Military draft registration: What to know

The Selective Service System, a government bureau separate from the Department of Defense, manages the U.S. military draft. Its primary function is to register and prepare eligible men for potential deployment during national emergencies or war. For most male U.S. citizens and immigrants residing in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 25, federal law requires registration with the Selective Service to enable prompt conscription into the military if necessary.

Understanding how the draft works is important for anyone evaluating their conscription responsibilities. Unlike standard voluntary military recruitment, a draft can start only if Congress and the President authorize it, in a national emergency that the military can’t meet through voluntary recruiting.

During a draft or a recruiting shortfall, military requirements and acceptance standards may be broadened to meet urgent needs. It is helpful to recognize the differences between how the draft works and typical recruitment methods, as well as the significance of tools like the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) during periods of mandated military service.

The Selective Service System

In the U.S., nearly all men ages 18 to 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS), a federal agency that administers the military draft. Modern compulsory service in the U.S. has its roots in the Selective Service Act of 1917, whose first registration, in June 1917, covered men ages 21-31 for service in World War I. This legislation established the foundation for today’s conscription system, though the U.S. has used some form of conscription since the Revolutionary War era.

The first U.S. peacetime draft was introduced in 1940, ahead of the nation’s entry into World War II. The draft law lapsed after the war but was reenacted in 1948, and from 1948 until 1973, through the Korean and Vietnam Wars, men were drafted to fill vacancies the armed forces couldn’t fill with volunteers.

Since 1973, the Selective Service System has operated in a “standby” capacity to support the all-volunteer military force in the event of emergencies or significant personnel shortages. The official mission statement of the SSS is:

To register men and maintain a system that, when authorized by the President and Congress, rapidly provides manpower in a fair and just manner, while managing an alternative service program for conscientious objectors.

Under current U.S. law, a draft would take action by both Congress and the President, in a national emergency when voluntary enlistment can’t meet military needs. If you are a male U.S. resident who has applied for a federal job, federal job training, or state student aid, you have likely encountered questions regarding your Selective Service registration status. Although women are permitted to volunteer for combat roles in the U.S. military, they are not currently subject to mandatory registration for the draft. Any policy change requiring women’s registration would necessitate legislative action by Congress.

Registration process

Registering for the draft is straightforward and required for completing many common tasks. When you apply for a federal job, federal job training, state student aid in many states, or U.S. citizenship, you may be asked to confirm your Selective Service registration. Registration can be completed online or by mail.

Men must register for the draft within 30 days of reaching the draft age of 18, as mandated by federal law. A few groups don’t register while their situation lasts: men on active military duty, and men who are incarcerated or hospitalized. They must register within 30 days of release or discharge if they’re still under 26. Men with disabilities must register unless they’re continually confined to a residence, hospital, or institution. Conscientious objectors, or those opposed to serving in the military for moral or religious reasons, must also register, and they could claim conscientious objector status if a draft began.

That process is about to change. Under the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Selective Service must register men ages 18-26 automatically, using federal data, starting December 19, 2026. Until that date, men must still register themselves.

How does the military draft work?

Most likely, if a draft were instituted, the Selective Service System would determine draft-age eligibility and conduct a lottery by date of birth, typically establishing a cutoff number based on military personnel needs. Under the current draft process, as Selective Service described it, individuals who are 20 years old or turning 20 within the year the draft numbers are drawn are given first priority for induction. Starting January 1 of the year an eligible male turns 21, his draft age status shifts him into the second priority group, while men born the following year move up into the primary priority category. Each subsequent year, a draft-eligible male moves down one priority group until reaching his 26th birthday, after which he is no longer liable for the draft.

As in the standard enlistment process, draftees would report to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for a physical, mental, and moral evaluation to decide whether they’re fit for military service.

Today’s draft process would likely closely resemble the one during the Vietnam War era. For example, the December 1, 1969, draft lottery set the order of call for 1970 for men born between January 1, 1944, and December 31, 1950. Out of all 366 possible birth dates (including leap years), 195 birth dates were ultimately called for service. The second lottery in 1970 targeted men born in 1951, while the 1971 lottery was for those born in 1952, and this pattern continued annually.

Can I opt out of registering for the draft?

Unless you meet certain exemptions, you must register within 30 days of turning 18, and not doing so is a felony. While prosecution is unlikely, there are other consequences you could face: men who don’t register can be denied state student loans and grants in 31 states, federal job training, and most federal jobs, and immigrants can see their U.S. citizenship delayed. If you fail to register for the draft by the time you turn 26, you will no longer be able to do so, and appeals for government programs or employment can be costly and time-consuming. Today, with computer matching easier than ever, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to registration. Similarly, violating draft orders is also a federal crime that may result in jail time.

