Legal Definitions - draft board

A draft board is a civilian administrative body responsible for managing the process of mandatory military service, also known as conscription or the draft. These boards register eligible individuals and make selections for service according to national laws and regulations.

• During a period of national emergency requiring an expansion of military personnel, a 20-year-old college student might receive official correspondence from his local draft board. This letter would instruct him to report for a physical examination and an interview, initiating the process by which the board determines his eligibility and potential selection for military service.

  This example illustrates the draft board's role in initiating the selection process for individuals for mandatory military service.

• A young woman, whose country has recently reinstated compulsory military service for all citizens, believes her deeply held religious beliefs prevent her from participating in combat. She would submit an application for conscientious objector status to her regional draft board, which would then review her claim and decide whether to grant her an exemption or assign her to non-combatant service.

  This shows the draft board's function in evaluating individual cases and making decisions regarding exemptions or alternative service within the conscription system.

• Following a significant international conflict, a nation decides to reactivate its dormant conscription system to bolster its defense forces. To manage the millions of eligible citizens, the government establishes numerous local draft boards across the country. Each board is responsible for registering individuals within its jurisdiction, maintaining records, and conducting lotteries or other selection processes as mandated by law.

  This highlights the administrative and organizational role of multiple draft boards in implementing a large-scale conscription program, including registration and selection.