<P> Of the more than 72,000 men registering as conscientious objectors (CO), nearly 52,000 received CO status . Of these, over 25,000 entered the military in noncombatant roles, another 12,000 went to civilian work camps, and nearly 6,000 went to prison . Draft evasion only accounted for about 4% of the total inducted . About 373,000 alleged evaders were investigated with just over 16,000 being imprisoned . </P> <P> The second peacetime draft began with passage of the Selective Service Act of 1948 after the STSA expired . The new law required all men, ages 18 to 26, to register . It also created the system for the "Doctor Draft" aimed at inducting health professionals into military service . Unless otherwise exempted or deferred (see Berry Plan), these men could be called for up to 21 months of active duty and five years of reserve duty service . Congress further tweaked this act in 1950 although the post--World War II surplus of military manpower left little need for draft calls until Truman's declaration of national emergency in December 1950 . Only 20,348 men were inducted in 1948 and only 9,781 in 1949 . </P> <P> Between the Korean War's outbreak in June 1950 and the armistice agreement in 1953, Selective Service inducted over 1.5 million men . Another 1.3 million volunteered, usually choosing the Navy or Air Force . Congress passed the Universal Military Training and Service Act in 1951 to meet the demands of the war . It lowered the induction age to 181⁄2 and extended active - duty service commitments to 24 months . Despite the early combat failures and later stalemate in Korea, the draft has been credited by some as playing a vital role in turning the tide of war . A February 1953 Gallup Poll showed 70 percent of Americans surveyed felt the SSS handled the draft fairly . Notably, Gallup reported that 64 percent of the demographic group including all draft age men (males 21 to 29) believed the draft to be fair . </P> <P> To increase equity in the system, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order on July 11, 1953, that ended the paternity deferment for married men . In large part, the change in the draft served the purposes of the burgeoning Cold War . From a program that had just barely passed congressional muster during the fearful prelude to World War II, a more robust draft continued as fears now focused on the Soviet threat . Nevertheless, some dissenting voices in Congress continued to appeal to the history of voluntary American military service as preferable for a democracy . </P>

When did the united states stop the military draft