§3806. Deferments and exemptions from training and service
(a) In general
(1) Commissioned officers, warrant officers, pay clerks, enlisted men, and aviation cadets of the Regular Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and the Environmental Science Services Administration; 1 cadets, United States Military Academy; midshipmen, United States Naval Academy; cadets, United States Air Force Academy; cadets, United States Coast Guard Academy; midshipmen, Merchant Marine Reserve, members of the United States Navy Reserve; students enrolled in an officer procurement program at military colleges the curriculum of which is approved by the Secretary of Defense; members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard, while on active duty; and foreign diplomatic representatives, technical attachés of foreign embassies and legations, consuls general, consuls, vice consuls and other consular agents of foreign countries who are not citizens of the United States, and members of their families, and persons in other categories to be specified by the President who are not citizens of the United States, shall not be required to be registered under section 3802 of this title and shall be relieved from liability for training and service under section 3803 of this title, except that aliens admitted for permanent residence in the United States shall not be so exempted: Provided, That any alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence as defined in paragraph (20) of section 1101(a) of title 8 and who by reason of occupational status is subject to adjustment to nonimmigrant status under paragraph (15)(A), (15)(E), or (15)(G) of such section 1101(a) but who executes a waiver in accordance with section 1257(b) of title 8 of all rights, privileges, exemptions, and immunities which would otherwise accrue to him as a result of that occupational status, shall be subject to registration under section 3802 of this title, but shall be deferred from induction for training and service for so long as such occupational status continues. Any person who subsequent to June 24, 1948, serves on active duty for a period of not less than twelve months in the armed forces of a nation with which the United States is associated in mutual defense activities as defined by the President, may be exempted from training and service, but not from registration, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President, except that no such exemption shall be granted to any person who is a national of a country which does not grant reciprocal privileges to citizens of the United States: Provided, That any active duty performed prior to June 24, 1948, by a person in the armed forces of a country allied with the United States during World War II and with which the United States is associated in such mutual defense activities, shall be credited in the computation of such twelve-month period: Provided further, That any person who is in a medical, dental, or allied specialist category not otherwise deferred or exempted under this subsection shall be liable for registration and training and service until the thirty-fifth anniversary of the date of his birth.
(2) Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and members of the Reserve of the Public Health Service while on active duty and assigned to staff the various offices and bureaus of the Public Health Service, including the National Institutes of Health, or assigned to the Coast Guard, the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Environmental Science Services Administration 1 or who are assigned to assist Indian tribes, groups, bands, or communities pursuant to the Act of August 5, 1954 (
(b) Persons who served during World War II
(1) No person who served honorably on active duty between September 16, 1940, and June 24, 1948, for a period of twelve months or more, or between December 7, 1941, and September 2, 1945, for a period in excess of ninety days, in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the Public Health Service, or the armed forces of any country allied with the United States in World War II prior to September 2, 1945, shall be liable for induction for training and service under this chapter, except after a declaration of war or national emergency made by the Congress subsequent to June 24, 1948.
(2) No person who served honorably on active duty between September 16, 1940, and June 24, 1948, for a period of ninety days or more but less than twelve months in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the Public Health Service, or the armed forces of any country allied with the United States in World War II prior to September 2, 1945, shall be liable for induction for training and service under this chapter, except after a declaration of war or national emergency made by the Congress subsequent to June 24, 1948, if-
(A) the local board determines that he is regularly enlisted or commissioned in any organized unit of a reserve component of the armed force in which he served, provided such unit is reasonably accessible to such person without unduly interrupting his normal pursuits and activities (including attendance at a college or university in which he is regularly enrolled), or in a reserve component (other than in an organized unit) of such armed force in any case in which enlistment or commission in an organized unit of a reserve component of such armed force is not available to him; or
(B) the local board determines that enlistment or commission in a reserve component of such armed force is not available to him or that he has voluntarily enlisted or accepted appointment in an organized unit of a reserve component of an armed force other than the armed force in which he served.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to be applicable to any person to whom paragraph (1) of this subsection is applicable.
