<P> During the 1968 presidential election, Richard Nixon campaigned on a promise to end the draft . He had first become interested in the idea of an all - volunteer army during his time out of office, based upon a paper by Martin Anderson of Columbia University . Nixon also saw ending the draft as an effective way to undermine the anti-Vietnam war movement, since he believed affluent youths would stop protesting the war once their own probability of having to fight in it was gone . There was opposition to the all - volunteer notion from both the Department of Defense and Congress, so Nixon took no immediate action towards ending the draft early in his presidency . </P> <P> Instead, the Gates Commission was formed, headed by Thomas S. Gates, Jr., a former Secretary of Defense in the Eisenhower administration . Gates initially opposed the all - volunteer army idea, but changed his mind during the course of the 15 - member commission's work . The Gates Commission issued its report in February 1970, describing how adequate military strength could be maintained without having conscription . The existing draft law was expiring at the end of June 1971, but the Department of Defense and Nixon administration decided the draft needed to continue for at least some time . In February 1971, the administration requested of Congress a two - year extension of the draft, to June 1973 . </P> <P> Senatorial opponents of the war wanted to reduce this to a one - year extension, or eliminate the draft altogether, or tie the draft renewal to a timetable for troop withdrawal from Vietnam; Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska took the most forceful approach, trying to filibuster the draft renewal legislation, shut down conscription, and directly force an end to the war . Senators supporting Nixon's war efforts supported the bill, even though some had qualms about ending the draft . After a prolonged battle in the Senate, in September 1971 cloture was achieved over the filibuster and the draft renewal bill was approved . Meanwhile, military pay was increased as an incentive to attract volunteers, and television advertising for the U.S. Army began . With the end of active U.S. ground participation in Vietnam, December 1972 saw the last men conscripted, who were born in 1952 and who reported for duty in June 1973 . On February 2, 1972, a drawing was held to determine draft priority numbers for men born in 1953, but in early 1973 it was announced by Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird that no further draft orders would be issued . In March 1973, 1974, and 1975, the Selective Service assigned draft priority numbers for all men born in 1954, 1955, and 1956, in case the draft was extended, but it never was . </P> <P> Command Sergeant Major Jeff Mellinger, believed to be the last drafted enlisted ranked soldier still on active duty, retired in 2011 . </P>

When was the draft last used in the us