February 06, 2012


 

A lottery drawing - the first since 1942 - was held on December 1, 1969, at Selective Service National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event determined the order of call for induction during calendar year 1970, that is, for registrants born between January 1, 1944, and December 31, 1950. Reinstitution of the lottery was a change from the "draft the oldest man first" method, which had been the determining method for deciding order of call.

There were 366 blue plastic capsules containing birth dates placed in a large glass container and drawn by hand to assign order-of-call numbers to all men within the 18-26 age range specified in Selective Service law.

With radio, film and TV coverage, the capsules were drawn from the container, opened, and the dates inside posted in order. The first capsule - drawn by Congressman Alexander Pirnie (R-NY) of the House Armed Services Committee - contained the date September 14, so all men born on September 14 in any year between 1944 and 1950 were assigned lottery number 1. The drawing continued until all days of the year had been paired with sequence numbers.

Lottery Numbers, by Birthdate, for Selective Service Lottery Held December 1969

The lottery drawing held December 1, 1969, determined the order in which men, born from 1944 through 1950, were called to report for induction into the military.

The highest lottery number called for this group was 195; all men assigned that lottery number or any lower number, and who were classified 1-A or 1-A-O (available for military service), were called to report for possible induction.

Lottery Numbers, by Birth Date, for Selective Service Lottery Held December 1969.
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 305 086 108 032 330 249 093 111 225 359 019 129
2 159 144 029 271 298 228 350 045 161 125 034 328
3 251 297 267 083 040 301 115 261 049 244 348 157
4 215 210 275 081 276 020 279 145 232 202 266 165
5 101 214 293 269 364 028 188 054 082 024 310 056
6 224 347 139 253 155 110 327 114 006 087 076 010
7 306 091 122 147 035 085 050 168 008 234 051 012
8 199 181 213 312 321 366 013 048 184 283 097 105
9 194 338 317 219 197 335 277 106 263 342 080 043
10 325 216 323 218 065 206 284 021 071 220 282 041
11 329 150 136 014 037 134 248 324 158 237 046 039
12 221 068 300 346 133 272 015 142 242 072 066 314
13 318 152 259 124 295 069 042 307 175 138 126 163
14 238 004 354 231 178 356 331 198 001 294 127 026
15 017 089 169 273 130 180 322 102 113 171 131 320
16 121 212 166 148 055 274 120 044 207 254 107 096
17 235 189 033 260 112 073 098 154 255 288 143 304
18 140 292 332 090 278 341 190 141 246 005 146 128
19 058 025 200 336 075 104 227 311 177 241 203 240
20 280 302 239 345 183 360 187 344 063 192 185 135
21 186 363 334 062 250 060 027 291 204 243 156 070
22 337 290 265 316 326 247 153 339 160 117 009 053
23 118 057 256 252 319 109 172 116 119 201 182 162
24 059 236 258 002 031 358 023 036 195 196 230 095
25 052 179 343 351 361 137 067 286 149 176 132 084
26 092 365 170 340 357 022 303 245 018 007 309 173
27 355 205 268 074 296 064 289 352 233 264 047 078
28 077 299 223 262 308 222 088 167 257 094 281 123
29 349 285 362 191 226 353 270 061 151 229 099 016
30 164 -- 217 208 103 209 287 333 315 038 174 003
31 211 -- 030 -- 313 -- 193 011 -- 079 -- 100

The lottery drawing held July 1, 1970, determined the order in which men born in 1951 were called to report for induction into the military.

How to read this chart: This chart shows all the birth dates in a given year and the lottery numbers assigned to those dates. Read this chart like a multiplication table. At the top of the chart are the months of the year. On the far left are the dates of the month. The numbers in the center represent lottery numbers. For example: To find the lottery number assigned to July 15, look down from "July" until it matches up with the number "15" on the left side of the table. The corresponding number in the middle is "273." This means that all men born on July 15, 1951, were assigned the lottery number 273.

The highest lottery number called for this group was 125.  All men assigned that lottery number or any lower number, and who were classified 1-A or 1-A-O (available for military service), were called to report for possible induction.