(3) Except as provided in section 3805(a) of this title, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no person who (A) has served honorably on active duty after September 16, 1940, for a period of not less than one year in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard, or (B) subsequent to September 16, 1940, was discharged for the convenience of the Government after having served honorably on active duty for a period of not less than six months in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard, or (C) has served for a period of not less than twenty-four months (i) as a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service or (ii) as a commissioned officer in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, shall be liable for induction for training and service under this Act, except after a declaration of war or national emergency made by the Congress subsequent to June 24, 1948.
(4) No person who is honorably discharged upon the completion of an enlistment pursuant to section 3803(c) of this title shall be liable for induction for training and service under this chapter, except after a declaration of war or national emergency made by the Congress subsequent to June 24, 1948.
(5) For the purposes of computation of the periods of active duty referred to in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, no credit shall be allowed for-
(A) periods of active duty training performed as a member of a reserve component pursuant to an order or call to active duty solely for training purposes;
(B) periods of active duty in which the service consisted solely of training under the Army specialized training program, the Army Air Force college training program, or any similar program under the jurisdiction of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard;
(C) periods of active duty as a cadet at the United States Military Academy or United States Coast Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, or in a preparatory school after nomination as a principal, alternate, or candidate for admission to any of such academies; or
(D) periods of active duty in any of the armed forces while being processed for entry into or separation from any educational program or institution referred to in paragraphs (B) or (C);
(c) Persons who were members of Ready Reserve of any Reserve component of the Armed Forces, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard on February 1, 1951, and persons who enlist in Ready Reserve of any Reserve component of the Armed Forces, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard
(1) Persons who, on February 1, 1951, were members of organized units of the federally recognized National Guard, the federally recognized Air National Guard, the Officers' Reserve Corps, the Regular Army Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, the Enlisted Reserve Corps, the Naval Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Coast Guard Reserve, or the Public Health Service Reserve, shall, so long as they continue to be such members and satisfactorily participate in scheduled drills and training periods as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, be exempt from training and service by induction under the provisions of this chapter, but shall not be exempt from registration unless on active duty.
(2)(A) Any person, other than a person referred to in subsection (d) of this section, who-
(i) prior to the issuance of orders for him to report for induction; or
(ii) prior to the date scheduled for his induction and pursuant to a proclamation by the Governor of a State to the effect that the authorized strength of any organized unit of the National Guard of that State cannot be maintained by the enlistment or appointment of persons who have not been issued orders to report for induction under this chapter; or
(iii) prior to the date scheduled for his induction and pursuant to a determination by the President that the strength of the Ready Reserve of the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve cannot be maintained by the enlistment or appointment of persons who have not been issued orders to report for induction under this chapter;
enlists or accepts appointment, before attaining the age of 26 years, in the Ready Reserve of any Reserve component of the Armed Forces, the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard, shall be deferred from training and service under this chapter so long as he serves satisfactorily as a member of an organized unit of such Reserve or National Guard in accordance with section 10147 of title 10 or section 502 of title 32, as the case may be, or satisfactorily performs such other Ready Reserve service as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. Enlistments or appointments under subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this clause may be accepted notwithstanding the provisions of section 3813(d) of this title. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (h) of this section, no person deferred under this clause who has completed six years of such satisfactory service as a member of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and who during such service has performed active duty for training with an armed force for not less than twelve consecutive weeks, shall be liable for induction for training and service under this Act, except after a declaration of war or national emergency made by the Congress after August 9, 1955. In no event shall the number of enlistments or appointments made under authority of this paragraph in any fiscal year in any Reserve component of the Armed Forces or in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard cause the personnel strength of such Reserve component or the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be, to exceed the personnel strength for which funds have been made available by the Congress for such fiscal year.
(B) A person who, under any provision of law, is exempt or deferred from training and service under this Act by reason of membership in a reserve component, the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard, as the case may be, shall, if he becomes a member of another reserve component, the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard, as the case may be, continue to be exempt or deferred to the same extent as if he had not become a member of another reserve component, the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard, as the case may be, so long as he continues to serve satisfactorily.
