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The Draft:
By late 1942, all men aged 18 to 64 were required to register for the draft, though in practice the system concentrated on men under 38. Eventually, 36 million men registered. Individuals were selected from this manpower pool for examination by one of over 6,000 local draft boards. These boards, comprised of citizens from individual communities, determined if a man was fit to enter the military. They considered factors like the importance of a man's occupation to the war effort, his health, and his family situation. Many men volunteered rather than wait to be drafted. That way, they could choose their branch of service.
Major Selective Service Draft Classifications:
1-A Available for Military Service
1A-O Conscientious Objector. Available for noncombant military service only.
2-A Occupational Deferment. Deferred from military service became civilian job essential to war effort.
3-A Hardship Deferment. Deferred from military service because of family hardship (men with wives/families, family financial difficulty, etc.)
4-F Not Qualified for Any Military Service. Physical or mental deficiency. |