...   
      
    BB> While women can enlist, I still feel that subjecting them to the   
    BB> draft would be a major hoo-haw and would never fly, thus putting the   
    BB> whole system at risk.   
      
    RW> Maybe, but with a draft there's always a buy out option,   
    RW> whether it be college deferment, etc.   
      
   NO, no no!  That's the problem now.  If you go with universal service it has to   
   be right after high school, then after discharge you consider college.  In fact   
   you may find a trade while in the military where college may not be a big   
   factor.    
      
    BB> Not so sure making all do military would fly either, but you offer a   
    BB> choice; military or some civil program like CCC or the peace corp   
    BB> thing - hell habitat for humanity would be fine with me.  Point is   
    BB> you do something for the good of the country and you have NO   
    BB> exceptions except the really disabled.   
      
    RW> I'd still make it mandatory military, and if the military is willing to   
    RW> pass on you then you have a choice, but this way, #1 you get certain   
    RW> training that imho citizens should have.   
    RW> #2, there is no opt out or buy out possible.  You *will*   
    RW> serve.  Even the profoundly disabled, at least if they ahve   
    RW> intellectual capability can do something to further a   
    RW> military effort.  Maybe it's communications, or clerical, or any number   
    RW> of things.   
      
   I hear ya, but i think the plan isn't gonna fly if you try to force the gals   
   into mandatory military.   
      
      
    RW> I tried to enlist, my draft card said "subject to call" and   
    RW> I told the man, I'm an experienced radio op. Remember back   
    RW> then the navy still used MOrse.  The man laughed at me, my   
    RW> card soon got switched to 4f.   
      
    BB> Remember when? Hell, I was part of that myself.  :)  Although as a   
    BB> CT, not a general service radioman.  BTW, since I was copying about   
    BB> 20wpm the day I walked into radio schools it was a snap course for   
    BB> me. :) I think the plan was 18wpm for radiomen to graduate, but it   
    BB> was 35 for CTR's.  Had to hone a bit to get that but made it with   
    BB> ease.   
      
    RW>   Yeah I wasn't good enough to pass the first class   
    RW> telegraph though, that required 20 wpm like the extra did   
    RW> back then.   
      
   Got my amateur at 16, next year got 2nd telegraph, then about 2 years later   
   went for 2nd phone.  As you said, the 2nd telegraph had the 20wpm thing but I   
   never really had a problem with the code.     
      
   2nd telegraph lapsed because you needed endorsements to keep it valid.  I let   
   the 2nd phone lapse as no need for it, but after hired on with telco once again   
   needed it when working in mobile radio, so back to the studying again.  Man, it   
   was harder the second time by far.  Now it's lapsed again. :)   
      
   Amateur still valid though but not using it and haven't for some years.   Keep   
   the code speed up though, but that's mostly via the MP3 files from the ARRL   
   site.  :)    
      
      
      
      
      
      
    RW> Regards,   
    RW>            Richard   
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