Yes. Only sons, sole surviving sons or the last son to carry the family name must register with the Selective Service and they can be drafted. However, individuals may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.

The federal government uses the draft to find eligible men to serve in the United States armed forces. This usually happens if the armed forces are not large enough to provide the necessary number of soldiers to fight a war.

The following instances are eligible for exemptions in the event of a military draft: 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.

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. Under the current draft law, a college student can have his induction postponed only until the end of the current semester.

Considering the “draft age” and the demographics of the 18 – 24 year old age cohort, your odds on actually getting drafted during the Vietnam era were probably lower than 5% (on a cohort wide basis). During WWII (which was probably the “height of drafting”) your odds on getting drafted might have been as high as 10%.

French, Japanese, south Vietnam, U.S. What do you think the US government should do to those who illegally avoid the draft? Put them in prison. What would you have done if you were drafted?

Selective Service will probably assume you’re one of them. If you get a draft notice, show up, and refuse induction, you’ll probably be prosecuted. However, some people will slip through the cracks in the system, and some will win in court. If you show up and take the physical, there’s a good chance that you’ll flunk.

Several really big time celebrities have been drafted. At the present time, the US military is not drafting personnel. In the past, being a celebrity did not preclude one from being drafted. Elvis Presley was drafted, and served his time in the US Army.

The court also said that the refusal to serve in the territories is selective refusal and not conscientious objection. On January 4, 2004, a military tribunal imposed one-year prison terms on five young activists who refused to enlist in the IDF.

These ‘conscientious objectors’ claimed exemption on grounds of their pacifist, political or religious beliefs. Conscientious objectors became the targets of abuse. They were made to feel guilty for not supporting their country.