Lottery Numbers, by Birth Date, for Selective Service Lottery Held July 1, 1970.
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 133 335 014 224 179 065 104 326 283 306 243 347
2 195 354 077 216 096 304 322 102 161 191 205 321
3 336 186 207 297 171 135 030 279 183 134 294 110
4 099 094 117 037 240 042 059 300 231 266 039 305
5 033 097 299 124 301 233 287 064 295 166 286 027
6 285 016 296 312 268 153 164 251 021 078 245 198
7 159 025 141 142 029 169 365 263 265 131 072 162
8 116 127 079 267 105 007 106 049 108 045 119 323
9 053 187 278 223 357 352 001 125 313 302 176 114
10 101 046 150 165 146 076 158 359 130 160 063 204
11 144 227 317 178 293 355 174 230 288 084 123 073
12 152 262 024 089 210 051 257 320 314 070 255 019
13 330 013 241 143 353 342 349 058 238 092 272 151
14 071 260 012 202 040 363 156 103 247 115 011 348
15 075 201 157 182 344 276 273 270 291 310 362 087
16 136 334 258 031 175 229 284 329 139 034 197 041
17 054 345 220 264 212 289 341 343 200 290 006 315
18 185 337 319 138 180 214 090 109 333 340 280 208
19 188 331 189 062 155 163 316 083 228 074 252 249
20 211 020 170 118 242 043 120 069 261 196 098 218
21 129 213 246 008 225 113 356 050 068 005 035 181
22 132 271 269 256 199 307 282 250 088 036 253 194
23 048 351 281 292 222 044 172 010 206 339 193 219
24 177 226 203 244 022 236 360 274 237 149 081 002
25 057 325 298 328 026 327 003 364 107 017 023 361
26 140 086 121 137 148 308 047 091 093 184 052 080
27 173 066 254 235 122 055 085 232 338 318 168 239
28 346 234 095 082 009 215 190 248 309 028 324 128
29 277 --- 147 111 061 154 004 032 303 259 100 145
30 112 --- 056 358 209 217 015 167 018 332 067 192
31 060 --- 038 --- 350 ---- 221 275 ---- 311 ---- 126

 

The lottery drawing held August 5, 1971, determined the order in which men born in 1952 were called to report for induction into the military.

How to read this chart: This chart shows all the birth dates in a given year and the lottery numbers assigned to those dates. Read this chart like a multiplication table. At the top of the chart are the months of the year. On the far left are the dates of the month. The numbers in the center represent lottery numbers. For example: To find the lottery number assigned to July 15, look down from "July" till it matches up with the number "15" on the left side of the table. The corresponding number in the middle is "088." This means that all men born on July 15, 1952, were assigned the lottery number 88.

The highest lottery number called for this group was 95; all men assigned that lottery number or any lower number, and who were classified 1-A or 1-A-O (available for military service), were called to report for possible induction.

Results from Lottery for Men Facing the Draft in 1972
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 207 306 364 096 154 274 284 180 302 071 366 038
2 225 028 184 129 261 363 061 326 070 076 190 099
3 246 250 170 262 177 054 103 176 321 144 300 040
4 264 092 283 158 137 187 142 272 032 066 166 001
5 265 233 172 294 041 078 286 063 147 339 211 252
6 242 148 327 297 050 218 185 155 110 006 186 356
7 292 304 149 058 106 288 354 355 042 080 017 141
8 287 208 229 035 216 084 320 157 043 317 260 065
9 338 130 077 289 311 140 022 153 199 254 237 027
10 231 276 360 194 220 226 234 025 046 312 227 362
11 090 351 332 324 107 202 223 034 329 201 244 056
12 228 340 258 165 052 273 169 269 308 257 259 249
13 183 118 173 271 105 047 278 365 094 236 247 204
14 285 064 203 248 267 113 307 309 253 036 316 275
15 325 214 319 222 162 008 088 020 303 075 318 003
16 074 353 347 023 205 068 291 358 243 159 120 128
17 009 198 117 251 270 193 182 295 178 188 298 293
18 051 189 168 139 085 102 131 011 104 134 175 073
19 195 210 053 049 055 044 100 150 255 163 333 019
20 310 086 200 039 119 030 095 115 313 331 125 221
21 206 015 280 342 012 296 067 033 016 282 330 341
22 108 013 345 126 164 059 132 082 145 263 093 156
23 349 116 089 179 197 336 151 143 323 152 181 171
24 337 359 133 021 060 328 004 256 277 212 062 245
25 002 335 219 238 024 213 121 192 224 138 097 135
26 114 136 122 045 026 346 350 348 344 069 209 361
27 072 217 232 124 241 007 235 352 314 098 240 290
28 357 083 215 281 091 057 127 037 005 010 031 174
29 266 305 343 109 081 196 146 279 048 079 230 101
30 268 --- 191 029 301 123 112 334 299 087 014 167
31 239 --- 161 --- 018 ---- 315 111 ---- 160 ---- 322

 

The lottery drawing held February 2, 1972, determined the order in which men born in 1953 were called to report for induction into the military.

How to read this chart: This chart shows all the birth dates in a given year and the lottery numbers assigned to those dates. Read this chart like a multiplication table. At the top of the chart are the months of the year. On the far left are the dates of the month. The numbers in the center represent lottery numbers. For example: To find the lottery number assigned to July 15, look down from "July" till it matches up with the number "15" on the left side of the table. The corresponding number in the middle is "359." This means that all men born on July 15, 1953, were assigned the lottery number 359.

