Officials use a lottery system where they randomly draw birth dates at public events. These events are broadcast on national television and the internet.
Similar to the 1969 Vietnam-era lottery, each date corresponds to a number from 1 to 365. Officials call lower numbers first, military analysts confirm. Twenty-year-olds during the lottery year get called first. Those turning 21 follow, continuing through age 25. If more people are needed, later lottery phases would cover men turning 19, then 18.5 years old. Throughout this process, officials choose people equally from all states and U.S. territories. This maintains fair representation across urban and rural areas. Current enrollment levels provide a pool of several million potential draftees under full activation. However, receiving induction orders starts rather than ends the military evaluation process.
How Conscription Works From Draft Call to Active Duty
Once someone receives induction orders, they enter a detailed assessment phase. Military induction follows comprehensive screening procedures at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS). During this stage, college students can request delays that last through degree completion. Similarly, family status matters. Exemptions or different service assignments are available for married people with dependents.
