Understanding the Military Draft

Been hearing lots about military draft and it's got me wondering, how does it work exactly? Which branches of the military are involved in the draft process? Trying to understand all avenues here.

The U.S. military draft, also known as selective service, is a system that allows the government to enroll individuals into the military in times of national emergency. It's important to understand though that a draft has not been implemented since the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Today's U.S. military is an all-volunteer force.

All male U.S. citizens and male immigrants, documented and undocumented, residing in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service, but being registered doesn't mean you're joining the military. It's essentially an added pool of potential service people in case a draft becomes necessary.

If the draft were to be reactivated, it would start with a legislative process: The President would recommend to Congress that the draft be instituted and Congress would need to pass a law to authorize it. At that point, a lottery based on birthdays would determine the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service.

In the event of a draft, each branch of the U.S. military could be involved. These branches include the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the newest branch, the U.S. Space Force. Draftees cannot choose their branch of service or their job or "MOS" (Military Occupation Specialty).

It's noteworthy that some individuals can be deferred or exempted from the draft, such as certain government officials, certain religious figures, sole surviving sons, and individuals with certain health conditions or disabilities.

Keep in mind this is all highly hypothetical as there is currently no active draft in the United States. Nevertheless, it's helpful to understand how it would work just in case.