February 10th 2024.
It's been over fifty years since the US has had a draft, where citizens are required to serve in the military. However, recent events in the Middle East and tensions with countries like Russia, China, and Iran have sparked concerns about the possibility of a World War III and the potential for a draft to be reinstated. With missile strikes and threats looming, many are wondering which places in the US would be safest in the event of a nuclear war. In fact, a map has recently been released showing the best places to live for survival.
Last Friday, the US launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in response to a drone attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. This attack had former President Donald Trump warning that we could be on the brink of World War III. In October, there were rumors that the military was planning to reinstate the draft, but the Defense Department has clarified that this recommendation has not been made to Congress or the President, who have the power to authorize a draft.
But what exactly is the Selective Service Act? Well, conscription has been used by the US dating back to the Revolutionary War, and has been implemented in six major wars including the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. During the Civil War, it was common for wealthy men to hire substitutes to take their place in the military, and the Union even offered cash rewards for enlistment through a bounty system.
The Selective Service Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917 during World War I and created the Selective Service System, which inducted 2.8 million men into the military and abolished the bounty system. Initially, it only applied to male citizens aged 21 to 30, but later expanded to include able-bodied men aged 18 to 45.
Since then, the Selective Service System has been used to induct 10.1 million men for World War II, 1.5 million for the Korean War, and 1.8 million for the Vietnam War. The last draft conducted in the US was for the Vietnam War, with the final inductee entering the Army on June 30, 1973.
So, who is eligible to be drafted in the US? According to the government, almost all men aged 18 to 25 living in the US must register with the Selective Service, including American citizens, permanent residents, undocumented immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, among others. However, registration does not automatically mean being inducted into the military.
In the event of a draft, men would be chosen based on a random lottery system and their birth year. They would then undergo physical, mental, and moral examinations by the military, and could potentially be deferred, exempted, or inducted into the Armed Forces.
The Selective Service System states that their main purpose is to ensure operational readiness in a fair and equitable way during peacetime. If authorized by the President and Congress, they would quickly provide personnel to the Department of Defense and also have an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors.
In conclusion, while there is currently no draft in the US, the Selective Service System remains an important program to maintain military readiness. It's crucial for men aged 18 to 25 living in the US to register, and in the event of a crisis, they may be called upon to serve their country. Follow us for the latest news updates from Metro - you can even join our community on Whatsapp for breaking news and juicy stories.
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