What were some of the ways that young American men avoided military service in Vietnam?

Answer 1

During the Vietnam War, there were over 170,000 Conscientious Objectors; and over 22,000 indicted draft evaders, of which approximately 8,000 were convicted, and nearly 4,000 imprisoned.

The most popular & and best way to avoid serving one's country was to go to college; and receive a "college deferment."

Another method was to join the National Guard, as they were very unlikely to deploy during that time.

Answer 2

The primary method of avoiding the draft was to enter college, accept a student deferment, and then hope the war ended before you graduated. That's how Dick Cheney, ultra-hawk, SectDef, and GOP Vice President to Pres George Bush avoided the draft. An equally popular method, as adopted by conservative GOP Congressman and foreign policy hawk Newt Gingrich was to get married (the first of his 3 wives) and start a family. Some feigned insanity, as conservative rock star and NRA spokesman Ted Nugent did, when he lived in the same clothes for 2 weeks, urinating and defecating on himself to demonstrate insanity.

Answer 3

flee to Canada, disfigure themselves as to create a handicap, get a deferrment, join the reserves or simply did not report to the draft board.