History Selective Service System

1 history

1.1 1917 1920
1.2 1940 1947
1.3 1948 1969
1.4 1969 1975
1.5 1980 present

history

the former seal of selective service system


1917 1920

wwi draft card. lower left corner removed men of african background keep military segregated

owing slow enlistment following u.s. declaration of war against germany on april 6, selective service act of 1917 (40 stat. 76) passed 65th united states congress on may 18, 1917, creating selective service system raise army fight in europe. act gave president power conscript men military service. men aged 21 30 required register military service service period of 12 months. of mid-november 1917, registrants placed in 1 of 5 new classifications. men in class first drafted, , men in lower classifications deferred. dependency deferments registrants fathers or husbands widespread. age limit later raised in august 1918 maximum age of 45. military draft discontinued in 1920.

1940 1947

the selective training , service act of 1940 passed congress on september 16, 1940, establishing first peacetime conscription in united states history. required men between ages of 18 64 register selective service. conscripted men aged 21 35 service period of 12 months. in 1941 military service period extended 18 months; later year age bracket increased include men aged 18 37. following sneak japanese air raid attack on pearl harbor on sunday, december 7th, 1941, , subsequent declarations of war united states against empire of japan , few days later against nazi germany, service period subsequently extended in 1942 last duration of war plus six-month service in organized reserves.

the selective service system created 1940 act terminated act of march 31, 1947.

1948 1969

the selective service act of 1948, enacted in june of year, created new , separate system, basis modern system. men 18 years , older had register selective service. men between ages of 19 26 eligible drafted service requirement of 21 months. followed commitment either 12 consecutive months of active service or 36 consecutive months of service in reserves, statutory term of military service set @ minimum of 5 years total. conscripts volunteer military service in regular united states army term of 4 years or organized reserves term of 6 years. due deep postwar budget cuts, 100,000 conscripts chosen in 1948. in 1950, number of conscripts increased meet demands of korean war (1950–1953).

the outbreak of korean war fostered creation of universal military training , service act of 1951 (selective service act of 1948). lowered draft age 19  18 ⁄2, increased active-duty service time 21 24 months, , set statutory term of military service @ minimum of 8 years. students attending college or training program full-time request exemption, extended long students. universal military training clause inserted have made men obligated perform 12 months of military service , training if act amended later legislation. despite successive attempts on next several years, however, such legislation never passed.

35th president john f. kennedy set executive order 11119 (signed on september 10, 1963), granting exemption conscription married men between ages of 19 , 26. vice president , successor 36th president lyndon b. johnson later rescinded exemption married men without children executive order 11241 (signed on august 26, 1965 , going effect on midnight of date). however, married men children or other dependents , men married before executive order went effect still exempt. 40th president ronald reagan revoked both of them executive order 12553 (signed on february 25, 1986).

the military selective service act of 1967 (selective service act of 1948) expanded ages of conscription ages of 18 35. still granted student deferments, ended them upon either student s completion of four-year degree or 24th birthday, whichever came first.

1969 1975

on november 26, 1969, 37th president richard nixon signed amendment military selective service act of 1967 (selective service act of 1948) established conscription based on random selection (lottery). first draft lottery held on december 1, 1969; determined order of call induction during calendar year 1970, registrants born between january 1, 1944, , december 31, 1950. second lottery, on july 1, 1970, pertained men born in 1951. highest lottery number called possible induction 125. third on august 5, 1971, pertaining men born in 1952; highest lottery number called 95.

in 1971, military selective service act (selective service act of 1948) further amended make registration compulsory; men had register within period 30 days before , 29 days after 18th birthday. registrants classified 1-a (eligible military service), 1-ao (conscientious objector available non-combatant military service), , 1-o (conscientious objector available alternate community service). student deferments ended, except divinity students, received 2-d selective service classification. men not classifiable eligible service due disqualification classified 1-n. men incapable of serving medical or psychological unfitness classified 4-f. draft classifications of 1-a changed 1-h (registrant not subject processing induction) men not selected service after calendar year eligible draft. also, draft board membership requirements reformed: minimum age of board members dropped 30 18, members on 65 or had served on board 20 or more years had retire, , membership had proportionally reflect ethnic , cultural makeup of local community.

the seventh , final lottery drawing held on march 12, 1975, pertaining men born in 1956, have been called report induction in 1976. no new draft orders issued after 1972. on january 27, 1973, secretary of defense melvin r. laird announced creation of all-volunteer armed forces, negating need military draft.

on march 29, 1975, 38th president gerald r. ford, own son, steven ford, had earlier failed register draft required, signed proclamation 4360 (terminating registration procedures under military selective service act), eliminating registration requirement 18- 25-year-old male citizens.

1980 present

on july 2, 1980, 39th president jimmy carter signed proclamation 4771 (registration under military selective service act) in response soviet invasion of afghanistan in previous year of 1979, retroactively re-establishing selective service registration requirement 18- 26-year-old male citizens born on or after january 1, 1960. result, men born between march 29, 1957, , december 31, 1959, exempt selective service registration.

the first registrations after proclamation 4771 took place @ various post offices across nation on july 21, 1980, men born in calendar year 1960. pursuant presidential proclamation, men born in 1960 required register week. men born in 1961 required register following week. men born in 1962 required register during week beginning january 5, 1981. men born in 1963 , after required register within 30 days after 18th birthday.

in 2014, due clerical error @ pennsylvania department of transportation, information 14,250 men born in years 1893–97 (in addition 1993–97) provided selective service system. draft registration notices sent men.

a bill abolish selective service system introduced in united states house of representatives on february 10, 2016. h.r. 4523 (a) end draft registration , eliminate authority of president order register draft, (b) abolish selective service system, , (c) repeal solomon amendments making registration draft condition of federal student aid, jobs, , job training. bill leave in place, however, laws in states making registration draft condition of state benefits. on june 9, 2016, similar bill introduced in united states senate, called muhammad ali voluntary service act .

on april 27, 2016, house armed services committee voted add amendment national defense authorization act fiscal year 2017 extend authority draft registration women. on may 12, 2016, senate armed services committee voted add similar provision version of bill. if bill including provision have been enacted law, authorize (but not require) president order young women young men register selective service system.