Calculate your military draft risk based on current Selective Service rules and the ongoing Iran conflict.
Under the current Selective Service System, if a military draft were activated, eligible individuals would be called up in a specific order based on age. 20-year-olds are the first priority, followed by progressively older age groups. The youngest eligible males — 18 and 19 — would actually be called last.
| Priority | Age Group | Call Order |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 20 years old | Called first |
| 2nd | 21 years old | Called second |
| 3rd | 22 years old | Called third |
| 4th | 23 years old | Called fourth |
| 5th | 24 years old | Called fifth |
| 6th | 25 years old | Called sixth |
| 7th | 19 years old | Called seventh |
| 8th | 18.5–18 years old | Called last |
No. The United States has not had an active military draft since 1973. The country currently operates an all-volunteer military. However, all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants ages 18 through 25 are still required by law to register with the Selective Service System.
For a draft to be reinstated, Congress would need to pass legislation amending the Military Selective Service Act, and the President would need to authorize it. This would be a major national event — it would not happen quietly.
In March 2026, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to rule out a draft on national television, stating the president "wisely keeps his options on the table." This led to a surge of concern among Americans of draft-eligible age.
Even if drafted, not everyone would be required to serve. The Selective Service System recognizes several categories of deferments and exemptions:
Deferments include high school students (until graduation or age 20), college students (until end of current semester, or end of academic year for seniors), hardship cases where induction would cause severe hardship to dependents, and ministerial students.
Exemptions include those with disqualifying medical or psychological conditions, conscientious objectors who oppose military service on moral or religious grounds, certain elected officials while in office, and veterans who have already served.
Only about 23% of Americans ages 17 to 24 currently meet the basic eligibility standards for military service without needing waivers, according to Department of Defense estimates.
A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act is set to change how Selective Service registration works. Starting December 18, 2026, men will no longer need to manually register. Instead, the government will automatically register eligible men using existing federal databases. This does not mean a draft is being activated — it simply modernizes the registration process.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. There is currently no active military draft in the United States. The risk score is an estimate based on publicly available Selective Service rules and does not constitute legal or military advice. Consult the official Selective Service System website for authoritative information.