US troops have been deployed to NATO countries amidst Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden says the military's involvement is precautionary and the US will not be going to war with Russia.
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What is the maximum age to be drafted into the US military?
All men who are permanent residents in the US or are US citizens are required to register with the selective service when they are 18 to 26 years old.
Those registered will be drafted, should the US enter a state of national emergency that prompts The White House and Congress to reinstate the draft.
If a draft were to occur, men would be liable to be conscripted into the US military from 20 years old until the age of 25.
However, the US military has been voluntary only since 1973 and President Biden says he does not have any intention of reimplementing it.
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According to the Selective Service System's website, a draft is lottery-based and would begin with those who are 20 years old by selecting birthdates at random.
For those whose birthday is called, they would then be required to show up for registration into the US military.
An example would be if a draft occurred in 2022, those who were born in the year 2002 would be selected. After each pool of people, the lottery-based system moves up year by year until it reaches those who are 25 years old.
If the US military requires more individuals to be conscripted, those chosen will be younger than 20, starting at 19 years old and moving down to 18 years old.
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Who is exempt from a US draft?
Since the US military draft was implemented, women have continued to be exempt.
The US government proposed a bill to include women in the US draft but ultimately killed the bill in 2021.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told USA Today in November 2021, that women should notbe "put into the situation where they are forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a man, where they would face significant challenges."
He added: "There are differences between men and women."
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pennsylvania, is a former Air Force officer and proposed the bill but was frustrated by the decision. Her spokesperson Aubrey Stuber said including women in a draft would strengthen national security and is an "overdue change."
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When was the US draft disbanded?
The last US draft was during the Vietnam War and it was abolished on January 27, 1973 - the last day of the war.
The first conscription to enlist civilians in the military occurred during the Civil War in 1863, leading to public riots. Draft resistance continued through the Vietnam War when it reached a historic peak, according to the History website.
The first draft included all able-bodied men aged 18 to 45 but the age requirement decreased during World War I when former President Woodrow Wilson called on men between the ages of 21 and 30.
When the US entered World War II, the government once again expanded the age requirement for those drafted to 18-37 years old, but some could gain “conscientious objector” status.
This status was granted only to those who could demonstrate “sincerity of belief in religious teachings combined with a profound moral aversion to war," according to the History website.
Later abolished in 1973, the draft could only be reinstated if The White House declared a national emergency.
The draft could only be reinstated if The White House and Congress voted in favor.
