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selective service
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selective service

military service
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Quick Summary

The Selective Service System is a U.S. federal agency established in 1940 to manage a military draft. Its primary purpose is to quickly conscript troops in times of war. The system requires males aged 18 through 26 to register and manages an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors.

The first peacetime draft was enacted in 1940 due to global conflicts. The draft's unpopularity grew during the Vietnam War, leading to an all-volunteer military after 1973. However, registration was reinstated in 1980. Currently, most males aged 18-26 must register, with penalties for non-compliance. Congress must approve any future draft, which would likely involve a lottery system. The current law only includes males for registration.123

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Selective Service System
  2. selective service
  3. Mandatory National Service - The Draft

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