Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 18, Number 35, DeMotte, Jasper County, 30 July 1948 — Mixed Up On Draft Status? The Answers [ARTICLE]

Mixed Up On Draft Status? The Answers

Plenty of Points About Draft Are Still Plenty ~ Vague To Layman Wahsington Mixed up about the draft? Here are some answers to questions you may have in mind. To begin with, plenty of points about the draft still are vague, and direct answers can’t be given right now to all questions. That’s because selective service ! still is in the process of getting | organized. For example: 4,000 draft boards —with at least three members to a board—are to be set up, under state directors. But, first, all the state directors have to be appointed. Then the members of the draft boards have to be appointed. And they have to find office space to set up shop. All this is expected to be furnished by the end of August because— Men over 18 and under 26 must start registering with those boards August 30 and the registration ends September 18. The 25-year old men start registering Jirst. (There’ll be continuing registration after September 18, of course, for youths as they reach 18. About 100,000 reach 18 very month). Under the law, as passed by Congress, actual drafting of men cannot start before September 22. Won’t Start Before Oct. 1 But because of various delays—such as time need<*d for classifying the registrants, and so on—the draft probably won’t start before October 1 at the earliest. All war veterans under 26 must register between August 30 and September-’ 18. That doesn’t mean they 11 be drafted. But they must register. So must all members of the national guard and reserve units—if they are under 26—unless they’re on active duty. Another thing that hasn’t been worked out yet in detail is the matter of deferments. Deferment Problems Unsolver Some kinds of deferements—such as youths studying for the ministry- are clearly stated in the draft law. But there are various problems of deferment still to be worked out and interpreted by selective service. Under the draft law only men over 19 and under 26 can be drafted. When they are drafted, their length of service is 21 months. And they can be used anywhere: Inside the United States or overseas. But—youths over 18 and under 19, although they must register, cannot be drafted till they’ve reached their 19th birthday. Yet—those youths over 18 but under 19 can enlist for one year. By doinj* that, the escape the longer 21 months’ service if they wait till they’re 19 and are drafted. And they'll serve their one year inside the United States. They can’t be used overseas. But when the get out, they must spend four to six years in a reserve outfit.

But—not all 19 year old youths can volunteer and be accepted. That’s because the draft law limits the number of such youths who can enlist to 161,000 a year. There are about 1,200,000 youths over 18 but under 19. That means those who can’t enlist, because the quota of 161,000 has been used up, must wait till they’re 19 and then face being drafted for 21 months’ service instead of the 12 they could have had if they enlisted at 18.