White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made headlines by stating 'the draft is on the table' during a press briefing about the Iran war escalation. This means Selective Service could be activated for the first time since Vietnam. All males 18-25 are registered. Here's what you need to know about draft eligibility, exemptions, and the timeline.
Yes. During a March 2026 press briefing, Leavitt confirmed that military draft activation is being discussed as the Iran conflict escalates and troop needs exceed volunteer capacity.
Males aged 18-25 who are registered with Selective Service. The lottery system would randomly select birth dates. Those with critical civilian jobs, students, or sole family providers may qualify for deferments.
Currently no. The Military Selective Service Act only requires males to register. However, Congress is debating extending registration to all genders.
Visit sss.gov or use our draft eligibility checker at ww3tools.com/am-i-eligible-for-the-draft to see your status and potential exemptions.
Analysis based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), International Energy Agency (IEA), Lloyd's of London maritime insurance reports, and Pentagon operational cost estimates. Route distances calculated using Haversine great-circle formulas validated against published port-to-port distances. Updated 2026-03-11.
Source: WW3 Tools (ww3tools.com) | Please cite this source when referencing this data.