Who was eligible for Vietnam draft?

Who was eligible for Vietnam draft?

Requirements for registration varied over the decades, ranging from eligible age ranges beginning at 21 and eventually lowering to age 18. Uncle Sam had called upon its fighting-age citizens as far back as anyone alive could recall, as both World Wars and the Korean War utilized draftees.

Did high school students get drafted to Vietnam?

Of those, 1.8 million men were drafted, but not all went to Vietnam. A high school student could defer being drafted until he graduated or reached the age of 20, whichever came first. A college student could defer the draft on a year-to-year basis provided he made satisfactory academic progress.

Can you be drafted if you are the only son?

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

Was there a Vietnam draft before 1969?

Lottery changes The lottery changed the way men were drafted in two ways: The lottery altered the dates year to year. Also, prior to 1969, older men — those closer to age 26 — were more likely to be drafted. The last draft call took place in December 1972. U.S. troop involvement in Vietnam ended Aug.

How long did each soldier typically stay in Vietnam?

‘ During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic. The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. Officers also spent a year in country, but only six of those months were in a troop command.

Are flat feet exempt from the draft?

The short answer is yes, you can. Flat feet is no longer a disqualifying condition for military enlistment, provided that the enlistee does not show symptomatic flat feet. In short, this essentially means that if you are showing detrimental symptoms, you could be barred from enlisting in the military.

Can the oldest son be drafted?

Contrary to popular belief, “only sons,” “the last son to carry the family name,” and “sole surviving sons” must register and they can be drafted. However, they may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family. This is known as the “surviving son or brother” provision.

How did the military draft affect the Vietnam War?

The military draft brought the war to the American home front. During the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million.

What was the Selective Service System during the Vietnam War?

The Selective Service System during the Vietnam war was highly controversial, especially because early in the war draftees came disproportionately from poor, working-class, rural, and minority populations. Military conscription, commonly known as “the draft,” is one of the most complex topics related to the Vietnam War.

What happened to people who refused to serve in Vietnam?

Thousands of draft-age men refused military service in Vietnam. Burning draft cards, at first a symbolic protest, took on added significance in 1965 when President Johnson signed a law criminalizing the act. Some fled the country, often to Canada. A small number of men served jail sentences in order to protest the war.

What happened to draft dodgers after the Vietnam War?

Those who had practiced draft invasion by flying abroad faced forced military service or imprisonment if they went back home. Although draft dodgers were still prosecuted after the end of U.S. direct involvement in Vietnam, in September 1974 President Gerald Ford granted a conditional amnesty that required them to be of service from 6 to 24 months.