Google searches for “WWIII” and “US draft age limit” have spiked recently, reflecting growing fear over global conflicts and potential U.S. involvement. Though America has no active draft, the law allows it to be reinstated in a national emergency.
If a draft were activated, it would begin with 20-year-old men, then expand based on military needs. The Selective Service System currently holds records for around **16.4 million men aged 18–25**, compared to **1.3 million** active-duty personnel.
“Requirements apply equally to citizens and non-citizens,” the article notes. That includes **permanent residents, undocumented immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers**, and even **transgender people assigned male at birth**. Disabilities, political views, or religious objections do not exempt individuals automatically.
Although only men must currently register, officials say they’re ready to expand it to women if laws change.
A recent Atlantic Council poll shows that **65–69% of Americans believe a major global conflict is likely within a decade**, showing public anxiety about the future. The U.S. ended conscription in 1973 after the Vietnam War, but systems for a rapid restart remain in place.
