Giving back to my country... 'James "kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world#78)

James "Kimo"Rosen is a retired Professional  Photographer living on theGarden island  of Kaua'i with his best friend Obama Da Dog.

Kimo's World #78
Giving back to my country

 I do not talk about this but much but I have been a proud  member of United States selective service system board  for the last 13 years. 
  In the event of a national emergency I need to  be prepared to implement an Alternative Service Program for registrants classified as conscientious objectors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System
What happens should the military draft be reinstated some day? If the military  draft is ever reinstated I am  prepared along with 11,000 other US  citizens whom volunteer to hear  and listen as to why  a potential draftee considered a conscientious objector should have to serve or be deferred.

I represent my zip code of 96746. Every Zip code in our country has a local board.My zip code represents Region 3 which is  responsible for more than half of the geographic area of the United States, 

Board members undergo an initial 8-hour training session and then participate in annual training in which they review sample cases similar to real-life situations.

I originally volunteered and got accepted because it meant one free round trip to Honolulu  every year  to go over the material we need to know and keep our skills sharp even though we currently have an all volunteer military. However in 2008 when the recession hit hard the trips were cancelled in lieu of a once a year home study by DVD.

Ever since 1976 there has been an all volunteer military in the US. This means only a small portion of the population serves their country. During prior wars like Vietnam, Korea and the World wars there was a draft which got everyone involved. Nowadays the only people involved are those who volunteer and since the numbers are down many enlisted serve multiple deployments.

Some say a draft system is better, it get's the whole country interested and involved since everyone over 18 can potentially be drafted, rich and poor are both involved. Now a good part of the population doesn't even know  why or where we're fighting.

This famous poster was used to recruit  soldiers for both World  War I and World War II.

I believe a military draft will come back  in the near future. I believe the draft makes for a more patriotic country. Young, old, rich and poor are all involved whereas with an volunteer army it's mainly poor people whom want future benefits.

Imagine a time comes when people stop enlisting or we are in a major war and need millions more to help? This is why every adult male at the age of 18 is required to register for the draft even during volunteer times.

My job should there ever be a draft is to determine if conscientious objectors should get out of serving after  we hear them out and they submit the appropriate paper work.

I came very close to serving my country as a young man. I had actually gone through all the procedures, physical, written test, talking to a recruiter. I had passed everything and was about to walk into the oath room when my father came running in from his nearby office and asked the Sergeant in charge if I could put serving off  for a few months..The sergeant said "as long as you son has not taken the oath he is not officially in the army.

Another famous army poster for  reenlistment

I still wonder what would had been if my father had got stuck in traffic that day. I missed the opportunity   to serve back in 1974. I have always wanted to be part of the military and being a selective service board  member has made it possible for me to give back to my country. 

Read more about the selective service system of which I am a volunteer board member;
https://www.sss.gov/annual7.htm

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