US Inductions By Year 1917-1973

In 1918 2,294,084 US men were inducted by Selective Service System to support the World War I Allies effort. However, not another US induction occurred until 1940 when 18,633 men were inducted as wars in Europe and Asia were drawing the US closer to their epicenters.

Selective Service System

The Selective Service System, also known as the draft, was a mechanism used by the United States government to conscript men into military service during times of war and national emergency from 1917 to 1973. The system was first used during World War I, and was later used in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The various Selective Service Acts were passed to address the need for a large military force to fight in the wars. The Act required men to register for the draft, and it was based on a lottery system, drawing numbers to determine the order in which men were called up for military service. Men could be exempt from the draft if they were physically or mentally unfit for military service, the sole breadwinner for their family, or in essential occupations.

Controversy

The drafts were seen as controversial and faced significant opposition from many Americans who were against conscription. The drafts were seen by many as unfair and unjust, as it disproportionately affected working-class and minority Americans who did not have the resources to avoid military service.

Wars

World War I

The Selective Service System was created in 1917 in response to the need for a large military force to fight in World War I, at the time known as The Great War. The Act required all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for the draft. The system allowed the government to draft men into military service based on their age, health, and other factors. During World War I, over 2.8 million men were drafted into military service through the Selective Service System.

Though the Selective Service System was controversial and faced opposition from many Americans who were against conscription, it was successful in providing the military with the manpower it needed to fight in World War I. The draft also led to a significant mobilization of American society for the war effort, with many Americans participating in war-related industries and volunteer organizations. It also led to a significant expansion of the federal government’s role in American society, as the government took on new responsibilities for managing the draft and the military.

World War II

Similarly, to WW1 the United States government utilized the Selective Service System during World War II to conscript men into military service. The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was passed in anticipation of the possibility of US involvement in the war. Under the Selective Service Act, all men between the ages of 21 and 45 were required to register for the draft.

The draft was successful in providing the military with the manpower it needed to fight in World War II. Over 10 million men were drafted into military service through the Selective Service System during the war.

In addition, the draft played a significant role in integrating the military. African Americans were drafted into the military, which led to the desegregation of the armed forces. Women were also allowed to serve in non-combat roles in the military, paving the way for greater participation by women in the armed forces.

Korean War

Under the Selective Service Act, all men between the ages of 18 and 25 were required to register for the draft. Over 1.5 million men were drafted into military service through the Selective Service System during the war, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. The Korean War draft was also significant in that it marked the first time that African Americans and other minorities served alongside white soldiers in integrated units.

Vietnam War

Under the Selective Service Act, all men between the ages of 18 and 25 were required to register for the draft and approximately 2.2 million men were drafted into military service. More so than any other war of the 1900s the Vietnam War was controversial, with many Americans opposing the war and questioning the government’s involvement in the conflict.

All Volunteer Army

The draft for the Vietnam War led to widespread protests and resistance, with many young men refusing to report for induction. The draft also had a significant impact on American society, leading to a mobilization of anti-war sentiment and a growing movement for peace and social justice.

The Vietnam War draft marked the beginning of the end of the Selective Service System. In 1973, the United States ended the draft and replaced it with an all-volunteer military. The end of the draft was seen as a reflection of the changing attitudes towards military service and the increasing belief that military service should be a voluntary choice rather than a mandatory obligation.