LogFAQs > #904532571

You currently cannot be drafted if you are 26 or older.

You don't have to fight if you're drafted; you can claim conscientious objector status and serve in a noncombat capacity, or take a job doing something contributing to the national interest. There are also hardship exemptions (if your family depends on you for support, for instance), surviving son or brother exemptions (your parent or sibling died as a result of military service, was captured or MIA), and exemptions for ministers and ministerial students. Some non-citizens and dual nationals are also exempt, depending on the country. Students can have their induction postponed, and there are medical deferrals as well (obesity is probably #1 now).

You also cannot be drafted if you're already in the military, so you could preemptively join the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps or the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (good luck getting in, however, the NOAA Corps has only 300 commissioned officers, no enlisted or warrant officer personnel, the PHSCC has about 6700 officers). Or you could join the Coast Guard; you might still end up in a combat role, but it would be with the Navy so you'd spend your time on a ship far away from the action.

I'm 5-A, so it's all academic to me.