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More than a week into the war in Iran, new talks have emerged over the possibility of a U.S. military draft, though no official plans have been announced.In a TV interview on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump is “keeping every option on the table” when asked directly about the possibility of a draft. Though the government has made no official plans or announcements of a draft, here’s how one, in general, would work:According to the rules of the Selective Service System (SSS), Congress and the president must approve a draft. That action would activate the Selective Service, which requires all men in the U.S., including citizens and immigrants, to register for within 30 days of their 18th birthday.By law, only men can be drafted, despite recent efforts to expand eligibility to include women.A public lottery then determines the order in which men ages 18 to 25 are drafted, starting with those turning 20 the year of the lottery, according to the SSS.The lottery starts with those turning 20 in the year of the draft, then moves up year by year to age 25, before dropping down to 18- and 19-year-olds. The exact order men are picked comes down to two machines: One contains balls with every day of the year, representing a birthday, and the other contains numbers that rank the order of the birthday. For example, if Aug. 4 draws the number 32, all qualifying men born on Aug. 4 are 32nd in line, meaning the government will draw up 31 groups ahead of them before Aug. 4 birthdays receive their draft notice.Once drafted, all men must pass physical and mental evaluations to be eligible for military service. Some may apply for exemptions, and many high school and college students may be eligible for postponements. Others can defer if they have dependents or can prove a strict religious, moral, or ethical objection to war. Ministers, certain elected officials, and some immigrants and dual nationals are also exempt. Others may also apply as “conscientious objectors,” qualifying them for alternative service like caring for the young or old or health care. Appeal boards process these claims and deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days of an authorized draft.Watch the latest coverage on the war in Iran:
More than a week into the war in Iran, new talks have emerged over the possibility of a U.S. military draft, though no official plans have been announced.
In a TV interview on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump is “keeping every option on the table” when asked directly about the possibility of a draft.
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Though the government has made no official plans or announcements of a draft, here’s how one, in general, would work:
According to the rules of the Selective Service System (SSS), Congress and the president must approve a draft. That action would activate the Selective Service, which requires all men in the U.S., including citizens and immigrants, to register for within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
By law, only men can be drafted, despite recent efforts to expand eligibility to include women.
A public lottery then determines the order in which men ages 18 to 25 are drafted, starting with those turning 20 the year of the lottery, according to the SSS.
The lottery starts with those turning 20 in the year of the draft, then moves up year by year to age 25, before dropping down to 18- and 19-year-olds. The exact order men are picked comes down to two machines: One contains balls with every day of the year, representing a birthday, and the other contains numbers that rank the order of the birthday.
For example, if Aug. 4 draws the number 32, all qualifying men born on Aug. 4 are 32nd in line, meaning the government will draw up 31 groups ahead of them before Aug. 4 birthdays receive their draft notice.
Once drafted, all men must pass physical and mental evaluations to be eligible for military service.
Some may apply for exemptions, and many high school and college students may be eligible for postponements. Others can defer if they have dependents or can prove a strict religious, moral, or ethical objection to war. Ministers, certain elected officials, and some immigrants and dual nationals are also exempt.
Others may also apply as “conscientious objectors,” qualifying them for alternative service like caring for the young or old or health care.
Appeal boards process these claims and deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days of an authorized draft.
Watch the latest coverage on the war in Iran:
