For a modern U.S. military draft, the age group that gets drafted first is 20‑year‑olds (those turning 20 in that calendar year).

Quick Scoop

If a draft were activated today under current Selective Service rules:

  • The first people called would be those who are 20 years old or turning 20 that year.
  • After that, the priority age order would be:
    1. 21‑year‑olds
    2. 22‑year‑olds
    3. 23‑year‑olds
    4. 24‑year‑olds
    5. 25‑year‑olds
    6. 19‑year‑olds
    7. 18‑year‑olds

So even though registration starts at 18, 20 is the first age group drafted , then it moves upward through the early 20s before looping back to 19 and 18 if needed.

At the same time, almost all men in the U.S. still have to register with Selective Service from 18 through 25 , even though there is currently no active draft.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.