Understanding the Connection between Academic Standing and Vietnam War Drafting

During the Vietnam War, the relationship between academic performance and the draft was intricate. Many students, especially those in college, were concerned about maintaining their academic standing to avoid being drafted into military service. This article explores the specific requirements and strategies employed by students to navigate the draft process.

Academic Requirements to Avoid Drafting

One common misconception is that a high GPA was necessary to avoid being drafted. This was not entirely accurate. The critical factor was not the GPA but rather the draft number and the status as a full-time student.

Essentially, if you were enrolled as a full-time student, you were generally safe from immediate drafting. Specifically, you needed a C average to maintain your status as a full-time student. This meant that as long as you were consistently meeting the academic requirements, you could avoid the draft. This was particularly important for students like myself who had a low draft number and were at risk.

In my case, I had a straight A’s as a student in city college, but I was still drafted twice. The second time, I chose to enlist, which allowed me to select a military occupation specialty (MOS) related to civil engineering. The Draft Board, composed of local people, typically just fulfilled their obligations. Each draft board had different practices, but generally, they took students who needed to complete their degrees and tried to assign them to appropriate MOSs.

Strategies to Delay Drafting and Pursue Civilian Careers

Some students, like myself, chose to apply for a 2-S college deferment to prevent immediate drafting. This strategy allowed me to delay the draft while continuing my pursuit of a degree and preparing for a future officer position. The deferment was designed to delay rather than avoid military service altogether. My goal was to use the deferment to get an Bachelor’s degree, which I accomplished, as it was essential for pursuing Officer Candidate School (OCS).

Many of my classmates pursued medical careers and were drafted to serve as physicians at the front lines or in military hospitals. Some even enrolled during training to become commissioned officers in the military medical field. This gave them both medical and military experience, though at significant personal and professional costs.

Regarding other disciplines like law, pharmacy, sciences, and engineering, graduates were all drafted after their studies. It was a matter of when, not if, they would be called to military service. High academic achievements and specialized knowledge were not exempted from the draft process; they were simply part of the preparation required for military service.

Summarizing the Academic and Draft Experience

In conclusion, academic standing played a crucial but not definitive role in avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War. Understanding the specific requirements and adopting appropriate strategies were essential. Personal experiences varied, but in general, maintaining full-time student status and staying in academia was a reliable way to delay or avoid immediate drafting. At the end of high school, a failing Baccalaureat exam could also lead to immediate drafting, underlining the complex interplay between education and service.

The story of academic standing and the draft during the Vietnam War is a tale of multiple factors at play, from individual academic performance to broader institutional and societal pressures. Understanding these dynamics provides valuable insights into the complexities of that era and the struggles faced by young people of that time.