Gwyneth McKenna
Military History
4/28/2015
Evolution of Compulsory Service
The United States has long been involved in military affairs spanning several centuries. These endeavors require more than simply the machinery, tactical prowess, and financial support. They require manpower. Manpower is the backbone to any and every military operation throughout history. Unfortunately, the United States has not always had the amount of brave soldiers she needs to keep the enemy at bay. In order to combat this lack of manpower, conscription, more commonly known as “the draft”, has been needed to be employed. The military draft is a controversial topic; Serving one’s country is undeniably honorable, but what if it is not a choice? Should you be forced …show more content…
1940 – Congress enacts the Selective Training and Service Act. All males between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five are ordered to register for the draft and the first national lottery is held. Draftees are shipped to army induction centers in the country's first peacetime draft. Later, as World War II progresses, the draft age is lowered to eighteen and men are called to service not by lottery number but by age, with the oldest going first. It was an obvious decision for Congress in 1941 to allow the President to send draftees internationally, and to create one large force made up of regulars, the National Guard, and the Reserve in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Draft letters were sent by the thousands. “ORDER TO REPORT FOR INDCUTION” was written in large letters at the top. Persons reporting to the unduction station in some instances may be rejected for physical or other reasons. If you are employed, you should advise your employer of this notice and of the possibility of needed replacement. Willful failure to report promptly to this local board at the hour and on the day named in this notice is a violation of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, and subjects the ciolator to a fine and imprisonment. D.S.S. Form 150. To Henry H. Dodge Greeting: Having submitted yourself to a local board compoased of your neighbors for the purpose of determining your availability for training and service in the land or naval forces of the United States, you are hereby notified that you have been selected for training and services therein. In the case of local Henry Dodge, he was to report to Penn Station 8AM morning of the 23rd of September, 1943. SOURCE Many little discouraging things happened too. For instance, the regulations were changed three times on age. First they were 45 then 37, then 35, age limit. You hardly knew from one day to another what the requirements were.