A couple of things…

One way out of the draft in those days was the Naval Reserve – only 2 years of active duty required.

I joined in Dec ’66 and there were no waiting lines (but then, who know there was a Naval Air Station in Kansas of all places (Olathe). Since my goal was adventure, see the world, go to Vietnam, I worked my way into all three.

The supreme draft dodging but serve choice was many National Guard positions (not including the one that Bush took, which had a long active duty requirement). My brother got draft #13 in 1970 or 1971, and he was able to get into the Army Guard with no trouble. He ended up a weapons specialist (which he loved) and the battalion photographer (he was a photojournalist).

Regarding assassination…

There’s a weapon that the US snipers have been using for the first time in Iraq. It’s a Barrett 50 – A 7 foot long rifle that shoots a 50 caliber round. The last time I was out shooting, a biker at the adjacent station was shooting one. The muzzle blast sent a shock wave through us every time it fired. The range wouldn’t let him shoot at the long range metal targets (because it would destroy them), so he was aiming next to them. The weapon is good to about 1800 meters with a good shooter. The projectile can destroy an armored personnel carrier (this was done at 2000 meters in the WOT).