If the US military issued a military draft today who would be called to serve?
Military service is currently voluntary in the United States. However, in a crisis, the military could issue a draft, also known as the selective service.
Joining the military is currently a voluntary act in the United States, amid conflicts in different parts of the world. However, some men in the country are required to register with Selective Service.
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What is the Selective Service System?
The Selective Service System is an agency of the U.S. government that maintains information on potential military conscription, or draft, in the event of a national crisis requiring large-scale military mobilization.
It was established in 1917 during World War I to ensure that the United States has a pool of qualified men available for military service in the event of a national emergency, such as a major conflict or war.
The Selective Service maintains a database of men aged 18 through 25, including their names, addresses, and other information, which can be used to rapidly mobilize people for military service if necessary.
Registration with the Selective Service is a legal requirement for male citizens and immigrants residing in the U.S. regardless of their immigration status. Women are currently not required to register.
Failure to sign up with the Selective Service can result in penalties, including loss of eligibility for federal student financial aid, federal job training programs, and citizenship for immigrants.
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If the US military issued a military draft today who would be called to serve?
The United States has not conducted a military draft since the Vietnam War era. However, if the country issued issued a military draft today, it would held in a manner similar to the one used for that war.
People would be called to serve in a sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. For example, the number 1 would correspond to January 1, 5 to January 5, etc.
Usually, there is a cutoff number corresponding to certain age groups. According to Military.com if the military held a draft now, those who are 20 years old or turning 20 on the year in which the numbers are drawn, would be likely be first to be chosen.
Starting January 1 of the year an eligible person turns 21, he would fall into the second priority group, and those born the next year would move to priority group one. Every year, a man eligible for the draft moves down to a lower priority group until he turns 26, at which point he becomes exempt from the draft.