With recent missile strikes between Israel and Iran, along with former President Donald Trump ordering attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, it’s no surprise that fears about a possible World War III have been spreading across the news and social media.
Still, if the absolute worst were to happen, many are wondering—who exactly would be expected to step up and defend the country?
On June 21, the United States launched a military operation called "Operation Midnight Hammer", which targeted three of Iran's nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. These strikes were approved by President Trump, with the goal of stopping what officials say is Iran’s ongoing nuclear weapons program.
In a message shared on Truth Social, Trump declared: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home."
He also gave a strong warning afterwards, saying: "ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES."
Later, on Tuesday, Trump criticized both Iran and Israel for violating a ceasefire that had just recently been put into place early that same morning.
"Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before, the biggest load that we've seen." Trump told reporters during his statement. Then he added: "I'm not happy with Israel."
He didn’t hold back, continuing with: "You don't go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them. So I'm not happy with them. I'm not happy with Iran either."
Wrapping up his thoughts, Trump bluntly stated: "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing."
Later in the week, during a media appearance on Thursday, Trump was asked whether he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was an enemy and if he thought Putin had larger territorial ambitions. According to The Independent, Trump responded: "It's possible. I consider him a person who I think is misguided."
He also claimed Putin wanted out of the ongoing conflict, saying: "He would like to get out of this thing. It's a mess for him."
These remarks were made while Trump attended the NATO summit in the Netherlands. During the summit, NATO leaders came together and agreed on a major increase in defense budgets.
Global Leaders and Military Experts Sound the Alarm
As global conflict continues to rise, Russian general Apti Alaudinov voiced a concern that’s been growing more common—he said what many have feared: we might already be in the middle of World War III, whether we realize it or not.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is stepping up its preparations. Two powerful aircraft carrier strike groups, the USS Nimitz and the USS Carl Vinson, have been stationed in the Middle East as a precaution in case the situation spirals further, according to The National Interest.
Even though Trump once vowed to pull the U.S. out of endless wars—what he called "forever wars"—he now finds himself facing a completely different global reality. And if full-scale war does break out, there’s a good chance the country might need to bring back the military draft, something we haven’t seen since 1973.
The Draft: Who Could Be Called to Serve?
The Selective Service System, which has been around since 1917, would be the government’s way of drafting people again. During the Vietnam War, for example, 1.9 million Americans were called up through this system.
Right now, all male U.S. citizens between 18 and 25 years old are legally required to register for Selective Service. That includes undocumented immigrants, refugees, and those with green cards. If someone doesn’t register, they can face a fine of up to $250,000.
In the event of a draft during wartime, the government would use a lottery system based on dates of birth to determine the order in which people are called. Typically, those who are 20 years old are chosen first, with the draft moving up or down the age list from there.
Each person selected would have to undergo a full physical and mental health screening. If someone is found to be medically or psychologically unfit, they would be excused or deferred from service.
Although there have been discussions about possibly including women in the draft, no law has been passed so far to make that happen.
Who Is Exempt or Deferred?
The following categories of people might qualify for exemptions or delays in service if a draft were reinstated:
Conscientious objectors
Full-time students
Parents and caregivers with dependents (hardship deferments)
Essential workers in healthcare and critical infrastructure (e.g., tech, utilities)
Ministers and certain elected officials
Dual nationals under certain conditions
Students may request a postponement of their draft service, and anyone selected can ask for a reclassification. For example, someone might claim conscientious objector status after being drafted but before they report for training or duty.
Also, individuals who have been placed in institutions like hospitals or long-term care before turning 18 and who remain there until age 26 might not have to register with the Selective Service at all.
History Repeats?
The last time a draft took place in the U.S. was in 1972. It officially came to an end on January 27, 1973, when then-Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird stopped it.
The final person to be drafted was Dwight Elliott Stone, a 24-year-old apprentice plumber from Sacramento, California. He reported for service on June 30, 1973.
But now, with global tensions rising and military actions ramping up again, many people are starting to feel those old fears returning.
The current situation feels a lot like the early days of past major conflicts, only in a more modern setting.
As one user on X (formerly known as Twitter) commented: "If only Donald Trump was President then World War 3 wouldn't have just started in the Middle East. Oh."
So far, President Trump’s administration hasn’t officially brought back the draft, and there are no active bills in Congress to make it happen.
However, some former lawmakers and officials have suggested options like a "national service mandate".
The Washington Post also mentioned that a few members of the Republican party seem to be exploring that idea more seriously now.