Return to the Draft | Selective Service System (2024)

Men are not classified now. Classification is the process of determining who is available for military service and who is deferred or exempted. Classifications are based on each individual registrant’s circ*mstances and beliefs. A classification program would go into effect when Congress and the President decide to resume a draft. At that time, men who are qualified for induction would have the opportunity to file a claim for exemptions, deferments, and postponements from military service.

The following is a list of the more commonly used Selective Service classifications from 1948 – 1976. Roman numerals I, II, III, IV, V were sometimes used:

1-A– Available for military service.

1-AM– Medical specialist available for military service.

1-A-O–Conscientious Objector– Conscientiously opposed to training and military service requiring the use of arms – fulfills his service obligation in a noncombatant position within the military. Those classified 1-A-O are conscientious objectors available for noncombatant military service.

1-A-OM– Medical specialist conscientious objector available for noncombatant military service.

1-C– Member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, or the Public Health Service. (Enl) – enlisted; (Ind) – inducted; (Dis) – discharged

1-D– Member of a Reserve component or student taking military training.

1-H– Registrant not currently subject to processing for induction or alternative service.
Note: Within the cessation of registrant processing in 1976, all registrants (except for a few alleged violators of the Military Selective Service Act) were classified 1-H regardless of any previous classification.

1-O–Conscientious objectoravailable for civilian work contributing to the national health, safety or interest.

1-OM– Medical specialistconscientious objectoravailable for civilian work contributing to the national health, safety or interest.

1-S– Student deferred by status– (H) high school; (C) college.

1-W–Conscientious objectorperforming civilian work in the national health, safety or interest. (Rel) – Released.

1-Y– Registrant qualified for service only in time of war or national emergency.
Note: The 1-Y classification was abolished December 10, 1971. Local boards were subsequently instructed to reclassify all 1-Y registrants by administrative action.

2-A– Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation (except agriculture).

2-AM– Medical specialist deferred because of critical community need involving patient care.

2-C– Registrant deferred because of agricultural occupation.

2-D– Ministerial Students – Deferred from military service.

2-M– Registrant deferred for medical study.

2-S– Registrant deferred because of activity in study.

3-A– Hardship Deferment – Deferred from military service because service would cause hardship upon his family.

4-A– Registrant who has completed service; or sole surviving son.

4-B– Official deferred by law.

4-C– Alien or Dual National – Sometimes exempt from military service.

4-D– Ministers of Religion – Exempted from military service.

4-E–Conscientious objectoropposed to both combatant and noncombatant training and service.

4-F– Registrant not qualified for military service.

4-FM– Medical specialist not qualified for military service.

4-G – Sole surviving son – son or brothers in a family where the parent or sibling died as a result of US military service, or is in a captured or M.I.A. status, are exempt from service in peacetime.

4-W–Conscientious objectorwho has completed civilian alternate service.

5-A– Registrant over the age of liability for military service.

Student Postponements–A college student may have his induction postponed until he finishes the current semester or, if a senior, the end of the academic year. A high school student may have his induction postponed until he graduates or until he reaches age 20.

Appealing a Classification– A man may appeal his classification to a Selective Service Appeal Board.