5. Enlisting in the National Guard or Coast Guard
During the Vietnam War, many young men sought to avoid combat by enlisting in the National Guard or Coast Guard, believing these branches were less likely to be deployed to Vietnam. The National Guard, under state control, was seldom mobilized for overseas combat during this period. Similarly, the Coast Guard’s primary domestic focus made it seem a safer alternative. However, this strategy was not foolproof. Approximately 15,000 National Guardsmen were sent to Vietnam before the war’s end. Additionally, some Coast Guardsmen did serve in combat zones, with a few losing their lives in the conflict. This underscores the unpredictability of military assignments during the war.
