Selective Service (Draft)

History of Selective Service Conscription 1st used in Civil War, 1863 Law authorized release to anyone who furnished a substitute, or Paid $300 (at first) WWI 21-30, later 18-45, had to register Exemptions to men with dependent families, indispensable duties, physical disabilities Conscientious objector status for pacifist religious organizations, alternative service 2.8M inducted First “peacetime” draft, 1940-1945 In preparation for WWII Not more than 900K in training at one time, 12 months service (1941, 18 months) 18-65 register; 18-45 liable; termination of service was 6 months after war ended 75% of men born 1919-1926; 10M inducted Most of the rest exempted by physical/mental handicaps

History of Selective Service Cold War 1948-1951 18-26 register; 19-26 liable for 21 months active followed by 5 years reserve Korea, 1950-1953 18-26 register; 18.5-26 liable for 24 months active followed by 5 years reserve Cold War, 1955-1967 Strengthen reserve forces and National Guard 18-26 register; 18.5-26 liable for 24 months active followed by 6 years reserve Cold War, 1967-1975 Allowed for educational deferments Lottery added, 1969

History of Selective Service Vietnam, 1964-1973 Opposition to war was large Especially college campuses Boiled over in 1970 Kent State, 5 students killed by National Guard Jackson State, 2 students killed by Mississippi police Protests closed close to 500 campuses in response “Discriminatory, undemocratic and resulted in the war being fought by the poor man’s son.” Gen William Westmoreland Physically fit, 18.5 to 25, oldest first Lottery, 1969, by birthday, first 195 birthdays called to report for possible induction, each year a new lottery Born 1944 – 1950 were eligible 27M men eligible; 2.2M drafted; 8.7M enlisted; 16M deferments, exemptions, or disqualifications Right connections, right occupations, college or physical problems Full time student making satisfactory progress towards a degree 500K resisted or evaded by declaring themselves conscientious objectors, hiding or going to Canada Poor, both black and white, and Hispanic twice as likely to be drafted and twice as likely to be assigned combat units (1:4) wealthy/educated: poor Registration requirement suspended 1975 In 1971, local draft boards were required to be as representative as possible of the racial and economic demographics of registrants in the area served by the board

History of Selective Service Today President Jimmy Carter, 1980, registration resumed In response to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 18-25 In 30 days of their 18th birthday None have been drafted since 1973 Lottery, 1 year in 1st priority, calendar year he turns 20 or his deferment ends; each year after that his draft status would be lowered and liability reduced College students can have induction postponed until the end of the current semester or if a senior to the end of the academic year All volunteer force 60% white; 40% other Wealthy and very poor underrepresented Other alternatives or uneducated/drugs/legal