(C) Except as provided in subsection (b) and the provisions of this subsection, no person who becomes a member of a reserve component after February 1, 1951, shall thereby be exempt from registration or training and service by induction under the provisions of this Act.
(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the President, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, may provide that any person enlisted or appointed after October 4, 1961, in the Ready Reserve of any reserve component of the Armed Forces (other than under section 12103 of title 10), the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard, prior to attaining age of twenty-six years, or any person enlisted or appointed in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard or enlisted in the Ready Reserve of any reserve component prior to attaining the age of eighteen years and six months and deferred under the prior provisions of this paragraph as amended by the Act of October 4, 1961,
(d) Persons who enroll in Armed Forces Officers' Candidate Schools
(1) Within such numbers as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, any person who (A) has been or may hereafter be selected for enrollment or continuance in the senior division, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the Air Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval and Marine Corps officer candidate training program established by the Act of August 13, 1946 (
(2) In addition to the training programs enumerated in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and under such regulations as the Secretary of Defense (or the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the United States Coast Guard) may approve, the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of the Treasury are authorized to establish officer candidate programs leading to the commissioning of persons on active duty. Any person heretofore or hereafter enlisted in the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, or the Coast Guard Reserve who thereafter has been or may be commissioned therein upon graduation from an Officers' Candidate School of such Armed Force shall, if not ordered to active duty as a commissioned officer, be deferred from training and service under the provisions of this Act so long as he performs satisfactory service as a commissioned officer in an appropriate unit of the Ready Reserve, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the department concerned. If such person fails to perform satisfactory service in such unit, and such failure is not excused under such regulations, his commission may be revoked by such Secretary.
(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to preclude the President from providing, by regulations prescribed under subsection (h) of this section, for the deferment from training and service of any category or categories of students for such periods of time as he may deem appropriate.
(4) Omitted
(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), upon the successful completion by any person of the required course of instruction under any Reserve Officers' Training Corps program listed in clause (A) of the first sentence of paragraph (1) and subject to the approval of the Secretary of the military department having jurisdiction over him, such person may, without being relieved of his obligation under that sentence, be tendered, and accept, a commission in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration instead of a commission in the appropriate reserve component of the Armed Forces. If he does not serve on active duty as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for at least six years, he shall, upon discharge therefrom, be tendered a commission in the appropriate reserve component of the Armed Forces, if he is otherwise qualified for such appointment, and, in fulfillment of his obligation under the first sentence of paragraph (1), remain a member of a reserve component until the sixth anniversary of the receipt of his commission in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While a member of a reserve component he may, in addition to as otherwise provided by law, be ordered to active duty for such period that, when added to the period he served on active duty as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, equals two years.
(e) Aviation cadet applicants
Fully qualified and accepted aviation cadet applicants of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who have signed an agreement of service shall, in such numbers as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense, be deferred, during the period covered by the agreement but not to exceed four months, from induction for training and service under this chapter but shall not be exempt from registration.
(f) Elected officials
The Vice President of the United States; the governors of the several States, Territories, and possessions, and all other officials chosen by the voters of the entire State, Territory, or possession; members of the legislative bodies of the United States and of the several States, Territories, and possessions; judges of the courts of record of the United States and of the several States, Territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia shall, while holding such offices, be deferred from training and service under this chapter in the armed forces of the United States.
(g) Ministers of religion and students preparing for ministry
(1) Regular or duly ordained ministers of religion, as defined in this chapter, shall be exempt from training and service, but not from registration, under this chapter.
(2) Students preparing for the ministry under the direction of recognized churches or religious organizations, who are satisfactorily pursuing full-time courses of instruction in recognized theological or divinity schools, or who are satisfactorily pursuing full-time courses of instruction leading to their entrance into recognized theological or divinity schools in which they have been preenrolled, shall be deferred from training and service, but not from registration, under this chapter. Persons who are or may be deferred under the provisions of this subsection shall remain liable for training and service in the Armed Forces under the provisions of section 3803(a) of this title until the thirty-fifth anniversary of the date of their birth. The foregoing sentence shall not be construed to prevent the exemption or continued deferment of such persons if otherwise exempted or deferrable under any other provision of this Act.
