Since the U.S. and Israel launched war on Iran, concerns are cropping up on social media that the country’s first military draft since 1973 could return.
Popular influencers like Spencer Hunt have been expressing such worries. A March TikTok post on the topic by Hunt (@spencewuah) — which garnered over 213,000 likes, 1,500 comments, 15,200 bookmarks and 10,500 shares — addressed unease that the government has not ruled out the possibility of a draft.
Meanwhile, TikTokers have been testing their strength at a physical fitness push-up challenge to “In the Navy,” a 1979 hit by The Village People. The trending sound has spurred thousands of video creations on social media.
@saka.nyc They want you as the new recruit???????? #fyp#pushupchallenge#viral#miltok#sakadotnyc♬ original sound – ۶٩
@cinnasecret ts actually a bit difficult hold on @Tess McCracken #pushups♬ original sound – ۶٩
@tessmcc Since yall liked that last one so much #workout#gym#pushups#burnbootcamp♬ original sound – ۶٩
The “In the Navy” videos and others are filled with hundreds of comments about a potential draft — with the large majority expressing desire not to be chosen for military service.
One of the most liked comments is: “This is NOT the time to display your athleticism.”
There’s no indication that the government is going to reinstate the draft. But for the curious, here’s what to know about the process, as detailed by the Selective Service System, the federal agency that oversees the draft system.
The draft existed during peace and war from 1948 until 1973. The Selective Service drafted men “to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means.”
In 1973, the draft ended and registration for men was suspended in 1975.
President Jimmy Carter reinstated the Selective Service registration requirement on July 2, 1980, through Presidential Proclamation 4771.
“In a national emergency, Selective Service System will use the registry to provide personnel to the Department of War [Defense] and alternative service for conscientious objectors, if authorized by the president and Congress,” reads the website of the Selective Service System.
Who is eligible?
The service is moving toward an automatic draft registration process instead of requiring men to register manually, USA Today reported. This will switch over by December.
Virtually all male U.S. citizens and immigrants ages 18-25 are required to register for the draft, even those who believe they would be exempt from serving, USA Today reported, citing the Selective Service System website.
Eligible men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Registrations, however, are accepted until a man turns 26.
The Military Selective Service Act requires draft registration only for men, but women can enlist voluntarily through the normal enlistment process for all military occupations.
In March, the U.S. Army raised its enlistment age limit to 42 from 35 and eased restrictions for people with marijuana convictions, The New York Times reported, aligning with the Air Force, which raised its maximum age for recruits to 42 from 39 in 2023, and the Navy, which increased its age cap to 41 from 39 in 2022. All three of these branches age limits begin at age 17.
Additionally, the Coast Guard age range is 17 to 41, the Marine Corps range is 17 to 28 and the Space Force range is 17 to 42, as reported on USA.gov.
Draft process
Registering for the selective service does not automatically mean you are joining the military.
The registration process lets the government keep a list of names of men from which to draw in case of a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of the armed forces.
“By registering all young men, Selective Service System ensures that a future draft will be fair and just,” the agency says.
If a military draft were to be enacted during a national emergency, a lottery would ensue, which would be a “random drawing of birthdays and numbers,” the Selective Service System says. The lottery would establish the order in which individuals receive orders to report for induction. “The first to receive induction orders are those whose 20th birthday falls during the year of the lottery. If required, additional lotteries are conducted for those 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 19 and finally 18.6 years old.”
After the lottery, the service says induction notices would be sent. Registrants would, at that point, be able to request a postponement, deferment or exemption.
Inductees would then report to a local Military Entrance Processing Station to receive a physical, mental and moral evaluation to determine whether they are fit for military service. They would then either be inducted into military service or sent home.
Who is exempt
Some exemptions to the draft would include:
- Men who are serving in the military on full-time active duty continuously from ages 18 through 26
- Those who are hospitalized or incarcerated continuously on or before their 18th birthday through age 25
- Men who are on nonimmigrant visas, as long as they remain on a valid visa until they turn 26
- Ordained leaders of any recognized religion, sect or denomination, as well as full-time divinity students
- Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office
- Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft
And postponements can be made for the following:
- High school students, until graduation or age 20, whichever occurs first
- College students, until the end of the semester or, if a senior, until the end of that academic year
The full list of exemptions can be found on the Selective Service System website.