The Military Draft

Compulsory Military Service

About 60% of eligible men escaped military service during the Vietnam era; I was not one of them. The summer of 1969 I received my induction papers from Uncle Sam.

The last military draft in the United States (U.S.) was during the Vietnam War and resulted in protests that helped engender anti-war sentiment. Though the government has not required military service since then, all men currently living in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System so that the government will have an idea of the population available in case the need for a draft in the future should arise.

Draft Board Classifications
The following is a list of Selective Service classifications
that could be assigned by draft boards:

A. Class I
1. I-A: available for military service
2. I-A-O: CO available for noncombatant military service
3. I-C: already in the military
4. I-D: reserve or ROTC
5. I-O: CO available for civilian work
6. I-S: student
7. I-W: CO performing civilian work
8. I-Y: other (catch-all classification)
B. Class II
1. II-A: Occupational deferment
2. II-C: Agricultural deferment
3. II-S: Student deferment
C. Class III
1. III-A: Extreme hardship, i.e. has a child or children
D. Class IV
1. IV-A: Prior active service or sole surviving son
2. IV-B: Official deferred by law
3. IV-C: Alien not currently liable for military service
4. IV-D: Minister of religion or divinity student
5. IV-F: Registrant not qualified for military service
E. Class V
1. V. Registrant over the age of liability for military service

The little-known protest of the Vietnam War staged from within the ranks of the military is explored in director David Zeiger’s 2005 revealing documentary. Despite the well-documented media coverage of Vietnam War protests that took place on college campuses across the nation, few people but the most ardent history buffs remain aware of the massive protests that flourished in U.S. barracks and military bases at home and abroad.

Sir! No Sir! A Film About The Gi Movement Against The War In Vietnam.