(h) Persons employed in occupations necessary to national health, safety, or interest
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection the President is authorized, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to provide for the deferment from training and service in the Armed Forces of any or all categories of persons whose employment in industry, agriculture, or other occupations or employment, or whose continued service in an Office (other than an Office described in subsection (f)) under the United States or any State, territory, or possession, or the District of Columbia, or whose activity in study, research, or medical, dental, veterinary, optometric, osteopathic, scientific, pharmaceutical, chiropractic, chiropodial, or other endeavors is found to be necessary to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest: Provided, That no person within any such category shall be deferred except upon the basis of his individual status: Provided further, That persons who are or may be deferred under the provisions of this section shall remain liable for training and service in the Armed Forces under the provisions of section 3803(a) of this title until the thirty-fifth anniversary of the date of their birth. This proviso shall not be construed to prevent the continued deferment of such persons if otherwise deferrable under any other provisions of this Act. The President is also authorized, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to provide for the deferment from training and service in the Armed Forces (1) of any or all categories of persons in a status with respect to persons (other than wives alone, except in cases of extreme hardship) dependent upon them for support which renders their deferment advisable, and (2) of any or all categories of those persons found to be physically, mentally, or morally deficient or defective. For the purpose of determining whether or not the deferment of any person is advisable, because of his status with respect to persons dependent upon him for support, any payments of allowances which are payable by the United States to the dependents of persons serving in the Armed Forces of the United States shall be taken into consideration, but the fact that such payments of allowances are payable shall not be deemed conclusively to remove the grounds for deferment when the dependency is based upon financial considerations and shall not be deemed to remove the ground for deferment when the dependency is based upon other than financial considerations and cannot be eliminated by financial assistance to the dependents. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the President is also authorized, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to provide for the deferment from training and service in the Armed Forces of any or all categories of persons who have children, or wives and children, with whom they maintain a bona fide family relationship in their homes. No deferment from such training and service in the Armed Forces shall be made in the case of any individual except upon the basis of the status of such individual. There shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the office of each local board a list setting forth the names and classifications of those persons who have been classified by such local board. The President may, in carrying out the provisions of this chapter, recommend criteria for the classification of persons subject to induction under this chapter, and to the extent that such action is determined by the President to be consistent with the national interest, recommend that such criteria be administered uniformly throughout the United States whenever practicable; except that no local board, appeal board, or other agency of appeal of the Selective Service System shall be required to postpone or defer any person by reason of his activity in study, research, or medical, dental, veterinary, optometric, osteopathic, scientific, pharmaceutical, chiropractic, chiropodial, or other endeavors found to be necessary to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest solely on the basis of any test, examination, selection system, class standing, or any other means conducted, sponsored, administered, or prepared by any agency or department of the Federal Government, or any private institution, corporation, association, partnership, or individual employed by an agency or department of the Federal Government.
(i) High school students
(1) Any person who is satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction at a high school or similar institution of learning and is issued an order for induction shall, upon the facts being presented to the local board, have his induction postponed (A) until the time of his graduation therefrom, or (B) until he attains the twentieth anniversary of his birth, or (C) until he ceases satisfactorily to pursue such course of instruction, whichever is the earliest. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any person who attains the twentieth anniversary of his birth after beginning his last academic year of high school shall have his induction postponed until the end of that academic year if and so long as he continues to pursue satisfactorily a full-time course of instruction.
(2) Any person who while satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction at a college, university, or similar institution is ordered to report for induction under this chapter, shall, upon the appropriate facts being presented to the local board, have his induction postponed (A) until the end of the semester or term, or academic year in the case of his last academic year, or (B) until he ceases satisfactorily to pursue such course of instruction, whichever is the earlier.
