The Selective Service System
By: Abigail Bruno and Rose Stanas
History
The Military Selective Service Act was created in 1917 during WWI to ensure our amount of U.S soldiers was high and ready if a war arose. Back when it was first created it was all men 21-30 but now it has changed to 18-25. It was suspended in April 1975 but after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the president Jimmy Carter brought it back in 1980.
Requirements and Restrictions
REQUIRED TO REGISTER
- U.S. citizens and male immigrants (All men besides few exceptions)
- between the ages 18-25
- Pass the mental, physical, and moral fitness tests
NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER
- Non- U.S. citizens on visitor or school visas
- Men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission and their families
Draft Lottery Of 1969
It was held on December 1, 1969 and was the first lottery draft since 1942. Men with birthdays from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1950 were put into the lottery. The dates between those years were put in a large container and picked randomly. All dates were drawn and sectioned into three groups, all could be called into draft depending on the length of the war.
- First group knew they were being drafted
- Second group was constantly living in uncertainty- depending on how long war
- Third group was relatively safe but still uncertain
OUR OWN DRAFT LOTTERY
- All men with birthdays between January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999
- 1 out of every 7 men were drafted right away
- From our group Chiku and Nick were in the first group and drafted
- Franklin was in the second group and uncertain if he would go
- Chiku and Nick had to pass a mental, physical, and moral test to be drafted
- Both passed and were sent to war