With the United States preparing for a war against terrorism, concern among college students is circulating that the draft would be reactivated – but ISU officials said it is not likely there will be a draft any time soon.

“There is a new interest in the draft right now,” said Steffen Schmidt, university professor in political science. “People are concerned this is going to be a situation like Vietnam, and people are going to be forced to serve.”

Alan Wilt, temporary professor of history, said a draft is implemented only when there are not enough military volunteers or the number anticipated to volunteer is too low.

“Currently, there are only volunteers expected to go,” he said. “But the idea of a draft keeps being brought up.”

Wilt said there are more than two million people currently serving in the military.

“With the type of warfare the nation is contemplating, we have enough people in service,” he said.

Schmidt also said there is a sufficient number of people in the military on a volunteer basis right now.

“This is a different kind of war,” he said. “My guess is that we will use our professional military people to serve. Reserve units will be used for support.”

Although a draft is unlikely, it is a possibility, Wilt said.

“It is always possible. The president has taken action to undertake all the types of measures necessary for a war,” he said. “Given the situation now, [a draft] would be very unlikely. It all depends on how many people are needed to serve.”

Wilt said every male must register with the military within 30 days of turning 18 years of age with the Selective Service System. There are local draft boards that do exist across the country, he said.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be called upon,” Wilt said. “But their name is on a list.”

If a draft occurs, Schmidt said the potential servicemen would be contacted by a letter from the president calling them to duty. A phone call may be made as well, he said. The information would include a time to report for a physical. If the young man passes the physical, then he is enrolled in the army.

The age and physical condition of a young man determines his draftability, Wilt said. By an act of Congress, 18 years old is a draftable age. Men between the ages of 18 and 25 are most likely to be drafted. Men who are in the best physical condition are also most likely to be drafted.

“There are always exemptions of people,” he said. “It depends on the situation.”

Wilt said the history of the U.S. draft goes back to the Civil War. The draft was implemented during the Civil War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

“There have been lots of different circumstances over the past 200 years,” Schmidt said. “We’ve handled each war differently.”

There was a declaration of war during World War II, he said, so the president asked Congress to require people of a certain age and status to enlist in the military.

“During World War II, there was not much controversy raised about being forced to serve,” Schmidt said.

“People looked at serving in the military as a patriotic thing to go and fight.”

People with religious beliefs against fighting in a war or killing people were exempt from combat, he said. However, they were still called upon to serve non-combat roles.

When a draft was implemented during the Vietnam War, some controversy was raised, he said.

“People were getting called up, fighting and being killed,” Schmidt said. “There was no actual war declared at the time, so many didn’t believe that the draft was essential.”

Schmidt said Americans are not currently required to serve in the military.

“You choose to sign up for the draft right now,” he said. “It is circumstantial. The Selective Service System is there if it is needed.”

How far in advance a draft is implemented before a war is not certain, Wilt said.

“You can’t determine when it will be done,” he said. “You don’t know exactly when you’re going to war.”