The war period between 1912 and 1923 proved to be transformative for the Asia Minor Orthodox Christian population of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Orthodox Christians, or else, Rhomioi/Rum (Romans), needed to balance between Ottoman loyalism and Greek and Turkish nationalisms during a highly fluid period. Since the draft became mandatory for all, in 1908, the Orthodox Christian male population had limited options: either to enlist or to desert, with really few being able to pay their way out, and many more willing to falsify their papers or to migrate abroad. For the majority of the Orthodox Christian population, the draft was seen as unprecedented and oppressive state intervention, especially during a war period. For those identifying themselves as Greeks, the draft was also seen as highly undesirable. Based on the understudied collections of the Center of Asia Minor Studies and on published and unpublished memoirs, diaries, and letters the paper examines Rhomioi/Rum citizen soldiers’ responses to the war and the draft. During the war period and the mobilization of the whole Ottoman society many Rhomioi/Rum fought under the Ottoman banners, and some of them – mostly Turkish-speaking Cappadocians – continue serving in various positions even under the Turkish Nationalist banners. However, the post-1915 demonization of the Christian minorities, by the Young Turks, meant that most of the Christians were disarmed and sent to labor battalions, where probably excursion, hunger, and death awaited them, with really few surviving the process. Even, less were the lucky ones that were used as skillful workers, and, thus, avoided the labor battalions. In these circumstances, most Rhomioi/Rum continue to prefer desertion, instead of enlistment. Many deserted and tried to make it to a non-belligerent country. Others joined local militias, that aimed to protect their communities by the Ottoman or the nationalist army or the different gangs, of various ethnicities, that were fighting each other over control over power and resources, as the Ottoman state had lost control of its regions and new local actors emerged.