son.

Here's a list I found, I think it was accurate.

PWWII period: (1948 thru 1976*)

1-A Available for military service
1-AM Medical specialist available for military service
1-A-O Conscientious objector available for noncombatant
military service
1-A-OM Medical specialist conscientious objector available
for noncombatant military service
1-C Member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the
Coast and Geodetic Survey, or the Public Health Service
(Enl)-enlisted; (Ind)-Inducted; (Dis)-discharged
1-D Member of a Reserve component or student taking military
training
**1-H Registrant not currently subject to processing for
induction or alternate service
1-O Conscientious objector available for civilian work
contributing to the national health, safety, or interest
1-OM Medical specialist conscientious objector available for
civilian work contributing to the national health,
safety, or interest
1-S Student deferred by statute: (H)-high school; (C)-college
1-W Conscientious objector performing civilian work in the
national health, safety, or interest (Rel)-released
***1-Y Registrant qualified for service only in time of war
or national emergency
2-A Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation
(except agriculture)
2-AM Medical specialist deferred because of critical
community need involving patient care
2-C Registrant deferred because of agricultural occupation
2-D Registrant deferred because of study in preparation
for the ministry
2-M Registrant deferred for medical study
2-S Registrant deferred because of activity in study
3-A Registrant with a child or children; or registrant
deferred by reason of extreme hardship to dependents
4-A Registrant who has completed service; or sole surviving son
4-B Official deferred by law
4-C Alien
4-D Minister of religion or divinity student
4-E Conscientious objector opposed to both combatant and
noncombatant training and service
4-F Registrant not qualified for military service
4-FM Medical specialist not qualified for military service
4-G Sole surviving son
4-W Conscientious objector who has completed civilian
alternate service
5-A Registrant over the age of liability for military service
 
Well first, I don't really think the draft will ever happen again.

And second, if this would happen, I hope that the US government would be smart enough to let medical students finish their education. After that, well, soldiers need doctors. Even now, the military is heavily recruiting doctors/med students, so yes, I could see them drafting recently graduated medical students to do their 'residency' where they're needed.
 
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It isn't going to happen. You have to get through all those not deployed and then the reserves, etc.

And then, judging by recent history, the National Guard would likely be deployed on top of those forces.
 
Wouldn't we get into the Medical Corps or something? That should make things better.
 
Plus a lot of us are going to be kind of old (compared to the rest of the military) once we graduate.
I.e. they want 18-21 year olds, not people close to or over 30.
 
My father and uncle were both drafted (both were physicians). My father was Air Force; my uncle Navy attached to Marine Corps. You bet I would serve and will served if asked. I'm a surgeon today because of their service and the service of others. Reserves will take physicians up to age 60 especially if they need your skills. I'm on a list right now and would be in the Middle East tomorrow if they need me.
 
My father and uncle were both drafted (both were physicians). My father was Air Force; my uncle Navy attached to Marine Corps. You bet I would serve and will served if asked. I'm a surgeon today because of their service and the service of others. Reserves will take physicians up to age 60 especially if they need your skills. I'm on a list right now and would be in the Middle East tomorrow if they need me.
I meant old for something general infantry, etc. I have no idea how the Medical Corps works, or if medical students would qualify for it.
 
My father and uncle were both drafted (both were physicians). My father was Air Force; my uncle Navy attached to Marine Corps. You bet I would serve and will served if asked. I'm a surgeon today because of their service and the service of others. Reserves will take physicians up to age 60 especially if they need your skills. I'm on a list right now and would be in the Middle East tomorrow if they need me.

This. I'm not a physician, but if/when I get there, this will be my attitude. I've met quite a lot of other physicians that have that attitude as well; that if the military truly needed their help, they'd go in a heartbeat.
 
My father and uncle were both drafted (both were physicians). My father was Air Force; my uncle Navy attached to Marine Corps. You bet I would serve and will served if asked. I'm a surgeon today because of their service and the service of others. Reserves will take physicians up to age 60 especially if they need your skills. I'm on a list right now and would be in the Middle East tomorrow if they need me.

Yes! What you said! When I'm done with my training, I will absolutely volunteer for the reserves, peacetime or wartime, it doesn't matter. Helping fallen and wounded soldiers heal would be the greatest honor. :)

As for the draft, I'd like to think that, if there were truly a 'us or them' kind of war, that young, healthy men and women wouldn't need to be coerced into serving. I should hope that they will offer themselves up to defend our country, our families and our way of life. I know I would, in a heartbeat. Hopefully we haven't become too soft for that.
 
Wouldn't we get into the Medical Corps or something? That should make things better.

If they were to use the draft again, they'd most likely deploy you after your med school training, in which case you'd fill the role of a GMO (General Medical Officer) or a FS (Flight Surgeon). Basically you take care of sick soldiers or pilots, more like a primary care physician.

This is currently the role of many doctors over seas. Most of the serious injuries get sent to Germany, and then back home to Walter Reed. (Don't quote me on that though, that's what I've gathered.) *Edit, oh and honestly there isn't a whole lot of serious trauma going on. I think I heard some one in the milmed forums say like 1% of our deployed forces.

I'm not sure how the AF or Navy works, but the army has AMEDD (Army Medical Department). Which is what I believe you're referring to when you say Medical Corps. Fun fact about AMEDD, one of the oldest organizations in the U.S., formed in 1775 for the Continental Army.

Wealth of information on the SDN milmed forums.
 
And then, judging by recent history, the National Guard would likely be deployed on top of those forces.

NG's been maxed out for a while.

They were pretty close to calling it about 3 years ago, but they shortened the relief times, instead. Public opinion was just too strong against. Brown dudes wearing dresses just didn't make great boogey-men to unite everyone against.


Don't worry. We're on a twenty year turn-around, so you've still got a chance to make Pappy proud.
 
Plus a lot of us are going to be kind of old (compared to the rest of the military) once we graduate.
I.e. they want 18-21 year olds, not people close to or over 30.

The maximum age allowed to enter active duty army has recently been raised twice. That max is now currently at 42 years old. 30 is hardly too old.
 
Pretty sure we won't have to worry about a draft if a huge war starts with China or Russia. The nukes will take care of that.
 
I think we have a better chance of seeing a nuke dropped than we do of another draft.

However if there was a draft, I'd be happy to serve be it healing or fighting.
 
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