Is there a law that doesnt allow only sons from a family to go into war??

Question

in example( i know its a movie but in example in savin pvt.ryan when they had to get him since he was a only son.....does that rule apply to the marines or what??? is that law all about???

Answer 1

There is absolutely no law about that and it has been a myth that has been circulating for years.

Answer 2

its not a law but it is an excuse to get out of deploying,its not a myth and who ever thinks that is dumb and shouldn't answer military questions if they don't know **** about the military...my husbands in the marines and alot of ppl we know have gotten out of deployment because they are the only son of there family,its so your family line doesn't stop if something were to happen to the only male (last name continuing since most women change their last name after marriage)

Answer 3

As far as i know the answer would be no. I went to the healing field today to honor our vets who where killed during their duty. There was a lady there with her husband. Their only son was killed in Iraq a few months ago.  

Answer 4

nope..my husband is an only son and he is in the army and deployed.  i believe that was only during when there was a draft.  now that people can decide on their own whether or not to join there is no rule about only sons.

Answer 5

Myth

Vet-USAF

Answer 6

The only application is if your brothers died in combat. Then you, as a soldier, could request discharge from the military. The rest is a myth.  

Answer 7

Contrary to popular belief, "only sons," "the last son to carry the family name," and "sole surviving sons" must register for the draft, they can be drafted, and they can serve in combat. However, they may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.

Provisions regarding the survivors of veterans were written into Selective Service law after World War II. Details have varied over the years, but the basic premise remains the same; where a family member has been lost as a result of military service, the remaining family members should be protected insofar as possible.

It is important to keep in mind that the provisions are directly related to service-connected deaths. The mere fact that a man is the only child or only son does not qualify him for consideration - he must be the survivor of one who died as a result of military service.

The present law provides a peacetime exemption for anyone whose parent or sibling was killed in action, died in line of duty, or died later as a result of disease or injury incurred in line of duty while serving in the armed forces of the United States. Also included are those whose parent or sibling is in a captured or missing status as a result of service in the armed forces during any period of time. This is known as the "surviving son or brother" provision. A man does not have to be the only surviving son in order to qualify; if there are four sons in a family and one dies in the line of duty, the remaining three would qualify for surviving son or brother status under the present law.

The surviving son or brother provision is applicable only in peacetime. It does not apply in time of war or national emergency declared by the Congress.

The original law, passed in 1948, exempted the sole surviving son of a family where one or more sons or daughters died as a result of military service. No restriction existed at that time to limit the exemption to peacetime. The provision was intended to protect families which had lost a member in World War II.

In 1964, recognizing that sons of World War II veterans were reaching draft age, Congress changed the law to include the sole surviving son of a family where the father, or one or more sons or daughters, died as a result of military service. At this time the peacetime-only restriction was also added to the law.

A further change was made in 1971, expanding the exemption to any son, not necessarily the sole surviving son, of a family where the father, brother or sister died as a result of military service. This provision was recently expanded to include mothers.

Military Discharges

In addition to peace-time draft deferrment, the Department of Defense authorizes discharges for any son or daughter in a family in which the father or mother or one or more sons or daughters:

Have been killed in action or have died when serving in the U.S. Armed Forces from wounds, accident, or disease.

Are in a captured or missing-in-action status.

Have a permanent 100 percent Service-related disability (including 100 percent mental disability), as determined by the Veterans' Administration or one of the Military Services, and are not gainfully employed because of the disability.

Under the provisions of DOD Directive 1315.15, this is a voluntary separation procedure which must be initiated by the service member. It does not apply during times of War or National Emergency declared by Congress.

It also does not apply to commissioned officers or warrant officers unless they were involuntarily drafted into the Armed Forces (as there is currently no draft going on, that means commissioned officers and warrant officers cannot be released from service under this provision).

Additionally, service members who enlist, reenlist, or voluntarily extends his or her active duty period after having been notified of the family casualty on which the surviving status is based shall be considered as having waived his or her rights for separation as a surviving son or daughter.

A member who has waived his or her right to a separation as a surviving son or daughter may request reinstatement of that status at any time. However, a request for reinstatement shall not be granted automatically, but shall be considered on the merits of the individual case.

Answer 8

nope.  it's an all volunteer militray.

the only time people can be excused from deployment is if a first degree relative( Parent or sibling) is killed in combat.  

Answer 9

Hey about that 5 more answers by people who have absolutly no friggen clue.

Yes there is a law, however it is commonly confused. If you remember in the movie he had three brothers that all died in combat. This is how the law works. If you are literally the only child it does not apply. If you are the sole surviving child because your brothers died in combat then it applies to you.