selective service system

selective service system, first-ever US peacetime draft of personnel for the armed forces, approved by Congress in September 1940. Under the Selective Service Act every US male citizen aged between 21 and 36 had to register and from November 1942 the ages were 18–45. From those who registered some were selected to serve for a year (later extended) but they had to be employed within the western hemisphere or in US possessions, which included the Philippines. Initially, deferment was granted to students, but this was stopped in July 1941. After Pearl Harbor the territorial restrictions were removed and during the war years a total of ten million men were inducted, with officers serving at an average of 39 months and enlisted men 33 months. The Act prohibited racial discrimination in drafting recruits and in their training, but as the army banned integrated units few African Americans were drafted by the time the USA entered the war.

The Selective Service Act also defined conscientious objectors. About 25,000 of these served in non-combatant roles (after 1943 they were confined to the medical corps), while 11,950, who objected to wearing a uniform, were drafted to civilian public service camps.