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No more regrets! As I am approached by friends and relatives, the The "Draft" ended in 1973, but prior to the end of the draft,
conversation between us deepens as we talked about the number of applications for employment, applications for driver's licenses,
years that I invested in the military; to include my years in civil applications for student loans and much more, the most visible
service (or most widely known as the Department of the Air Force question on those applications appeared in "Bold" letters, "Have you
Civil Service. Their questions are those that stirred me to a lengthy registered for the selective service, otherwise known as the "Draft."
explanation of my 30 years of combined service in the United States Many men of color that could not afford to pay for college or even
Army and the United States Air Force, and my 20 years of honorable had a medical exemption (i.e., condition) that excluded them from
service in the Department of the Air Force Civil Service. Without the draft; consequently, all accepted the call from "Uncle Sam.
pausing for a moment, I explained in detail, how I managed 18
months of enlistment, surviving harsh treatment, racism; but at the Uncle Sam's prelude boldly read, "Greetings, you are hereby ordered
same time, I developed commitment and structure. for induction into the Armed Forces. Those who received the letter
had two choices to respond to Uncle Sam's personal letter. The first
My time in the United States Army began as a draftee. A draftee is choice; "run" from the order and the second choice; "report" as
an individual selected to serve in the armed forces at a time of need. ordered. As did many males of color, I had no place to "run," so I
Let me define this term, "at a time of need." At a time of need is as reported to the United States Army, Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, North
defined by the United States Government as a time when positions Carolina.
are needed in the armed forces, filled by males registered for the
"Draft." All male United States citizens and immigrants, ages 18 The United States Army experience and the subsequent United States
through 25, are required to register with the government. Looking Air Force experience proved to be both rewarding and abundantly
back… secure for my family. I personally had no regrets for the path that I
entered and exited for retirement. On the other hand, my friends

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