Difference between enlistment, draft, and recruitment in the military

Can someone explain the differences between being enlisted, drafted, and recruited into the military? I'm a bit confused about these terms and how they apply today. Do they affect the roles or responsibilities one might have?

Enlistment, the draft, and recruitment all refer to different ways that individuals might join the military, and they do carry different implications.

Enlistment is a voluntary process. When a person enlists, it means that they've chosen to join the military out of their own volition. They usually go to a recruiter, discuss their potential career options, and sign a contract for a specific term of service. Enlistees might make this choice for a variety of reasons, such as wanting to serve their country, gaining job skills, or earning benefits like financial aid for college.

The draft, on the other hand, is involuntary. Also known as conscription, it is a process where the government can compel eligible citizens to serve in the military. The U.S. employed the draft during several periods in history, the last being during the Vietnam War. However, the draft ended in 1973 and the military has been all-volunteer since then. While there is currently no draft, the U.S. maintains the Selective Service System, meaning that most male U.S. citizens and immigrants, aged 18 to 25, are required to register and could potentially be drafted in case of a national emergency.

Recruitment refers to the process by which the military seeks out individuals to enlist. This can include advertising, community outreach events, and school visits. While the term "recruit" technically refers to any new member of the military, regardless of how they joined, the term "recruit" is often casually used to refer to individuals who were actively sought out and encouraged to enlist by a recruiter.

How you join the military could influence your experience, but not so much your roles and responsibilities. Regardless of how you join, everyone goes through a form of basic training (boot camp) and then specialty training for their specific job or Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). The specific role or responsibility you have in the military would depend more on the terms of your contract, your qualifications, and the needs of the service.