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The '''Selective Service System''' is the U. S. government agency which operates "the draft," the process for selecting and conscripting citizens into the military, especially the Army.  The Selective Service System was created in 1917 when America entered World War I.

The '''Selective Service System''' is the U. S. government agency which operates "the draft," the process for selecting and conscripting citizens into the military, especially the Army.  The current Selective Service System was created in 1917 when America entered World War I.

 

 

==Cold War==

==Cold War==

For its manpower, because of low pay scales the military relied on a combination of volunteers for the Navy, Marines and Air Force, and the draft plus volunteers for the Army. Every year from 1950 to 1970 the Selective Service system drafted from 100,000 to 300,000 18-year old men for 24 months of active duty in the Army. The peaks came during the [[Korean War]] (525,000 drafted in 1951) and the [[Vietnam War]] (382,000 drafted in 1966). In all Selective Service drafted about 25% of all young men for two-year tours; an even larger number volunteered for three years in the Navy or Air Force, where conditions were better. After active duty, the servicemen were required to join reserve units. Many were not drafted because they did not meet high physical standards, or were fathers or college students. The chances of getting drafted varied dramatically from year to year and place to place in unpredictable fashion. The system not only provided soldiers at low cost, it gave the nation millions of veterans with highly useful technical and organizational skills, along with financial benefits for mortgages, health care and college education.  

For its manpower, because of low pay scales the military relied on a combination of volunteers for the Navy, Marines and Air Force, and the draft plus volunteers for the Army. Every year from 1950 to 1970 the Selective Service system drafted from 100,000 to 300,000 18-year old men for 24 months of active duty in the Army. The peaks came during the [[Korean War]] (525,000 drafted in 1951) and the [[Vietnam War]] (382,000 drafted in 1966). In all Selective Service drafted about 25% of all young men for two-year tours; an even larger number volunteered for three years in the Navy or Air Force, where conditions were better. After active duty, the servicemen were required to join reserve units. Many were not drafted because they did not meet high physical standards, or were fathers or college students. The chances of getting drafted varied dramatically from year to year and place to place in unpredictable fashion. The system not only provided soldiers at low cost, it gave the nation millions of veterans with highly useful technical and organizational skills, along with financial benefits for mortgages, health care and college education.  

In 2007, Lt. Gen. [[Douglas Lute]] called reimposing the draft "a major policy shift" that isn't currently needed. <ref>The Pentagon said that "no one in the Pentagon is considering a return to a military draft." [http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/liberal_lobby_lacks_context.html] </ref>

In 2007, Lt. Gen. [[Douglas Lute]] called reimposing the draft "a major policy shift" that isn't currently needed. <ref>The Pentagon said that "no one in the Pentagon is considering a return to a military draft." [http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/liberal_lobby_lacks_context.html] </ref>

 

 

[[category:Cold War]]

[[category:Cold War]]

[[category:United States Army]]

[[category:United States Army]]

==References==

==References==

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