Originally posted by Gunslinger
draught....draft it doesnt matter. When somone signs up in the military they can be held indefinatly on active duty for the duration of a conflict plus 6 months. That is clear as day in the contract.
It's pretty clear. Especially if you take into account that in the 19th century in czarist Russia the duration of army service on active duty for soldiers' rank and file was 25 years. Another fact is that the SS volunteers were signing 2-year contract and were happily released back to their families even during the operation "Barbarossa".
Also Comrade Stalin used to keep drafted soldiers in the Red Army far beyond his commitments. The explaination was simple: in the 1930s there was a military conflict almost every year. Some of the guys (not very numerous survivors) served for ten years and more, starting from late 1930s till late 1940s. Sorry, that I've got carried away here - they were not volunteers.
Also my poor memory tells me that there were some very long conflicts, like 100-years war, 60-years war, also 21-year war between Sweden and Russia (1700-1721).
The war on terrorism began in 2001 and it's gonna end sometime in this century. So the farewell to wives is imminent for the brave guys
who signed for that absolutely clear clause in their contracts. I wonder if they are going to serve 10, 21, 60, 100 years on active duty ? + 6 months ?
My point is the following : the United States of America has to have the draft in one form or another. It's a shame that the government has to rely on hooky clause in the contract for the volunteers. But when you don't have enough soldiers you have to do something.
A couple of days ago I read somewhere (maybe even at AH BBs) about a wounded soldier who lost his thumb, receives $100 compensation for it, and now sleeps at the homeless shelter.
Was that poor chap also a volunteer ?
