You bellicose old men who never served can 'follow them to the Gates of Hell'

[Sopkoviak]

59. Well, no. Not everybody got a draft notice then.

1st of all not everybody was subject to the draft.

2nd only those who ran out of other deferments would be classified 1A and ordered to report for a pre-induction physical. If that physical was passed you would receive a draft notice.

Greeting, you are hereby ordered to report for induction.

You then reported for an induction physical.

This is when you pulled out all the tricks and tips. Swallow tinfoil, crap your pants, load up on sodium and hope to raise your BP etc. and so forth.

I fooled them all and enlisted in the USAF right out of High School.

The classifications were
Class Categories (1948–1975)
1-A Available for unrestricted military service.
1-A-O Conscientious objector available for noncombatant military service only.
1-C Member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Public Health Service. (Enl.) Enlisted. Member who volunteered for service, (Ind.) Inducted. Member who was conscripted into service, (Dis.) Discharged. Member released after completing service. (Sep.) Separated. Member released before completing service.
1-D Members of a reserve component (Reserves or National Guard), students taking military training (ROTC), or accepted Aviation Cadet applicants (1942–1961).
1-D-D Deferment for certain members of a reserve component or student taking military training.
1-D-E Exemption of certain members of a reserve component or student taking military training.
1-H Registrant Not Subject to Processing for Induction. Registrant is not subject to processing for induction until a draft is enacted. All current registrants are classified 1-H until they reach the age of exemption, when they then receive the classification of 5-A.
1-O Conscientious objector to all military service. A registrant must establish to the satisfaction of the board that his request for exemption from combatant and noncombatant military training and service in the Armed Forces is based upon moral, ethical or religious beliefs which play a significant role in his life and that his objection to participation in war is not confined to a particular war.
1-O-S Conscientious objector to all military service (separated). A registrant separated from the Armed Forces due to objection to participation in both combatant and noncombatant training and service in the Armed Forces. The registrant is still required to serve in alternative service.[59]
1-S (H) Student deferred by statute (High School). Induction can be deferred either until graduation or until reaching the age of 20.
1-S (C) Student deferred by statute (College). Induction can be deferred either to the end of the student's current semester if an undergraduate or until the end of the academic year if a Senior.
1-W Conscientious objector ordered to perform alternative service.
1-Y Registrant available for military service, but qualified only in case of war or national emergency. Usually given to registrants with medical conditions that were limiting but not disabling (examples: high blood pressure, mild muscular or skeletal injuries or disorders, skin disorders, severe allergies, etc.). Class was discontinued in December 1971 and its members were reclassified as 4-F.
2-A Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation (non-agricultural).
2-B Registrant deferred because of occupation in a war industry: (Defense contractor or reserved occupation).
2-C Registrant deferred because of agricultural occupation.
2-D Registrant is a divinity student. Deferment lasted either until graduation or until the registrant reached the age of 24. Exemption was created in December 1971. Previously considered part of Class 4-D.
2-S Registrant deferred because of collegiate study. Deferment lasted either until graduation or until the registrant reached the age of 24. Exemption was discontinued in December 1971.
3-A Registrant deferred because of hardship to dependents.
3-A-S Registrant deferred because of hardship to dependents (Separated). Current serving member or registrant undergoing induction separated from military service due to a change in family status. The registrant's deferment can last no longer than six months, after which they may re-file if the hardship continues to exist.
4-A Registrant who has completed military service.
4-A-A Registrant who has performed military service for a foreign nation.
4-B Official deferred by law.
4-C Alien or dual national.
4-D Minister of religion, formally ordained by a recognized religion, and serving as a full-time minister with a church and congregation.
4-E Conscientious objector opposed to both combatant and noncombatant training and service. Alternative service in lieu of induction may still be required.
4-F Registrant not acceptable for military service. To be eligible for Class 4-F, a registrant must have been found not qualified for service in the Armed Forces by a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) under the established physical, mental, or moral standards. The standards of physical fitness that would be used in a future draft would come from AR 40-501.[60]
4-G Registrant exempted from service because of the death of a parent or sibling while serving in the Armed Forces or whose parent or sibling has Prisoner of War or Missing In Action status.
4-T Treaty Alien.
4-W Registrant or conscientious objector who has completed alternative service in lieu of induction.
5-A Registrant who is over either the age of liability (26) or (where applicable) the previous deferment age of liability (35)