Missionary work, my *****.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/

Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other
missionaries

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | June 24, 2007

As the Vietnam War raged in the 1960s, Mitt Romney received a deferment
from the draft as a Mormon "minister of religion" for the duration of his
missionary work in France, which lasted two and a half years.

Before and after his missionary deferment, Romney also received nearly
three years of deferments for his academic studies. When his deferments
ended and he became eligible for military service in 1970, he drew a high
number in the annual lottery that determined which young men were drafted.
His high number ensured he was not drafted into the military.

The deferments for Mormon missionaries became increasingly controversial
in the late 1960s, especially in Utah, leading the Mormon Church and the
government to limit the number of church missionaries who could put off
their military service. That agreement called for each church ward, or
church district, to designate one male every six months to be exempted
from potential duty for the duration of his missionary work.

Romney's home state was Michigan, making his 4-D exemption as a missionary
all but automatic because of the relatively small number of Mormon
missionaries from that state. It might have been more difficult in Utah,
where the huge Mormon population meant that there were sometimes more
missionaries than available exemptions. Most missions lasted two and a
half years, as Romney's did.

(snip)

Missionary work, my *****.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/

Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other missionaries

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | June 24, 2007

As the Vietnam War raged in the 1960s, Mitt Romney received a deferment from
the draft as a Mormon "minister of religion" for the duration of his
missionary work in France, which lasted two and a half years.

Before and after his missionary deferment, Romney also received nearly three
years of deferments for his academic studies. When his deferments ended and
he became eligible for military service in 1970, he drew a high number in the
annual lottery that determined which young men were drafted. His high number
ensured he was not drafted into the military.

The deferments for Mormon missionaries became increasingly controversial in
the late 1960s, especially in Utah, leading the Mormon Church and the
government to limit the number of church missionaries who could put off their
military service. That agreement called for each church ward, or church
district, to designate one male every six months to be exempted from
potential duty for the duration of his missionary work.

Romney's home state was Michigan, making his 4-D exemption as a missionary
all but automatic because of the relatively small number of Mormon
missionaries from that state. It might have been more difficult in Utah,
where the huge Mormon population meant that there were sometimes more
missionaries than available exemptions. Most missions lasted two and a half
years, as Romney's did.

(snip)

Missionary work, my *****.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/

Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other
missionaries

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | June 24, 2007

As the Vietnam War raged in the 1960s, Mitt Romney received a deferment
from the draft as a Mormon "minister of religion" for the duration of
his missionary work in France, which lasted two and a half years.

Before and after his missionary deferment, Romney also received nearly
three years of deferments for his academic studies. When his deferments
ended and he became eligible for military service in 1970, he drew a
high number in the annual lottery that determined which young men were
drafted. His high number ensured he was not drafted into the military.

The deferments for Mormon missionaries became increasingly controversial
in the late 1960s, especially in Utah, leading the Mormon Church and the
government to limit the number of church missionaries who could put off
their military service. That agreement called for each church ward, or
church district, to designate one male every six months to be exempted
from potential duty for the duration of his missionary work.

Romney's home state was Michigan, making his 4-D exemption as a
missionary all but automatic because of the relatively small number of
Mormon missionaries from that state. It might have been more difficult
in Utah, where the huge Mormon population meant that there were
sometimes more missionaries than available exemptions. Most missions
lasted two and a half years, as Romney's did.

(snip)