The Draft: How to Without Beat It Really Trying

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THE DRAFT

For a generation and more, many a hale male has dreamed of beating the draft by persuading the psychiatrist at the induction center that he was some kind of nut. That, however, is going about it the hard way. Men are rejected if they are hypersensitive to bee stings, have a severe ingrown toenail, or even if they have too many—or too obscene—tattoos.

In a study of 1,500,000 men called for examinations between 1960 and 1962, Col. Robert A. Bier, chief medical officer for the national Selective Service System, found that 382,000 (or 25.4%) were granted medical deferments. Chief causes were musculoskeletal complaints (14.9%) such as stiff arms, trick knees, flat feet or the loss of an index, middle or ring finger from at least the mid-portion (slicing off the first joint will not do). Cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders—including homosexuality and bedwetting —each accounted for 11%. So did being 20% overweight or underweight. Bad eyesight claimed 6%, while 7,600 beat the system by being too tall and 3,800 others because they were too short (the upper limit is now 6 ft. 8 in., the lower limit 5 ft.). A surprisingly large number—22,800—were kept out by bad cases of acne.

Because the armed forces have such a "large pool of available manpower," added Bier, they "can be very selective." Anyone who needs special clothing and equipment, might require excessive medical care or could prove a hazard to himself or his buddies, may be turned down. The general rule, he said, is: "If in doubt, reject."