How long did a drafted soldier have to serve in Vietnam?
two years
Draftees had a service obligation of two years, but volunteers served longer tours—four years in the case of the Air Force. Another alternative was to join the National Guard or the Reserve, go to basic training, and then serve out one’s military obligation on training weekends and short active duty tours.
When did soldiers get drafted?
September 16, 1940
On September 16, 1940, the United States instituted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft. This was the first peacetime draft in United States’ history.
How did you know if you were drafted in Vietnam?
To celebrate Ken Burns’ 2017 documentary, “The Vietnam War,” PBS and USAToday created a Vietnam War Draft Lottery calculator. Simply enter your birth month and day to find out if you would have been drafted for wartime service in Vietnam. Check Out USAToday’s Draft Number Calculator.
Does the draft still exist?
A brief history of registration There has not been a draft in the U.S. since 1973, when Congress allowed the existing draft authorization, conscripting men into service in the Vietnam War, to expire. Two years later, President Gerald Ford suspended men’s responsibility to register for the draft.
What was the military draft in the Vietnam War?
The Military Draft During the Vietnam War. In November 1965, draftees are leacing Ann Arbor, MI to be processed and sent to basic training camps. The November 1965 draft call was the largest since the Korean War. The military draft brought the war to the American home front.
What were the draft dates for the Vietnam War?
On December 1, 1969 the Selective Service System of the United States conducted two lotteries to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War for men born from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1950. These lotteries occurred during a period of conscription in the United States that lasted from 1947 to 1973.
What was the draft lottery in the Vietnam War?
The first draft lottery for the Vietnam War was held for American men born between 1944 and 1950. This was the first military draft in the United States since World War II. With capsules filled, they were poured into a tumbler and drawn, one-by-one, until all 366 dates were assigned a number.
Was there a draft for Vietnam?
The draft in the Viet Nam era was a lottery, with low numbers being called first. Young men registered with Selective Service (as they do today) and were given draft cards with their number on it. High number, less likely to be drafted. Also, when protesting the war, many young men burned their draft cards.
