<P> In 1970, covering 1951 birthdates for use during 1971 (sometimes called the 1971 draft), scientists at the National Bureau of Standards prepared 78 random permutations of the numbers 1 to 366 using random numbers selected from published tables . From the 78 permutations, 25 were selected at random and transcribed to calendars using 1 = January 1, 2 = January 2,...365 = December 31 . Those calendars were sealed in envelopes. 25 more permutations were selected and sealed in 25 more envelopes without transcription to calendars . The two sets of 25 envelopes were furnished to the Selective Service System . </P> <P> On June 2, an official picked two envelopes, thus one calendar and one raw permutation . The 365 birthdates (for 1951) were written down, placed in capsules, and put in a drum in the order dictated by the selected calendar . Similarly, the numbers from 1 to 365 were written down and placed into capsules in the order dictated by the raw permutation . </P> <P> On July 1, the drawing date, one drum was rotated for an hour and the other for a half - hour (its rotating mechanism failed). Pairs of capsules were then drawn, one from each drum, one with a 1951 birthdate and one with a number 1 to 366 . The first date and number drawn were September 16 and 139, so all men born September 16, 1951, were assigned draft number 139 . The 11th draws were the date July 9 and the number 1, so men born July 9 were assigned draft number 1 and drafted first . </P> <P> The military draft method used back in the 1950s and 60s involved using dates and numbers mixed randomly and then drawn to decide who would go to war . In present - day not much has changed on how the draft would be conducted if it was ever needed . The Selective Service Committee who presides over the draft procedures still have a large tumbler that holds all the number and dates that will be drawn to select candidates and the only thing that seems to have changed between the method of the past and the present one is that instead of using pieces of paper in blue capsules the SSC now uses ping pong balls with the dates and numbers on them . </P>

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