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News Topical, Digital Desk : Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the United States is set to overhaul its military recruitment system for the first time in decades, proposing automatic registration for eligible men. This would be the most significant change since the Vietnam War, when the country last implemented compulsory military conscription.
Men between the ages of 18 and 26 must pre-register for Selective Service so they can be drafted into the military if needed. This recruitment process was last implemented in February 1973 during the Vietnam War.
Number of men selected for military service in the last four drafts
Approximately 10.1 million men were drafted into the military during World War II, more than three times the number in World War I. According to the Selective Service System's 2024 report, automatic registration is already in place in 46 states and territories.
The measure has nothing to do with the ongoing war with Iran and was passed with bipartisan support several months before the current conflict with that country began. However, the Trump administration has not ruled out the possibility of sending US troops on the ground, and the war has brought the draft policy back into focus.
Who can register and how does it work?
This automatic registration will apply to male US citizens aged 18 to 26 and "every male person" in the country, according to the National Defense Authorization Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in December.
This registration applies to green-card holders, refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented men. Non-immigrant visa holders are exempt. According to the Selective Service System website, in states that do not currently have automatic registration, men are required to register "within 30 days of their 18th birthday."
Failing to register for the Selective Service is a felony offense that can result in the loss of certain benefits, such as some student loans and jobs. It also violates the Military Selective Service Act, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
What's in the draft?
Congress would have to approve the draft before it could take place, and not all registered men would be drafted for service. There would be a lottery system, with birthdays and numbers chosen randomly.
Those whose 20th birthday falls in the draft year will receive their enlistment orders first. Next come the following age groups: 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 19, and those whose 18th birthday has passed more than six months ago.
Those selected will be allowed to request exemptions or deferments. According to the SSS, all remaining men will undergo a "physical, mental, and moral evaluation," and those who prove they are fit for service will be selected for service.
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