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A former Army combat medic recently highlighted this reality, noting that if the government becomes desperate for boots on the ground, traditional exemptions may vanish. Individuals who are overweight or do not meet standard physical training requirements might still be inducted and put through rigorous “fat camps” to reach fitness goals. Similarly, those without high school diplomas or individuals with misdemeanor and even certain felony convictions could find themselves drafted under “moral waivers” if the shortage of personnel becomes acute. The Selective Service aims to deliver the first group of inductees to the Department of Defense within just 193 days of a crisis being authorized by law, leaving little time for those selected to settle their affairs.
A significant point of modern debate remains the gender-specific nature of the draft. Currently, only men are required to register. While there have been sporadic legislative discussions about expanding the Selective Service to include women—reflecting the fact that women now serve in all combat roles within the volunteer force—no such change has been enacted into law. This means that, as the law stands today, the front lines of a future conscripted force would be composed entirely of young men.