1. Selective Service (Draft)

2. 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,
In preparation for WWII
Not more than 900K in training at one time, 12 months service (1941, 18 months)
18-65 register; liable; termination of service was 6 months after war ended
75% of men born ; 10M inducted
Most of the rest exempted by physical/mental handicaps

3. History of Selective Service
Cold War
18-26 register; liable for 21 months active followed by 5 years reserve
Korea,
18-26 register; liable for 24 months active followed by 5 years reserve
Cold War,
Strengthen reserve forces and National Guard
18-26 register; liable for 24 months active followed by 6 years reserve
Cold War,
Allowed for educational deferments
Lottery added, 1969

4. History of Selective Service
Vietnam,
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

5. 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