It’s also important to note that even if someone’s number is called during a draft, they may not automatically go to combat. They may qualify for a postponement, deferment, or exemption: college students can postpone induction until the end of the semester (seniors, until the end of the academic year), men whose service would cause hardship to dependents can request a hardship deferment, and in peacetime, a sole surviving son is exempt. Certain medical or psychological conditions may also exclude an individual from service. Conscientious objectors may be assigned to noncombat roles, such as medical, clerical, logistics, culinary, or religious staff, or to civilian alternative service outside the military.

The role of the ASVAB during a draft

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a comprehensive, multi-aptitude test that plays a critical role in evaluating potential military recruits for enlistment eligibility and job assignment across all branches of the U.S. military. ASVAB scores, including the crucial Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score, directly impact your qualifications and shape your career path in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard.

In the event of a draft, the ASVAB and AFQT would shift significantly, from serving as a recruitment assessment to becoming a primary classification tool. The ASVAB exam consists of nine or 10 subtests, depending on the version administered, with four core sections (Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension) used to calculate the AFQT score, which each branch compares with its own minimum. These scores are also used to determine line scores for specialized technical, clerical, and combat-related roles.

ASVAB score ranges for various military occupational specialties (MOSes) differ by career area and branch. The list of line scores for the Army is an example of how the military measures aptitude for a given professional domain:

• Clerical (CL): VE + AR + MK
• Combat (CO): VE + AS + MC
• Electronics (EL): GS + AR + MK + EI
• Field Artillery (FA): AR + MK + MC
• General Maintenance (GM): GS + AS + MK + EI
• General Technical (GT): VE + AR
• Mechanical Maintenance (MM): AS + MC + EI
• Operators and Food (OF): VE + AS + MC
• Surveillance and Communications (SC): VE + AR + AS + MC
• Skilled Technical (ST): GS + VE + MC + MK

Each military branch establishes minimum testing requirements for different roles and specialties. For instance, Army mechanics qualify mainly on the Mechanical Maintenance (MM) line score, while technical jobs such as cyber operations set higher minimums on the General Technical (GT) and Skilled Technical (ST) scores. To see how these combinations work, read how to use line scores to qualify for military jobs. Some branches, such as the Navy, use a combination of ASVAB scores and minimum requirements for each job rather than relying solely on traditional “line” scores.

Although there’s a lot of information online about minimum line scores, the most reliable and current details come from speaking directly with a recruiter. Even in a draft situation, higher ASVAB scores can significantly impact which roles you qualify for, ultimately shaping your career path within the military.

Recent changes to Army enlistment requirements

While there is currently no draft in place, the U.S. military has recently taken steps to increase voluntary enrollment. In some key areas, such as enlistment age and past convictions, the U.S. Army has implemented more flexible policies to support recruitment. For example, the maximum enlistment age has been raised from 35 to 42, and individuals with a single marijuana or paraphernalia possession conviction are now eligible to enlist without a waiver. The higher age limits mirror those for the Navy, the Air Force, and the Space Force, and are part of evolving efforts to recruit a broader range of individuals, including those with advanced education and professional skills.

Waiver reforms are meant to ease administrative burdens and reduce overload, thereby streamlining enlistment efforts and removing barriers for those with a single offense. Allowing recruits with a single marijuana-related conviction to be exempt will allow officials to focus on candidates with more serious drug offenses. Additionally, reviews of mental health or misconduct histories, previously handled by those at the Army Secretary level, can now be completed by two- and three-star commanders in charge of street-level recruiters.

Importantly, ASVAB and AFQT score requirements remain unchanged; recruits must still meet minimum qualifications to be eligible for service. These adjustments reflect the ongoing commitment to an all-volunteer military force at this time.

Final thoughts

Men of draft age living in the U.S. or holding U.S. citizenship should understand the obligations associated with registering with the Selective Service System, regardless of whether one is currently active. As global events shift and policy decisions evolve, individuals within the draft age range need to stay informed about potential changes.

If compulsory military service is enacted, those at draft age must be prepared for each step of induction, which includes a medical examination and taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). While ASVAB scores are used to assess eligibility and determine job placement within the armed forces, during a draft, these scores mainly serve to classify draftees into appropriate roles. The ASVAB remains a crucial part of the formal enlistment process, should a U.S. military draft be activated.