(j) Persons conscientiously opposed to war
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to require any person to be subject to combatant training and service in the armed forces of the United States who, by reason of religious training and belief, is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form. As used in this subsection, the term "religious training and belief" does not include essentially political, sociological, or philosophical views, or a merely personal moral code. Any person claiming exemption from combatant training and service because of such conscientious objections whose claim is sustained by the local board shall, if he is inducted into the armed forces under this chapter, be assigned to noncombatant service as defined by the President, or shall, if he is found to be conscientiously opposed to participation in such noncombatant service, in lieu of such induction, be ordered by his local board, subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe, to perform for a period equal to the period prescribed in section 3803(b) of this title such civilian work contributing to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest as the Director may deem appropriate and any such person who knowingly fails or neglects to obey any such order from his local board shall be deemed, for the purposes of section 3811 of this title, to have knowingly failed or neglected to perform a duty required of him under this chapter. The Director shall be responsible for finding civilian work for persons exempted from training and service under this subsection and for the placement of such persons in appropriate civilian work contributing to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest.
(k) Cessation of cause for exemption or deferment
No exception from registration, or exemption or deferment from training and service, under this chapter, shall continue after the cause therefor ceases to exist.
(l) Absence of parental consent
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one shall be discharged from service in the armed forces of the United States while this chapter is in effect because such person entered such service without the consent of his parent or guardian.
(m) Conviction of a criminal offense
No person shall be relieved from training and service under this chapter by reason of conviction of a criminal offense, except where the offense of which he has been convicted may be punished by death, or by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
(n) Review of occupational deferment
In the case of any registrant whose principal place of employment is located outside the appeal board area in which the local board having jurisdiction over the registrant is located, any occupational deferment made under subsection (h) of this section may, within five days after such deferment is made, be submitted for review and decision to the appeal board having jurisdiction over the area in which is located the principal place of employment of the registrant. Such decision of the appeal board shall be final unless modified or changed by the President, and such decision shall be made public.
(o) Person with father, mother, brother, or sister killed or in missing status while serving
Except during the period of a war or a national emergency declared by Congress, no person may be inducted for training and service under this chapter unless he volunteers for such induction-
(1) if the father or the mother or a brother or a sister of such person was killed in action or died in line of duty while serving in the Armed Forces after December 31, 1959, or died subsequent to such date as a result of injuries received or disease incurred in line of duty during such service, or
(2) during any period of time in which the father or the mother or a brother or a sister of such person is in a captured or missing status as a result of such service.
As used in this subsection, the term "brother" or "sister" means a brother of the whole blood or a sister of the whole blood, as the case may be.
(June 24, 1948, ch. 625, title I, §6,
Termination of Induction for Training and Service
For provisions relating to termination of induction for training and service in the Armed Forces after July 1, 1973, see section 3815(c) of this title.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title I of act June 24, 1948, ch. 625,
Act of August 5, 1954 (
This Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(3), (b)(3), (c)(2)(A) to (D), (d)(1), (2), (g)(2), and (h), is act June 24, 1948, ch. 625,
Section 1013 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(D), was repealed by
Act of August 13, 1946 (
Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 456 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
Amendments
2006-Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (d)(1)(A).
Subsec. (d)(2).
2002-Subsec. (d)(1).
1994-Subsec. (c)(2)(A).
Subsec. (c)(2)(D).
Subsec. (d)(1).
1984-Subsec. (o).
1980-Subsec. (d)(1).
1975-Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (c)(2)(A).
1971-Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (b)(3).
Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (d)(1).
Subsec. (d)(5).
Subsec. (g).
Subsec. (h).
Subsec. (i)(1).
Subsec. (i)(2).
Subsec. (j).
Subsec. (o).
1970-Subsec. (b)(2).
1967-Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (c)(2)(A).
Subsec. (h).
Subsec. (j).
1964-Subsec. (o).
1963-Subsec. (c)(2).
1962-Subsec. (d).
1961-Subsec. (c)(2).
Subsec. (d)(1).
1958-Subsec. (c)(2)(F).
1957-Subsec. (b)(5)(E).
Subsec. (d)(4).
