03 Dec 08
Just read this about Nader, had to share. After graduating from Princeton magna cum laude, Nader then went on to Harvard Law School, and after graduating he wanted to get any potential for military draft out of the way, so he enlisted in the Army Reserve and went through basic training, then became a COOK and spent 6 months active duty before going on inactive reserve status.
Must've been the most educated cook in the history of the army.
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The Shamhe still had slop the S.O.S. though😛
Just read this about Nader, had to share. After graduating from Princeton magna cum laude, Nader then went on to Harvard Law School, and after graduating he wanted to get any potential for military draft out of the way, so he enlisted in the Army Reserve and went through basic training, then became a COOK and spent 6 months active duty before going on inactive reserve status.
Must've been the most educated cook in the history of the army.
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The ShamThat's not surprising: "His father, a Lebanese immigrant, owned and operated a restaurant where Nader worked in his youth."
Just read this about Nader, had to share. After graduating from Princeton magna cum laude, Nader then went on to Harvard Law School, and after graduating he wanted to get any potential for military draft out of the way, so he enlisted in the Army Reserve and went through basic training, then became a COOK and spent 6 months active duty before going on inactive reserve status.
Must've been the most educated cook in the history of the army.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/candidates/nader.html
He did his stint in 1959 during peacetime. Do you have a problem with Army cooks?
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by no1marauderThey're the bottom of the barrel in any branch, especially in the 50's. He would have been surrounded by 18 year old half-wits that couldn't qualify for anything better. I thought it interesting that he would have gone that route, he must have been something of a freak amid all the high school drop-outs the army was taking at the time to go to cook and baker school. A graduate of two Ivy-league universities being a buck private and becoming a cook? He could have accepted an immediate commission as a captain and become a staff judge advocate, being a lawyer. Takes a different kind of guy to do what he did.
He did his stint in 1959 during peacetime. Do you have a problem with Army cooks?
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The ShamObviously he wasn't interested in a military career. He wanted to do his bid and get out. So he selected something he knew how to do, did it for a few months (I assume Basic even back then had to take 2-3 months) and then moved on with his life. Seems logical to me.
They're the bottom of the barrel in any branch, especially in the 50's. He would have been surrounded by 18 year old half-wits that couldn't qualify for anything better. I thought it interesting that he would have gone that route, he must have been something of a freak amid all the high school drop-outs the army was taking at the time to go to cook and ...[text shortened]... ome a staff judge advocate, being a lawyer. Takes a different kind of guy to do what he did.
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by no1marauderYes he gambled an won. His enlisted reserve commitment would have ended in '64. If he'd taken the same risk a few years later he may have found himself called to active duty as a PFC, and been a cook in Viet Nam, or find himself scrambling to get a commission to avoid it.
Obviously he wasn't interested in a military career. He wanted to do his bid and get out. So he selected something he knew how to do, did it for a few months (I assume Basic even back then had to take 2-3 months) and then moved on with his life. Seems logical to me.
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The ShamHe "gambled" on what? As soon as he finished law school, he fulfilled his obligation. You seem to have some kind of problem with that. Why exactly?
Yes he gambled an won. His enlisted reserve commitment would have ended in '64. If he'd taken the same risk a few years later he may have found himself called to active duty as a PFC, and been a cook in Viet Nam, or find himself scrambling to get a commission to avoid it.
03 Dec 08
Originally posted by no1marauderLaw school had nothing to do with it. You're totally missing the point. He graduated from Princeton, THEN went on to Harvard Law School. After getting his Juris Doctorate, he became a buck private, cook-schnook in the Army.
He "gambled" on what? As soon as he finished law school, he fulfilled his obligation. You seem to have some kind of problem with that. Why exactly?
04 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The ShamBased on the information furnished in the original post, I would have to say that Nader played his cards just right.
Law school had nothing to do with it. You're totally missing the point. He graduated from Princeton, THEN went on to Harvard Law School. After getting his Juris Doctorate, he became a buck private, cook-schnook in the Army.
He had a military obligation to fulfill and he did it in a quick and effective manner by serving in the reserves. Once he did that he didn't have the draft to worry about and he could get on with his life.
With a college degree he certainly could have became an officer but it most likely would have required him to serve for a longer period of time on active duty. By choosing the enlisted reserves path he managed to get the active duty phase over quickly.
He would have still had a six year total obligation during that time, If I'm not mistaken, but in the active reserves it used to involve only two weeks a year of active duty, and the remainder was served on weekends, one weekend per month.
04 Dec 08
2 edits
Originally posted by mwmillerYes he did do it just right, right time right place. As I pointed out earlier, a few years later and it could have gone horribly wrong for him.
Based on the information furnished in the original post, I would have to say that Nader played his cards just right.
He had a military obligation to fulfill and he did it in a quick and With a college degree he certainly could have became an officer but it most likely would have required him to serve for a longer period of time on active duty.
He woul o weeks a year of active duty, and the remainder was served on weekends, one weekend per month.
Quick correction for you:
Enlisted reservists are required to do 6 months active duty, followed by 5 1/2 years inactive reserve. (Unless called up in a war) Regular enlistees serve their time but also have a total 6 year commitment in the inactive reserve.
ROTC or graduates of OCS have a 6 year active duty commitment, period.Graduates from West Point/Annapolis/USAF Academy are given regular commissions and must serve 6 years.
I've done both, regular enlisted Army, then USAF OCS.
04 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The Shamnot necessarily active duty. they'd be on active reserve status. of course im not educated on military standards from the 50's but these days you'd have to be awesome at what you do to get an active duty spot.
Yes he did do it just right, right time right place. As I pointed out earlier, a few years later and it could have gone horribly wrong for him.
Quick correction for you:
Enlisted reservists are required to do 6 months active duty, followed by 5 1/2 years inactive reserve. (Unless called up in a war) Regular enlistees serve their time but also have ...[text shortened]... ar commissions and must serve 6 years.
I've done both, regular enlisted Army, then USAF OCS.
my brother graduated was on active duty, went green to gold and went through ROTC. he was acting General in his ROTC program and was a distinguished honor grad and still couldnt get an active duty slot anywhere. had to go into the national guard. he now has a masters degree and is a captain. they said the only way he could go active duty is if he opted to go to ranger school.
it's all about what schools you have under your belt these days.
04 Dec 08
Originally posted by TimInIraqI find that very hard to believe. The military is crying for active duty officers.
not necessarily active duty. they'd be on active reserve status. of course im not educated on military standards from the 50's but these days you'd have to be awesome at what you do to get an active duty spot.
my brother graduated was on active duty, went green to gold and went through ROTC. he was acting General in his ROTC program and was a distingui ...[text shortened]... to go to ranger school.
it's all about what schools you have under your belt these days.
04 Dec 08
Originally posted by Sam The Shamthat's what is ridiculous about it. they have qualified people but they're putting most of them in active reserve components like army reserves or army national guard etc.
I find that very hard to believe. The military is crying for active duty officers.
military academies are automatic active duty and if you're already active duty and go OCS then you get active duty but anyone else who chooses to go another route, automatic reserves component because they are struggling to find officers even worse.
our 2nd platoon has a Sargaent First Class acting as the platoon leader when it's usually held by a 2nd or 1st leuitenant and their platoon sargaent is a staff sargaent which is usually held by a sargaent first class. lol