Compulsory Conscription: Remembering “The Draft”

Today the U.S. Selective Service System is a contingency conscription plan; all male-at-birth citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register so that conscription can take place if needed.  Conscription was and is known as the military draft—and the draft has been used by the federal government in five conflicts:  the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War (including the Korean and Vietnam War).  Conscription, the draft, came to an end in 1973 when the U.S. Armed Forces moved to an all-volunteer force.

When I graduated from high school in 1960 at age 17 and went searching for a job, every potential employer would say something to the effect:  “Go get your military obligation out of the way and then come back.”  They knew it was very likely that I would be drafted at age 18, unless I happened to be a farmer or a college student.  Many young men enlisted in the Navy or the Air Force to avoid being drafted into the Army.  My brother enlisted in the Navy; I enlisted in the Air Force, as many others did rather than wait around to be conscripted, that is, drafted.

Most of those who enlisted had little interest in the military. But it wasn’t a matter of interest or  choice—it was a matter of the draft.   It wasn’t about being “patriotic” or responding to a poster that said “Uncle Sam Needs You.”  It was “join up” or get “called up.”  From 1940 to 1973, during peacetime and periods of conflict, young men were drafted to fill vacancies in the Armed Forces that could not be filled by volunteers.  There were few volunteers back then, other than those who “signed up” only because they knew the draft would get them sooner or later—and the draft filled the remaining void.

In the World War II era 38.8% of U.S. servicemen (and all servicewomen) were volunteers.  Draftees made up 61.2% (11,535,000 men).  I do not have the figures for the Vietnam War, but my suspicion is that the percentage of draftees was far greater than those who volunteered.

Compulsory conscription, the draft, had a profound effect on many“ back in the day.”  In fact, the draft, or the threat of the draft, changed the course of my life’s journey.  

Today there are roughly 20 million U.S. veterans. They represent 10% of the total U.S. adult population.  How many were drafted, I wonder?  How many enlisted because of the draft?  In 1968 there were 3.5 million men (and women) on military active duty during the draft period.  There are 1.3 million on active duty (less than 1% of all U.S. adults) in today’s all-volunteer force.  

Those who volunteer and those who were
drafted faithfully served their country.