Editing Selective Service System (section)

===1969 to 1975===
On 26 November 1969, President [[Richard Nixon]] signed an amendment to the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 that established conscription based on random selection (lottery).<ref>{{cite web |title = An Act to Amend the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 ... |url = http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-83/pdf/STATUTE-83-Pg220.pdf |author = 91st U.S. Congress |publisher = [[United States Government Printing Office]] }} ({{USStatute|91|124|83|220|1969|11|26}})</ref> The [[draft lottery (1969)|first draft lottery]] was held on 1 December 1969; it determined the order of call for induction during calendar year 1970, for registrants born between 1 January 1944, and 31 December 1950. The highest lottery number called for possible induction was 195.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And-Records/lotter1 |title = The Vietnam Lotteries |access-date = 21 July 2015 |publisher = Selective Service System }}</ref> The second lottery, on 1 July 1970, pertained to men born in 1951. The highest lottery number called for possible induction was 125.<ref>{{cite web |title = Results from Lottery Drawing – Vietnam Era – 1971 |url = http://www.sss.gov/LOTTER2.HTM |access-date = 21 July 2015 |publisher = Selective Service System |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150305053748/http://www.sss.gov/LOTTER2.HTM |archive-date = 5 March 2015 }}</ref> The third was on 5 August 1971, pertaining to men born in 1952; the highest lottery number called was 95.<ref>{{cite web |title = Results from Lottery Drawing – Vietnam Era – 1972 |url = http://www.sss.gov/lotter3.htm |access-date = 21 July 2015 |publisher = Selective Service System |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150305055024/http://www.sss.gov/LOTTER3.HTM |archive-date = 5 March 2015 }}</ref>

In 1971, the [[Military Selective Service Act]] was further amended to make registration compulsory; all men had to register within a period 30 days before and 29 days after their 18th birthdays. Registrants were classified ''1-A'' (eligible for military service), ''1-AO'' ([[conscientious objector]] available for non-combatant military service), and ''1-O'' (conscientious objector available for alternate community service). Student deferments were ended, except for [[Seminary|divinity students]], who received a ''2-D'' Selective Service classification. Men who were not classifiable as eligible for service due to a disqualification were classified ''1-N''. Men who are incapable of serving for medical or psychological unfitness are classified ''4-F''. Upon completion of military service the classification of ''4-A'' was assigned. Draft classifications of ''1-A'' were changed to ''1-H'' (registrant not currently subject to processing for induction) for men not selected for service after the calendar year they were eligible for the draft. (These – and other – draft classifications were in place long before 1971.) Also, draft board membership requirements were reformed: minimum age of board members was dropped from 30 to 18, members over 65 or who had served on the board for 20 or more years had to retire, and membership had to proportionally reflect the ethnic and cultural makeup of the local community.

On 27 January 1973, [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Melvin Laird]] announced the creation of an all-volunteer armed forces, negating the need for the military draft.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1 = Janowitz |first1 = Morris |first2 = Charles C. Jr. |last2 = Moskos |name-list-style = amp |title = Five Years of the All-Volunteer Force: 1973–1978 |magazine = Armed Forces & Society |date = January 1979 |volume = 5 |pages = 171–218 |url = http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/5/2/171 }}</ref> The seventh and final lottery drawing was held on 12 March 1975, pertaining to men born in 1956, who would have been called to report for induction in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Vietnam Lotteries |url = https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And-Records/lotter1 |publisher = Selective Service System }}</ref> But no new draft orders were issued after 1972.<ref>{{cite web |title = Results from Lottery Drawing – Vietnam Era – 1973 |url = http://www.sss.gov/lotter4.htm |access-date = 21 July 2015 |publisher = Selective Service System |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150227012524/http://www.sss.gov/LOTTER4.HTM |archive-date = 27 February 2015 }}</ref>