Could you be drafted to Vietnam if you were in college?
In 1965, a college education was no longer a get-out-of-jail free card for the Vietnam War. … College undergraduate and graduate students were automatically awarded draft status 2-S–deferment for postsecondary education–and could not be forced to serve. For those opposed to the war, it was a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Who was eligible for Vietnam draft?
Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first.
What makes you exempt from being drafted?
Ministers. Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office. 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.
Can my only son be drafted?
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.
Did high school students get drafted to Vietnam?
A high school student could defer being drafted until he graduated or reached the age of 20, whichever came first. … Beginning in 1971, the deferment was changed so that a student could only postpone service until he’d finished the semester in which he was enrolled.
What were the chances of being drafted in Vietnam?
Myth: Common belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted. Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.
What number did the Vietnam draft get to?
Draft age men were assigned a number between 1 and 366, depending on their birthday. The lowest numbers were called first. This was all entirely at random. Of course, that didn’t stop some of those who were called to service from further avoiding Selective Service.
Who is eligible for the draft?
The Selective Service System, otherwise known as the draft or conscription, requires almost all male U.S. citizens and immigrants, ages 18 through 25, to register with the government.
Why was the Vietnam draft Unfair?
The draft for the Vietnam War brought with it anxiety and anger to many American households. … The draft was viewed as unequal because the working class man’s only choice was to go to war, while the wealthy men would go to college or enlist in the National Guard.