Ladies and gentlemen, the war has just hit home with me.

[SmileyBoy]

I met all my college dorm suitemates tonight (not roomates, cause I'm in the only single room in my dorm), and one of the guys I met is enlisted in the National Guard. The five of us were in our foyer talking a little bit and shooting the shit, just breaking the ice. And I asked one of the guys who looked to be the youngest of us if he was a freshman, and he said yes, cause he was in the National Guard. I asked him when he was going to Iraq. He said he was going in November. I asked him for how long, and he said 18 months.

Now, even though a lot of the students here are pretty conservative (and I don't know the political leanings of the other guys in my suite), we all stood silent a little bit with our heads kind of down like we all knew what each other was thinking. It's like we were all saying with our eyes "I feel so sorry for this kid." Because I didn't want to bring politics into this opening ice-breaker conversation (the staunch anti-Bush liberal I am), I still wished him good luck, and we moved on.

I kind of feel scared and concerned for this kid. I mean, I live with him. He's the youngest of the five of us in the suite. He only graduated from high school last year.

It seemed to me that he was mentioning his National Guard duty kind of light-heartedly and jokingly (regarding his demoted college status of freshman instead of sophomore), like he didn't seem to know the real consequences of his enlistment. I don't know if I should talk to him personally about all the dangers if he doesn't actually realise the situation at hand.

Ladies and gentlemen, the war has just hit home with me.

[MichiganVote]

1. Young soldiers need admiration not admonition

As hard as it is to handle that reality, that is the plain fact of the matter. And anyway, none of you students should be too smug. Bush will draft you all into the military if he wins. Believe it.

[SmileyBoy]

2. I can't be drafted. I'm disabled.

I got the 4F card to prove it.

[politicat]

3. Be kind to him. Send him stuff (books, socks, popcorn). Let him vent.

What kind of unit is he in? That can sometimes determine the possibility that they come back or not.

We had one of those moments over the weekend - finding the Desert Storm T that my husband's battery signed (Also a NG unit). 14 years, and the same shit applies. Yeah, it hurts.

It's a terrible price he's paying for four years of college....

Politicat

[SmileyBoy]

4. I don't think any less of him.

Quite the contrary, I feel very concerned for his safety.

[B Calm]

5. Back in 1969 I was the young man being sent overseas!

Write this guy letters, and make sure he knows what is really going on! He'll appreciate knowing that someone actually is thinking about him other than family members.

[proud patriot]

6. Be a Friend

ask for his APO . Let him know you'd like to stat in touch .

[CHIMO]

7. I Would Suggest

That you all agree to stay in touch.
Who knows what will be in 30 to 40 years from now. Support each other.
In the mean time challenge yourself in all learning opportunities.

[Bake]

8. I hope he comes home alive and in one piece.

I hope that for all of our troops.

Bake

[IkeWarnedUs]

9. By all means, thank him, get the APO to keep in touch, but . . .

I would offer some information too. Tell him about PNAC and the real reason he is going to war. Give him info on some support organizations available to him (and his buddies in the Guard) like:

Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Link: http://www.objector.org/index.html

CCCO has a section called "Getting out of the Delayed Entry Program". Here is some of what they say:

What is the Delayed Entry Program?
Most people who enlist are signed up into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), which is also called the Delayed Enlistment Program, for up to a year before they report for active duty training. Sign now, pay later. It's a popular way to sell cars, stereos and military enlistment. The Delayed Entry Program is particularly attractive to high school seniors who are unsure about what to do after graduation. A lot can happen in a year (especially for teenagers!), and many young people change their minds about what they want to do with their lives.

How does someone get out of the Delayed Enlistment Program?
While Delayed Enlistment Program recruits have incurred a legal obligation to the military, getting out of the Delayed Entry Program is simple: write a letter requesting separation that fully explains why the recruit is unable or unwilling to serve. If there is more than one reason, explain them all.

What kinds of reasons are acceptable?
While the military defines specific separation categories, as long as the recruit states clearly that he or she is no longer interested in serving in the military almost any reason is acceptable. Despite occasional threats of involuntary activation from recruiters, the military currently releases all Delayed Entry Program recruits who request a separation.

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You might also want to tell him about Military Families Speak Out so he knows that not everyone in the military supports this war.

http://www.mfso.org/

-------------

I don't mean to push this on him, but I would offer it. Maybe print this out and give it to him to have and think about in private.

[markses]

11. Wrong - only if asked

Unsolicited, this stuff is not helpful.

[markses]

10. Do NOT proselytize or otherwise try to "convert" him

If he asks you for your opinion, give it fairly and honestly, but do not push a game on the young man. He has a lot to think about, and doesn't need a preacher man in his living quarters, one way or the other. If he does ask you to explain your position, do so based solely on issues, and do not become emotional - or condescending, however he reacts to your claims and evidence. Finally, get his APO, and insist that he send you a list of itewms he needs once he gets settled in Iraq. Promise to send a care package every month, and do it.

[Bhaisahab]

15. That's good advice. n/t

[leesa]

12. Why aren't the other conservatives volunteering to go?

[LibraLabSoldier]

14. because...the higher your parents bank balance is

the less likely they are to want their blue eyed boy to get shot at. I have had people tell me that it was good I joined the military since my family was poor. Thanks Bush. You will either starve us out, or kill us off. For the record though, we do have upper class folks in the Army. We call them "Sir"

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Thanks for posting this, northwest