This lottery was conducted for men who would have been called in 1973; however, no new draft orders were issued after 1972.

Results from Lottery for Men Facing the Draft in 1973
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 150 112 203 012 058 015 039 323 219 215 107 170
2 328 278 322 108 275 360 297 027 017 128 214 090
3 042 054 220 104 166 245 109 003 226 103 232 056
4 028 068 047 280 172 207 092 313 356 079 339 250
5 338 096 266 254 292 230 139 063 354 086 223 031
6 036 271 001 088 337 087 132 208 173 041 211 336
7 111 154 002 163 145 251 285 057 144 129 299 267
8 206 347 153 050 201 282 355 131 097 157 312 210
9 197 136 321 234 276 083 179 007 364 116 151 120
10 037 361 331 272 100 178 089 249 217 342 257 073
11 174 026 239 350 307 064 202 125 334 319 159 082
12 126 195 044 023 115 190 340 198 043 171 066 085
13 298 263 244 169 049 318 306 329 229 269 124 335
14 341 348 117 081 224 095 305 205 353 014 237 038
15 221 308 152 343 165 016 359 241 235 277 176 137
16 309 227 094 119 101 032 074 019 225 059 209 187
17 231 046 363 183 273 091 199 008 189 177 284 294
18 072 011 357 242 098 238 121 113 289 192 160 013
19 303 127 358 158 148 052 332 105 228 167 270 168
20 161 106 262 314 274 077 033 162 141 352 301 149
21 099 316 300 004 310 315 005 030 123 288 287 080
22 259 020 317 264 333 146 286 140 268 191 102 188
23 258 247 022 279 216 212 365 302 296 193 320 252
24 062 261 071 362 246 061 324 138 236 256 180 155
25 243 260 065 255 122 143 035 290 291 009 025 006
26 311 051 024 233 118 345 204 076 029 078 344 351
27 110 186 181 265 293 330 060 034 248 325 135 194
28 304 295 045 055 018 053 185 040 070 327 130 156
29 283 --- 021 093 133 075 222 084 196 349 147 175
30 114 --- 213 069 048 142 200 182 184 346 134 281
31 240 --- 326 --- 067 --- 253 218 --- 010 --- 164

 

If and when the Congress and the President reinstate a military draft, the Selective Service System would conduct a National Draft Lottery to determine the order in which young men would be drafted.

The lottery would establish the priority of call based on the birth dates of registrants. The first men drafted would be those turning age 20 during the calendar year of the lottery. For example, if a draft were held in 1998, those men born in 1978 would be considered first. If a young man turns 21 in the year of the draft, he would be in the second priority, in turning 22 he would be in the third priority, and so forth until the year in which he turns 26 at which time he is over the age of liability. Younger men would not be called in that year until men in the 20-25 age group are called.

Because of the enormous impact of this lottery, it would be conducted publicly, with full coverage by the media. Accredited observers from public interest groups will have full access to observe the proceedings.

To make the lottery as fair as possible, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed a unique random calendar and number selection program for Selective Service. Using this random selection method for birthdays, each day of the year is selected by computer in a random manner, and that date is placed in a capsule. The capsules are then loaded in a large drum on a random basis. By the same method, numbers from 1 to 365 (366 for men born in a leap year) are also selected in a random fashion, placed in capsules, and the capsules are placed into a second drum. The process, repeated a second time, results in two sets of drums. Official observers certify that the capsule-filling and drum-loading were conducted according to established procedures. This certification is secured to each drum; they are sealed and placed in secure storage. Should a lottery be conducted, one of the first actions would be an inspection of these stored drums and the selection of a set to be used in the lottery.

Here is how the lottery would work: One capsule is drawn from the drum containing birth dates January 1 through December 31. One capsule is then drawn from the drum containing the sequence numbers from 1 through 365 (366 if the draft will call men born during a leap year) and the date and number are paired to establish the sequence number for each birth date. This is done in full view of all observers, officials, and the media.

For example, if the date of August 4 is drawn first from the "date" drum, and the sequence number of 32 is drawn from the "number's" drum at the same time, then those men turning 20 on August 4 would be ordered for induction processing only after men whose birthdays drew sequence numbers 1 through 31. The drawings continue until all 365 (or 366) birthdays of the year are paired with a sequence number.

After the lottery is completed and results certified, the sequence of call is transmitted to the Selective Service System's Data Management Center. Almost immediately the first induction notices are prepared and sent via mailgram to men whose birth dates drew the lowest lottery numbers.

This system, based on random selection of birth dates, with the order of priority for reporting assigned in a scientifically random manner, is a fair and equitable method of calling men to serve.


 


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