...   
      
    RW> Maybe, but with a draft there's always a buy out option,   
    RW> whether it be college deferment, etc.   
      
    BB> NO, no no!  That's the problem now.  If you go with universal   
    BB> service it has to be right after high school, then after discharge   
    BB> you consider college.  In fact you may find a trade while in the   
    BB> military where college may not be a big factor.   
      
    RW> Yep, my point exactly, no opt out available is the way I   
    RW> look at it.  There is no opt out, the military has first   
    RW> call on your body and soul when you turn 18 or get that hs   
    RW> diploma.   
      
   I can't buy the plan as long as it has a 'buy out' clause.  (But maybe I'm not   
   thinking what you mean by that - to me it was what happened in VN, the rich got   
   into all kinds of deferments, college - and gawd knows what else.)  However I   
   can buy the truly disabled being exempt - a point you don't. :)   
      
   ...   
      
    BB> I hear ya, but i think the plan isn't gonna fly if you try to force   
    BB> the gals into mandatory military.   
      
    RW> Then they need to shut up and get over it .  Any time   
    RW> there's an option there's a way to buy out, which is how we   
    RW> got into the trick bag we got into with Nam.  Also, the all   
    RW> volunteer thing ain't workin' so great either.  It's still   
    RW> predominantly the have nots who end up opting for   
    RW> enlistment, because often it's their only ticket out of   
    RW> nowhereville to where there might be something happening.   
      
   And we're both ignoring the fact that the military is cutting back - even to   
   the point of losing key people - people who are very good at their job but   
   can't advance so it's up or out.   
      
    ...   
      
    BB> Got my amateur at 16, next year got 2nd telegraph, then about 2   
    BB> years later went for 2nd phone.  As you said, the 2nd telegraph had   
    BB> the 20wpm thing but I never really had a problem with the code.   
      
    RW> YEp, was thinking it was 1st telegraph needed the 20 wpm.  I did the   
    RW> phone thing with the broadcast endorsement.   
      
   Never got the broadcast thing.  All we needed was the basic 2nd class to do   
   mobile radio and the occasional point to point microwave shot.     
      
    BB> 2nd telegraph lapsed because you needed endorsements to keep it   
    BB> valid.  I let the 2nd phone lapse as no need for it, but after hired   
    BB> on with telco once again needed it when working in mobile radio, so   
    BB> back to the studying again.  Man, it was harder the second time by   
    BB> far.  Now it's lapsed again. :)   
      
    RW> YEah I bet it was, and the technology was advancing pretty   
    RW> rapidly too in those years I'm sure.  I remember traveling   
    RW> to Kansas City from central Iowa to take it.  NOw they've   
    RW> got basically a volunteer examiner program like they do with amateur,   
    RW> and only two classes instead of three.   
      
      
    BB> Amateur still valid though but not using it and haven't for some   
    BB> years.   Keep the code speed up though, but that's mostly via the   
    BB> MP3 files from the ARRL site.  :)   
      
    RW> YEah but you might decide some day to throw up a wire and   
    RW> get on the air.  YOu might enjoy groups like fists and the   
    RW> like.  Also traffic handling.   
      
       
   Not likely, but now and again I fire up my Kenwood and search the ham bands.    
   Man, what the heck is it with all these new calls? When did these C6xxx guys   
   come into play?  Us old timers still recall when the newbies had K6, and that   
   was like being branded.  :)   
      
   Talk about being out of touch.  :)   
      
      
      
      
       
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