End_of_conscription Conscription_in_the_United_States

jeffrey mellinger in 1972; mellinger last drafted u.s. nco remain in army before retiring in 2011.



jeffrey mellinger in 2005

during 1968 presidential election, richard nixon campaigned on promise end draft. had first become interested in idea of all-volunteer army during time out of office, based upon paper martin anderson of columbia university. nixon saw ending draft effective way undermine anti-vietnam war movement, since believed affluent youths stop protesting war once own probability of having fight in gone. there opposition all-volunteer notion both department of defense , congress, nixon took no immediate action towards ending draft in presidency.

instead, gates commission formed, headed thomas s. gates, jr., former secretary of defense in eisenhower administration. gates opposed all-volunteer army idea, changed mind during course of 15-member commission s work. gates commission issued report in february 1970, describing how adequate military strength maintained without having conscription. existing draft law expiring @ end of june 1971, department of defense , nixon administration decided draft needed continue @ least time. in february 1971, administration requested of congress two-year extension of draft, june 1973.

senatorial opponents of war wanted reduce one-year extension, or eliminate draft altogether, or tie draft renewal timetable troop withdrawal vietnam; senator mike gravel of alaska took forceful approach, trying filibuster draft renewal legislation, shut down conscription, , directly force end war. senators supporting nixon s war efforts supported bill, though had qualms ending draft. after prolonged battle in senate, in september 1971 cloture achieved on filibuster , draft renewal bill approved. meanwhile, military pay increased incentive attract volunteers, , television advertising u.s. army began. end of active u.s. ground participation in vietnam, december 1972 saw last men conscripted, born in 1952 , reported duty in june 1973. on february 2, 1972, drawing held determine draft priority numbers men born in 1953, in 1973 announced secretary of defense melvin laird no further draft orders issued. in march 1973, 1974, , 1975, selective service assigned draft priority numbers men born in 1954, 1955, , 1956, in case draft extended, never was.

command sergeant major jeff mellinger, believed last drafted enlisted ranked soldier still on active duty, retired in 2011.

chief warrant officer 5 ralph e. rigby, last vietnam war-era drafted soldier of warrant officer rank, retired army in november 10, 2014 after 42-year career.