Heightened tensions following the United States’ June 21 attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has brought the specter of a military draft to the forefront of the minds of many.
The U.S. struck three nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan June 21 in what has been dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
In a June 22 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said he was open to a regime change in the country, hours after Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. did not want a regime change.
Live updates: What is Iran’s next move? World awaits response to U.S. bombing
There are currently no bills before Congress to institute a draft, however the Washington Post reported last year that influential former administration officials as well as some GOP lawmakers have publicly suggested a “national service mandate.“
Here’s what you need to know about a possible military draft.
When was the last time the draft was used?
The last draft call occurred in 1972, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, and the draft was announced to be no longer in use by then Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird on Jan. 27, 1973.
The final person inducted into the U.S. military – Dwight Elliott Stone, a 24-year-old apprentice plumber from Sacramento, California, – entered the Army on June 30, 1973, according to the magazine.
Fallout of US attack on Iran: US warns of ‘heightened threat environment’ after strikes on Iran nukes
Who would be in charge of reinstating the draft?
Legislation would need to be passed through Congress amending the Military Selective Service Act in order to reinstate a draft, according to the Selective Service Agency.
In 2015, then New York Democratic Representative Charles Rangel introduced a bill to re-instate a draft alongside a “War Tax” bill to point out the inequity of war as then President Barack Obama attempted to galvanize support for an Authorization for Use of Military Force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
“When I served, the entire nation shared the sacrifices through the draft and increased taxes. But today, only a fraction of America shoulders the burden. If war is truly necessary, we must all come together to support and defend our nation,” Rangle, who served in the Korean War, said in a statement at the time, according to The Hill.
Who would be eligible for a draft?
Currently, all men between 18 to 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System.
The Selective Service Agency states that, should a draft be reinstated, the first to receive induction orders would be those whose turn 20 years old during the year of the lottery.
Additional drafts would follow for those turning 21 through 25, then 19 and 18 would occur if additional soldiers were required.
Who would be ineligible for the draft?
All of those who have registered with the Selective Service are presumed to be eligible to be drafted.
The only exemptions from Selective Service registration are if a man:
-
Is placed in a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility, or mental institution on or before his 18th birthday, had no breaks of institutionalization of 30 days or longer, and remained institutionalized until his 26th birthday.
-
Is confined to his home, whether his own or someone else’s (including group homes), on or before his 18th birthday and cannot leave the home without medical assistance and remained homebound until his 26th birthday.
A draftee could request to be reclassified, including as a conscientious objector, after he is drafted but before the day he is due to report.
High school and college students can ask for service to be postponed while draftees can request hardship deferments.
Ministers, certain elected officials and some dual nationals would be exempt from the draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could there be a military draft in US? Fears rise after Iran attacks
The post Could there be a military draft? Fears rise after US bombs Iran appeared first on USA TODAY.
