With tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and Iran dominating headlines, some people are speculating about whether the US could bring back conscription if a ground war were to break out.
For now, it’s only talk. Although the US still maintains the framework needed for a draft, it hasn’t actually used conscription for many years.
The most recent period when the US drafted large numbers of eligible young men into the armed forces was during the Vietnam War.
Even though no draft has been called since then, the current conflict has renewed public anxiety that compulsory military service could return under a national emergency.
One reason the concern persists is that registration with the Selective Service System is still required in the US—and it isn’t limited strictly to citizens.
So what are the current rules, and who do they apply to?
At present, men aged 18 to 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System. In practice, that registration places someone on a list that could be used to carry out a draft if the government declared a national emergency requiring it.
Failing to register when required can carry serious consequences, including potential felony charges.
But the requirement isn’t only for US citizens.
In fact, the rules generally apply to all men in that age range, including many immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
The Selective Service System addresses this directly in its FAQs under the question ‘Are undocumented males required to register?’
It says: “Yes. All undocumented males 18 through 25 years of age, other than those admitted on non-immigrant visas, must register, whether or not they have a green card.”
The site added: “Registration with Selective Service must continue as a key component of our national security strategy.”
There are also limited circumstances that can affect eligibility to serve if a draft were ever reinstated—but those scenarios generally do not remove the obligation to register.
For instance, certain clergy members, as well as men studying for the ministry, may qualify for an exemption if called.
Additional carve-outs can include cases involving sole surviving sons—where all brothers except one have died—as well as some situations affecting “only sons.”
Other exemptions may apply to men in the US under specific non-immigrant visa categories, including some student, diplomatic, visitor, or tourist visas, meaning short-term visitors would not typically be subject to being drafted.
Men already serving on active duty would not be drafted, and cadets or midshipmen at US service academies are generally exempt as well. Some military colleges can also fall under exemption rules.