The full breakdown of military draft ages, priority order, and age limits under current Selective Service rules.
If a military draft were activated today, the Selective Service System would call men starting with those who are 20 years old, then move through older age groups before calling younger ones. Once you turn 26, you are no longer eligible.
The Selective Service has a specific order for who gets called when. It does not simply start with the youngest. Here is the exact call-up order:
| Priority | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1st called | 20 years old | Highest priority — drafted first |
| 2nd called | 21 years old | Called after 20-year-olds |
| 3rd called | 22 years old | Called third |
| 4th called | 23 years old | Called fourth |
| 5th called | 24 years old | Called fifth |
| 6th called | 25 years old | Called sixth |
| 7th called | 19 years old | Called seventh |
| 8th called | 18 years old | Called last among eligible |
The Selective Service prioritizes 20-year-olds because they represent the optimal balance of physical readiness and availability. They are old enough to have completed high school and any initial post-secondary decisions, but young enough to meet the physical demands of military service.
After 20-year-olds, the system works upward through the older age groups (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) before cycling down to 19-year-olds and then 18-year-olds. This ensures the youngest eligible men — many of whom may still be finishing high school — are called last.
The draft age limit is 25. Once a man reaches his 26th birthday, he is considered "over the age of liability" for the draft and cannot be conscripted. This also means you are no longer required to be registered with the Selective Service after age 26.
There is no upper-age draft for the general public. However, the Selective Service does maintain a separate system called the Health Care Personnel Delivery System (HCPDS) that could draft healthcare workers between ages 20 and 45 in a major medical emergency.
Yes. Federal law requires nearly all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants to register with the Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18. Failure to register is a felony punishable by up to $250,000 in fines and 5 years in prison. It can also make you ineligible for federal student aid, federal jobs, and U.S. citizenship for immigrants.
Starting December 18, 2026, the registration process will become automatic — the government will register eligible men using existing federal databases, removing the need to sign up manually.
Want to know your personal draft risk?
Take the Draft Risk Calculator →No. Once you turn 26, you age out of the Selective Service System and cannot be drafted under current law. This applies regardless of whether you registered or not. The only exception involves healthcare workers, who could potentially be called up to age 45 under the HCPDS.
No. You cannot be drafted at 17. The minimum age for Selective Service registration is 18, and you cannot be called for military service before that age. However, males who are 17 years and 3 months old can pre-register so their information is added to the system automatically when they turn 18.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. There is no active military draft in the United States. Information is based on current Selective Service System rules. Visit sss.gov for official information.