Draft evasion in the Vietnam War
| Draft evasion in the Vietnam War | |
|---|---|
| Part of Opposition to the Vietnam War | |
Five young people sitting and talking intently, Mark Satin (left), director of the Toronto Anti-Draft Programme, counseling American draft evaders, 1967 | |
| Date | 1965–1973 |
| Caused by | Conscription in Australia Conscription in the United States |
| Goals | Avoid military deployment in the Vietnam War |
| Methods |
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| Resulted in | General
Specifics
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Draft evasion in the Vietnam War was a common practice in the United States and in Australia. Significant draft avoidance was taking place even before the United States became heavily involved in the Vietnam War. The large cohort of Baby Boomers and late Silent Generationers allowed for a steep increase in the number of exemptions and deferments, especially for college and graduate students. More than half of the 27 million men eligible for the draft during the Vietnam War were deferred, exempted or disqualified.