1955-Subsec. (a). Act June 30, 1955, §101(a), exempted from training and service, but not from registration, those persons who served on active duty for not less than 18 months since June 24, 1948 in the armed forces of a nation with which the United States is associated in mutual defense activities.
Subsec. (b)(3). Act June 30, 1955, §101(b), exempted individuals who have served not less than one year after September 16, 1940, or who were discharged after such date for the convenience of the Government and had served not less than six months, or who served not less than twenty-four months in the Public Health Service or in the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Subsec. (c)(2). Act Aug. 9, 1955, §3(b), exempted from induction persons who have completed eight years of satisfactory service as members of an organized unit of the National Guard, with a minimum of not less than three consecutive months of active duty for training, and added cls. (C), (D), and (E).
Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Act June 30, 1955, §101(c), inserted provisions to exempt persons from liability for induction after attaining age 28.
Subsec. (d)(1). Act Aug. 9, 1955, §3(c), deferred from induction any person who agrees to remain a member of a regular or reserve component until the sixth anniversary of the receipt of a commission, provided that all qualified graduates must be tendered a commission in the appropriate reserve component, and permitted active duty for training for a period of six months upon completion of which he must serve in the component in which appointed until the eighth anniversary of the receipt of the commission.
Subsec. (d)(2). Act Aug. 9, 1955, §3(d), permitted deferment of commissioned officers who perform satisfactory service in an appropriate unit of the Ready Reserve.
Subsec. (h). Act June 30, 1955, §101(d), provided that determination of deferment shall not be based on existence of a shortage or a surplus of any agricultural commodity.
1951-Subsec. (a). Act June 19, 1951, §1(l), exempted Naval reserve midshipmen attending merchant marine schools and students enrolled in military colleges which have approved ROTC courses from registration and induction.
Subsec. (c). Act June 19, 1951, §1(m), substituted "February 1, 1941" for "the effective date of this title" in par. (1), inserted "prior to the determination by the Secretary of Defense that adequate trained personnel are available to the National Guard to enable it to maintain its strength authorized by current appropriations, and prior to the issuance of orders for him to report for induction" after "six months" in par. (2)(A), and inserted ", paragraph (1) of this subsection" after "subsection (b)" in par. (2)(B).
Subsec. (d). Act June 19, 1951, §1(n), continued deferments to ROTC members but increased their period of service from 2 years to 6 years after receiving their commission (including 2 years active duty or 3 years active duty if financial assistance is received), authorized establishment of other training programs, and provided for the President's deferment power.
Subsec. (h). Act June 19, 1951, §1(o), removed the President's authority to defer married men who have no dependents other than a wife solely on a basis of such marriage unless extreme hardship is involved, permitted the induction of persons now deferred until the thirty-fifth anniversary of their birth should the basis for deferment terminate after their 26th birthday, and inserted "dental, optometric, osteopathic, and chiropractic" to list of endeavors which may be considered for deferment purposes.
Subsec. (i). Act June 19, 1951, §1(p), authorized deferment of high school and college students in lieu of postponement of induction in order to give them an opportunity to enlist in the branch of service of their choice during such deferment period.
Subsec. (j). Act June 19, 1951, §1(q), substituted "in lieu of such induction, be ordered by his local board, subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe, to perform for a period equal to the period prescribed in section 3803(b) of this title such civilian work contributing to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest as the local board may deem appropriate and any such person who knowingly fails or neglects to obey any such order from his local board shall be deemed, for the purposes of section 3811 of this title, to have knowingly failed or neglected to perform a duty required of him under this title" for "be deferred" in third sentence, and "he shall in lieu of such induction be ordered by his local board, subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe, to perform for a period equal to the period prescribed in section 3803(b) of this title such civilian work contributing to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest as the local board may deem appropriate and any such person who knowingly fails or neglects to obey any such order from his local board shall be deemed, for the purposes of section 3811 of this title, to have knowingly failed or neglected to perform a duty required of him under this title" for "he shall be deferred" in seventh sentence.
