Who was most likely to be drafted in the Vietnam War?

Most of U.S. soldiers drafted during the Vietnam War were men from poor and working-class families. These were young men who were not going get a college deferment, have a political connection, or have a family doctor that could give them a medical deferment.

Who was most likely to be drafted to fight in the Vietnam War?

Although the Selective Service's deferment system meant that men of lower socioeconomic standing were most likely to be sent to the front lines, no one was completely safe from the draft. Almost every American was either eligible to go to war or knew someone who was.

Who would be drafted in the Vietnam War?

As the war went on, selective service requirements, deferments and exemptions changed in an effort to make the draft appear more fair. One of those changes was the institution of a draft lottery, which gave young men a random number between 1 and 366 corresponding to their birthdays. Lower numbers were called first.

What were the chances of being drafted in Vietnam?

Although only 25 percent of the military force in the combat zones were draftees, the system of conscription caused many young American men to volunteer for the armed forces in order to have more of a choice of which division in the military they would serve.

Who usually gets drafted first for war?

The lottery would establish the priority of call based on the birth dates of registrants. The first men drafted would be those turning age 20 during the calendar year of the lottery.

The Vietnam War Draft

Who Cannot be drafted?

Ministers. Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office. Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft. Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.

What birthdays were picked for the Vietnam draft?

A lottery drawing – the first since 1942 – was held on December 1, 1969, at Selective Service National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event determined the order of call for induction during calendar year 1970; that is, for registrants born between January 1, 1944, and December 31, 1950.

Can you refuse Vietnam draft?

The large cohort of Baby Boomers allowed for a steep increase in the number of exemptions and deferments, especially for college and graduate students. More than half of the 27 million men eligible for the draft during the Vietnam War were deferred, exempted or disqualified.

Who could avoid the Vietnam draft?

Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonites, the Amish, and Quakers are all considered Peace Churches who are opposed to any kind of military service. They were allowed to serve in other ways, however, but in a civilian capacity. Dishonest conscientious objection would be illegal. You can still be awesome as a CO, by the way.

How would you avoid the Vietnam draft?

Millions of young men tried to evade the draft: some fled to Canada; many feigned physical or mental illness, others used family connections to gain safe positions in the National Guard.

Who Cannot be drafted war?

Would college students be drafted in the Vietnam War?

Technically, men who had held college or other deferments were eligible for induction until age 35. Since few men between the ages of 26 and 35 were ever drafted, how- ever, men who were able to maintain a college deferment until their 26th birthday could avoid service.

Did fathers get drafted in Vietnam?

During the conflict in Vietnam, married men with dependents could obtain a deferment from the draft.

What stops you from getting drafted?

Asthma, mental health issues and ADHD top the list of maladies that keep the recruiters at bay, says Mission: Readiness. Even those who currently serve can have health-related issues that keep them from deploying, such as dental problems and recurring injuries.

How many dodged the draft in Vietnam?

In all, half a million Americans dodged their Vietnam War service. They were fugitives until 1977 when President Jimmy Carter ordered a general amnesty.

What were 3 ways to avoid the draft?

What happens if you refuse the draft?

If you are required to register and you do not, you will not be eligible for state-based student aid in many states, federal job training, or a federal job. You may be prosecuted and face a fine of up to $250,000 and jail time of up to five years.

Could college students avoid the Vietnam draft?

Before Congress reformed the draft in 1971, a man could qualify for a student deferment if he could show he was a full-time student making satisfactory progress in virtually any field of study. He could continue to go to school and be deferred from service until he was too old to be drafted.

Was the Vietnam draft Unfair?

The Selective Service System during the Vietnam war was highly controversial, especially because early in the war draftees came disproportionately from poor, working-class, rural, and minority populations.

How do you dodge a draft?

The easiest way to avoid the draft as a man is to be a conscientious objector. A conscientious objector is someone who cannot fight based on moral beliefs or religion. Mennonites, the Amish, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Quakers beliefs prevent them from military services, and the best part is it's completely legal.

When was the last U.S. draft?

The following shows the number of men who were inducted into military service through the Selective Service System during the major 20th century conflicts. The last man inducted entered the U.S. Army on June 30, 1973 during the last draft conducted.

What is the oldest age to be drafted?

All men 18 years and older had to register with the Selective Service. All men between the ages of 18 to 25 were eligible to be drafted for a service requirement of 21 months.

What are the chances of being drafted?

There are 1,093,234 high school football players in the United States, and 6.5% of those high school players (or 71,060) will play in college. The drop off from college to the pros is even more dramatic: only 1.2% college-level players will get drafted to the NFL.

Who was the last person drafted for Vietnam?

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ralph E. Rigby, the last Vietnam War-era drafted soldier of Warrant Officer rank, retired from the army on November 10, 2014, after a 42-year career. December 28, 1972 had been scheduled to be the last day that draftees would be inducted that year.