Robbie in the Army Reserve

[dahur1]

Lately METV's been showing a lot of Robbie in the Reserve. I don't remember seeing these episodes in the 60's, so it's new to me.
I thought you didn't have to be in the military when you were in college...
Or was it different for the reserve...?

[visaman666]

I'm not sure, but I think married men had the option of not having to go to Viet Nam, but had the option of joining the reserves or the National Guard, unless they weren't picked in the lottery.

UPDATE from Wikipedia: President Kennedy set up Executive Order 11119 (signed on September 10, 1963), granting an exemption from conscription for married men between the ages of 19 and 26. President Johnson later rescinded the exemption for married men without children by Executive Order 11241 (signed on August 26, 1965 and going into effect on midnight of that date). However, married men with children or other dependents and men married before the Executive Order went into effect were still exempt. President Reagan revoked both of them with Executive Order 12553 (signed on February 25, 1986).

[dahur1]

Thanks...!

[Cincy Guy]

It's possible that the creators of the show thought the episodes with Robbie in the reserves might appeal to young men who were doing, or considering doing, the same.

If memory serves me, some one in the reserves had to spend so many weekends a year and some weeks during the summer on maneuvers. Adult males between 18-35 were exempt from military service if they were attending college on a full-time basis. The first draft "lottery" took place in December, 1969 and was based on the male's month and day of birth. These were drawn from the possible 366 (remember February 29) days in the year. Those drawn earlier in the process were said to have more of a chance to be called for military duty.

[dahur1]

Originally Posted by Cincy Guy

It's possible that the creators of the show thought the episodes with Robbie in the reserves might appeal to young men who were doing, or considering doing, the same.

If memory serves me, some one in the reserves had to spend so many weekends a year and some weeks during the summer on maneuvers. Adult males between 18-35 were exempt from military service if they were attending college on a full-time basis. The first draft "lottery" took place in December, 1969 and was based on the male's month and day of birth. These were drawn from the possible 366 (remember February 29) days in the year. Those drawn earlier in the process were said to have more of a chance to be called for military duty.

The full time college exemption is what I remember.
My lottery number drawn was 5 in 1971...! All us kids jammed like sardines in the federal building downtown Flint, waiting for the bus to take us to our physical in Detroit.