1950-Subsec. (b)(2). Act Sept. 27, 1950, struck out of subpars. (A) and (B) "or the Coast Guard", "(or the Coast Guard)", and "or in the Coast Guard" wherever appearing.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
References to Naval Reserve, other than references to Naval Reserve regarding the United States Naval Reserve Retired List, deemed to refer to Navy Reserve, see section 515(h) of
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Effective and Termination Dates of 1957 Amendment
Amendment by
Savings Provision; Repeal of College Student Deferment
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
Coast Guard transferred to Department of Transportation, and functions, powers, and duties relating to Coast Guard of Secretary of the Treasury and of all other officers and offices of Department of the Treasury transferred to Secretary of Transportation by
Discharge of Surviving Sons
"(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection any surviving son or sons of a family who (A) were inducted into the Armed Forces under the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 [now the Military Selective Service Act, see References in Text note set out under section 3801 of this title], (B) have not reenlisted or otherwise voluntarily extended their period of active duty in the Armed Forces, and (C) are serving on active duty with the Armed Forces on or after the date of enactment of this subsection [Sept. 28, 1971], and such son or sons could not, if they were not in the Armed Forces, be involuntarily inducted into military service under the Military Selective Service Act as a result of the amendment made by paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of this section [amending this section], such surviving son or sons shall, upon application, be promptly discharged from the Armed Forces.
"(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply in the case of any member of the Armed Forces against whom court-martial charges are pending, or in the case of any member who has been tried and convicted by a court-martial for an offense and whose case is being reviewed or appealed, or in the case of any member who has been tried and convicted by a court-martial for an offense and who is serving a sentence (or otherwise satisfying punishment) imposed by such court-martial, until final action (including completion of any punishment imposed pursuant to such court-martial) has been completed with respect to such charges, review, or appeal, or until the sentence has been served (or until any other punishment imposed has been satisfied), as the case may be. The President shall have authority to implement the provisions of this subsection by regulations.
"(3) Notwithstanding the amendment made by paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of this section [amending this section], except during the period of a war or a national emergency declared by Congress, the sole surviving son of any family in which the father or one or more sons or daughters thereof were killed in action before January 1, 1960, or died in line of duty before January 1, 1960, while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, or died subsequent to such date as a result of injuries received or disease incurred before such date during such service shall not be inducted under the Military Selective Service Act [see References in Text note set out under section 3801 of this title] unless he volunteers for induction."
Prior Obligated Service
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Treasury, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935,
Environmental Science Services Administration in Department of Commerce, including offices of Administrator and Deputy Administrator thereof, abolished by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627,
In order to implement the provisions of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627,
Coast and Geodetic Survey consolidated with National Weather Bureau in 1965 to form Environmental Science Services Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819,
Functions of Public Health Service, Surgeon General of Public Health Service, and all other officers and employees of Public Health Service, and functions of all agencies of or in Public Health Service transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855,
Delegation of Functions
Functions of President delegated to Director of Selective Service concerning establishment, implementation, and administration of program for return of Vietnam era draft evaders and military deserters, see Ex. Ord. No. 11804, Sept. 16, 1974, 39 F.R. 33299, set out under section 3811 of this title.
Program for Return of Vietnam Era Draft Evaders and Military Deserters
Proc. No. 4313, Sept. 16, 1974, 39 F.R. 33293,
Executive Order No. 11803
Ex. Ord. No. 11803, Sept. 16, 1974, 39 F.R. 33297, set out under section 3811 of this title, provided for review by Clemency Board of convictions of violations under subsec. (j) of this section.
Ex. Ord. No. 10028. Definition of Noncombatant Service and Noncombatant Training
Ex. Ord. No. 10028, Jan. 13, 1949, 14 F.R. 211, provided:
1. The term "noncombatant service" shall mean (a) service in any unit of the armed forces which is unarmed at all times; (b) service in the medical department of any of the armed forces, wherever performed; or (c) any other assignment the primary function of which does not require the use of arms in combat; provided that such other assignment is acceptable to the individual concerned and does not require him to bear arms or to be trained in their use.
2. The term "noncombatant training" shall mean any training which is not concerned with the study, use, or handling of arms or weapons.
Harry S Truman.