Hi Bob,   
      
   On Fri 2012-Mar-02 09:45, BOB BREED (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:   
      
    RW> YEp, no buyouts, you serve, no matter who you are, no matter the   
    RW> station of your parents, rich or poor, disabled or not.   
    RW> YOu will serve. But then there's ...   
      
    BB> And we're both ignoring the fact that the military is cutting back -   
    BB> even to the point of losing key people - people who are very good at   
    BB> their job but can't advance so it's up or out.   
      
    RW> Yep, that's a real consideration.  The peacetime military   
    RW> still has a role though, the boots on the ground for foreign aid   
      
   BB> This plan almost came into being when I graduated HS back in 1948.    
   BB> Not only was registering for the draft mandatory, but there was real   
   BB> thought about military service right after HS for the males.  (I had   
   BB> a decent job, making good money for the times, but really sweated   
   BB> having to give that up and go into the military.)   
      
   Yep, heard those too, but those are very very rare these   
   days for young people.   
      
   BB> Which brings up another point:  how about those kids in that same   
   BB> boat, a good job, helping support his family.  Not all that many at   
   BB> the HS level, but they do exist and losing a paycheck to do military   
   BB> could really hurt those families.    
      
   Yeah, but if you know it's coming you know it's coming.   
   Besides, decent jobs are so rare, and adults who've done   
   their time and have families to support need them.  IT's   
   fair, because everybody *must* do it under such a plan.  nO   
   buyout, no opt out.  nO pleading, no begging, no whining.   
   YOung man or woman, head for that intake center.  IF you   
   drop out of high school at your 18th birthday you better be   
   showing up at that intake center.  Otherwise, walk down the   
   aisle, get that diploma, and catch that bus train or plane   
   the next day.  That's the main reason I like it so well, no   
   hardship case, no rich man's son buyouts, it's part of   
   what's expected of you.  That makes for a level playing   
   field.   
      
    BB> Not likely, but now and again I fire up my Kenwood and search the   
    BB> ham bands.  Man, what the heck is it with all these new calls? When   
    BB> did these C6xxx guys come into play?  Us old timers still recall   
    BB> when the newbies had K6, and that was like being branded.  :)   
      
    RW> Eh?  c6 is the Bahamas iirc.  Still valid is A k n or w for   
    RW> U.S. call signs.  I bought this call cause I didn't want one of the a   
    RW> series 2 by 2 extra calls,   
      
      
   BB> Really?  He was sure pouring in here, would have swore he was in CA.   
   BB> :) (C6AKQ was the call.)    
      
   YEp, that'd be the Bahamas.  WAs that on 20 meters?  IF so   
   it's been rather long last few days.  That would definitely   
   be a bahamas call sign though.   
      
    RW> YEah it's a different world these days.  When I heard an   
    RW> extra class the other day asking how to figure the length of a dipole,   
    RW> and another saying he didn't know how to tune up   
    RW> his new tube type linear amplifier I was rolling on the   
    RW> floor making strange noises.   
      
   BB>  Oh, we've always had those guys around.  :)   Ops, but no technical   
   BB> knowlege at all. :)   
      
   YEah I know, and i kidna resemble that remark, I'm the   
   world's biggest klutz with a soldering iron, but I can do   
   alright with the theory, and guiding the guy with the iron   
   at least .   
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)