As missiles rain from the sky in Iran and Israel, and President Donald Trump leaves Canada's G7 summit early, there are fears that we're on the brink of war. Worse than this, there's an ever-increasing number of high-ranking officials and experts who claim we're already in the midst of World War III without even knowing it.
Israel and Iran have been exchanging missiles, with the former claiming Iran is building a nuclear weapon. This is something President Donald Trump has said we absolutely can't allow to happen, later posting on Truth Social and demanding an 'unconditional surrender' from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei has responded saying: "Let the Americans know that the Iranian nation is not one to surrender." Russian general Apti Alaudinov says we're already in the throes of WWIII, while there are fears that a 'distracted USA' could be caught in the crossfire.
With two US aircraft carrier groups expected to be stationed in the Middle East, the USS Nimitz and the USS Carl Vinson are positioned in the event that things escalate further.
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Trump previously vowed to keep the USA out of 'forever wars' like those that led to the deaths of thousands of its troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but if WWIII kicks off, a draft could pull millions more into the conflict.
The Selective Service System (SSS) has been drafting US soldiers since 1917, notably leading to 1.9 million being called forward to fight in the Vietnam War that ran between 1954 and 1975.
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The SSS previously used a random lottery based on your date of birth, and even in 2025, all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 have to register for the draft. This includes undocumented immigrants, refugees, and green card holders, while anyone who fails to comply could face a maximum fine of $250,000.
These young males are put into the primary pool, typically starting with the 20-year-olds and then moving upward and downward. They're tested on whether they're fit for service, requiring a physical and mental health evaluation. Anyone medically or psychologically unfit would be deferred or exempted.
In terms of who's exempt, talks about expanding the draft to include women haven't been passed at the time of writing. Conscientious objectors, full-time students, and essential workers in fields like healthcare and tech infrastructure might be deferred on national need. Parents and caregivers with dependents may also receive hardship deferments.
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Interestingly, those with specialized skills in cybersecurity, AI, languages, medicine, and engineering might be recruited before general infantry service. With an eventual World War III tipped to be more technologically advanced than ever before, tech workers who have expertise in the likes of AI and drones could be placed into defense-related work rather than standard combat roles.
The last draft was called in 1973, and despite much debate about the need for modernization, it's unclear whether this would be done in time for an official breakout of World War III or whether President Trump would still go with the current scenario. Either way, millions could soon find themselves pulled into action.