'I won't be...I can’t be.’
My young friend from the slums is trying to convince himself that when he reports for the conscription draw early next month, he won’t be among the unlucky lads chosen to serve the nation for two years.
Thai men in their 21st year must report to the military. If they pass the height requirement and a health check, they are eligible to take part in a conscription draw.
The military asks for conscripts in districts where the number of people applying to enter service as soldiers fails to reach quota.
If a young man pulls a red slip, he has to serve as a conscript, in most cases for two years. If he draws a black slip, as most do, he can breathe a sigh of relief and resume his normal life.
Ball’s elder brother Boy recently finished his conscription service, and has returned to his old job as an air con engineer. Life was so tough as a conscript soldier that he doesn’t want Ball to have to go through it himself.
Ball’s girlfriend Jay is pregnant, expecting their first child in four months.
‘Soon you will be a father, and your brother has served before you...do they not grant exemptions?’ I asked Ball.
‘The military doesn’t care that I am about to start a family, ‘ he said sadly. Few exemptions are granted, other than on health grounds.
He just has to hope that few conscripts are needed in his district. Hopefully, many slum lads want to sign up, so the military won’t need many more soldiers to fill quota.
His friend Y wanted to be a soldier, but fell short of the military’s height requirements, so was rejected. Ball, who is 160cm tall, is tall enough to serve, so cannot hope for mercy there.
6 comments:
ReplyDeleteMichael Lomker17 March 2011 at 17:34
One of the Thai that I befriended in Bangkok mentioned this to me...his parents bought his way out of service. It wasn't a trivial sum but that's what the middle class often do.
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Bkkdreamer17 March 2011 at 18:30
Yes. I knew a lad about five years ago whose parents paid B30,000 to the local body office to have their place of domicile transferred to a district where the quota of soldiers needed was traditionally low.
His son was saved from the risk of serving as a conscript soldier. I looked up Ball's district last night, but could find no information on the internet as to how many soldiers they need this year. We shall just have to hope for the best.
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Anonymous17 March 2011 at 21:19
‘The military doesn’t care that I am about to start a family, ‘ he said sadly...
or...
"
'The military doesn't care that I accidently knocked up my girlfriend and laze around all day drinking with no job,' he said sadly.\\
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ironbark17 March 2011 at 23:00
Although he doesn't want to be a soldier it just might be good for him. Teach him some self discipline and get him off the bottle. Maybe that is what he is scared of.
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Bkkdreamer18 March 2011 at 07:55
Ironbark: It might be, but it will be a hard slog. Ball is shy, but can be fiesty when challenged. Like many young people, he doesn't like being told what to do.
He is worried that he is not physically robust enough to undertake military training, and he might be right.
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aussieboy_2 April 2011 at 16:51
Today is the day. Let's pray our boys come back home to us.
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