The Draft

[Ideal08]

I've been meaning to ask y'all about this for some time now, but I've forgotten. Can we discuss the draft? I don't know A LOT about it, and I've forgotten what little I did learn. I read an article today in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and wanted to post it here and discuss it. I also want people to post other articles, as well, so that we can have some perspective.

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plai...5460089930.xml

Here are my questions for if and when the draft is put into place:

What is the age range for males who must enlist in the draft?
Do you think that they will make it apply for women, too?
What, if any, circumstances allow you to avoid the draft?
What is the penalty for not enlisting?
Did Muhammad Ali actually go to jail for not enlisting in the draft?

[nikki1920]

I believe its 18 to 59, or something like that. (ie. registering with selective service, ie the draft)
I dont doubt that it will apply to women at some point.
It used to be that if a draft-eligible man was in school, he could avoid being drafted.
Not enlisting was punishible by a fine and/or jail time.
I"m not sure, but I think he was jailed for failing to Report when he was drafted as Cassius Clay; as a Muslim, he protested the VietNam war ("No Viet Cong ever called me a Nigger.")

please dont quote me on this though..

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by Ideal08

Here are my questions for if and when the draft is put into place:

What is the age range for males who must enlist in the draft?
Do you think that they will make it apply for women, too?
What, if any, circumstances allow you to avoid the draft?
What is the penalty for not enlisting?
Did Muhammad Ali actually go to jail for not enlisting in the draft?

Having feared being drafted during the Persian Gulf War, I took the liberty of studying draft law (or conscription, as it is legally named) to know the ins and outs of the subject.

Males 18-25 must register for the draft. However, males 18-31 can be drafted, however it must be by Order of Call, which is a priority pecking order age grouping of men to be drafted. Volunteers go first, as well as those who opted for being drafted in lieu of incarceration time. Then the Age 20 Selection Group (all those who actually TURN 20 in a given calender year--thus 19 year olds can be drafted in this group). Then the Ages 21-31 selection groups (all other selection groups must be completely depleted before another group can be called. Lastly, the age 19 and 18 Selection groups--should a draft call ever reach this point, the world would have to be in VERY serious trouble. In the past draft calls seldom, if ever, got past the Age 21 Selection Groups.

I don't find it likely that the draft would ever call for women to serve, however with women demanding equality in the military, it would not be surprising if the draft did extend to include women.

The remaining questions I will answer in a separate post, b/c it is rather lengthy.

[Rain Man]

Here are some deferments and exemptions by classifications:

1-A Fully available and eligible for military service. All draftees are automatically placed in this category unless Selective Service (SS) determines otherwise.

1-A-O: Conscientious objector - One who is opposed to combat training and military service requiring the use of arms - serves in the military in a non-combat role (MASH unit medic, cook, supply sergeant, etc.).

1-O: Conscientious objector opposed to ALL types of military training and service - fulfills his service requirement via alternative civilian service jobs (Note: draftees must serve for a minimum of 2 years).

2-D: Ministerial students - deferral

3-A: Hardship deferments - one who if served in the military would provide EXTREME hardship upon his family AND the family would have no other means of support, not even relatives or friends.

4-B: Candidates of or elected government officials - deferral

4-C: Alien or duel national: Exempt depending on circumstances

4-D: Ministers of religions - Exempt

(can't remember classification): Surviving sons & sole surviving sons - this applies only to surviving sons who had fathers and grandfathers who died in the military from war-related injuries, not merely those who if they died couldn't carry on the family name.

4-F: Physical disqualification - can be a deferral or exemption depending on circumstances. Keep in mind that many men who could have been classified a 4-F were drafted illegally.

The penalty for not REGISTERING for the draft is a $250,000 fine and a 5 year prison sentence, plus ineligibility for any Federal benefits and jobs, including Financial aid. Offhand, I am not sure if that penalty or another one applies to one who REFUSES INDUCTION or ignores a draft call.

As far as Muhammed Ali's story goes, I'll leave that for another GCer to tackle.

A good site to check out for more info is:


Selective Service Website

Hope this helps

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by Rain Man
The penalty for not REGISTERING for the draft is a $250,000 fine and a 5 year prison sentence, plus ineligibility for any Federal benefits and jobs, including Financial aid. Offhand, I am not sure if that penalty or another one applies to one who REFUSES INDUCTION or ignores a draft call.

As far as Muhammed Ali's story goes, I'll leave that for another GCer to tackle.

A good site to check out for more info is:


Selective Service Website

Hope this helps

$250,000????? A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS???? *shaking my head* Ridamndiculous.

Thanks, RM!! This was VERY informative. I can always count on my GC fam to educate me!!