Classifications
If a draft were authorized by Congress, without any other changes being made in the law, local boards would classify registrants to determine whether they were exempt from military service. According to US Code of Federal Regulations Title 32, Chapter XVI, Sec. 1630.2, men would be sorted into the following categories:
| Class | Categories (1948–1975) |
|---|---|
| 1-A | Available for unrestricted military service. |
| 1-A-O | Conscientious objector available for noncombatant military service only. |
| 1-C | Member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Public Health Service. (Enl.) Enlisted. Member who volunteered for service, (Ind.) Inducted. Member who was conscripted into service, (Dis.) Discharged. Member released after completing service. (Sep.) Separated. Member released before completing service. |
| 1-D | Members of a reserve component (Reserves or National Guard), students taking military training (ROTC), or accepted Aviation Cadet applicants (1942–1961). |
| 1-D-D | Deferment for certain members of a reserve component or student taking military training. |
| 1-D-E | Exemption of certain members of a reserve component or student taking military training. |
| 1-H | Registrant Not Subject to Processing for Induction. Registrant is not subject to processing for induction until a draft is enacted. All current registrants are classified 1-H until they reach the age of exemption. They then receive the classification of 5-A. |
| 1-O | Conscientious objector to all military service. A registrant must establish to the satisfaction of the board that his request for exemption from combatant and noncombatant military training and service in the Armed Forces is based upon moral, ethical or religious beliefs which play a significant role in his life and that his objection to participation in war is not confined to a particular war. |
| 1-O-S | Conscientious objector to all military service (separated). A registrant separated from the Armed Forces due to objection to participation in both combatant and noncombatant training and service in the Armed Forces. The registrant is still required to serve in alternative service. |
| 1-S (H) | Student deferred by statute (High School). Induction can be deferred either until graduation or until reaching the age of 20. |
| 1-S (C) | Student deferred by statute (College). Induction can be deferred either to the end of the student's current semester if an undergraduate or until the end of the academic year if a Senior. |
| 1-W | Conscientious objector ordered to perform alternative service. |
| 1-Y | Registrant available for military service, but qualified only in case of war or national emergency. Usually given to registrants with medical conditions that were limiting but not disabling (examples: high blood pressure, mild muscular or skeletal injuries or disorders, skin disorders, severe allergies, etc.). Class was discontinued in December, 1971 and its members were reclassified as 4-F. |
| 2-A | Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation (non-agricultural). |
| 2-B | Registrant deferred because of occupation in a war industry: (Defense contractor or reserved occupation). |
| 2-C | Registrant deferred because of agricultural occupation. |
| 2-D | Registrant a divinity student. Deferment lasted either until graduation or until the registrant reached the age of 24. Exemption was created in December, 1971. Previously considered part of Class 4-D. |
| 2-S | Registrant deferred because of collegiate study. Deferment lasted either until graduation or until the registrant reached the age of 24. Exemption was discontinued in December, 1971. |
| 3-A | Registrant deferred because of hardship to dependents. |
| 3-A-S | Registrant deferred because of hardship to dependents (Separated). Current serving member or registrant undergoing induction separated from military service due to a change in family status. The registrant's deferment can last no longer than six months, after which they may re-file if the hardship continues to exist. |
| 4-A | Registrant who has completed military service. |
| 4-A-A | Registrant who has performed military service for a foreign nation. |
| 4-B | Official deferred by law. |
| 4-C | Alien or dual national. |
| 4-D | Minister of religion, formally ordained by a recognized church, a full time minister with a church and congregation. |
| 4-E | Conscientious objector opposed to both combatant and noncombatant training and service. Alternative service in lieu of induction may still be required. |
| 4-F | Registrant not acceptable for military service. To be eligible for Class 4-F, a registrant must have been found not qualified for service in the Armed Forces by a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) under the established physical, mental, or moral standards. The standards of physical fitness that would be used in a future draft would come from AR 40-501. |
| 4-G | Registrant exempted from service because of the death of a parent or sibling while serving in the Armed Forces or whose parent or sibling has Prisoner of War or Missing In Action status. |
| 4-T | Treaty Alien. |
| 4-W | Registrant or conscientious objector who has completed alternative service in lieu of induction. |
| 5-A | Registrant who is over either the age of liability (26) or (where applicable) the previous deferment age of liability (35) |
Read more about this topic: Selective Service System