NEW SELECTIVE SERVICE REGULATIONS RELEASED June 5, 1945
Emphasizing that the needs of the armed forces are f#r men under 30
years of age, National Headquarters of Selective Service has announced
that local boards are being requested to liberalize #ccupational de
ferments so as to reduce the total number of men t# be inducted in the
30 through 37 year old group —particularly those who are fathers—and
to review cases of registrants in the age group 18 through 25 who have
heretofore been rejected for general military service or found qualified
for limited service only, and forward for reexaminationtthose whom i
they have reason to believe may qualify for military service.
The five main points covered in the local board memorandum are:
(1) Need of the armed forces for young men.
(2) Review by local boards of cases of IV F and limited service
registrants 18 through 25, and forwarding for reexamination those who
there is reason to believe may now be qualified for military service.
(3) Liberalization of deferment policies for men over 30 especially
for those who are engaged in work \xseful to the community*
(4) The fact that cutbacks in war plants will make older men avail
able for war production jobs, thereby enabling the release of younger
-ten now occupationally deferred for military arervice; and also that
ischarfeed veterans will be available in increasing numbers to replace
the younger men now holding occupational deferments, and
(5) The 42A (Special Revised) procedure will remain in full effect
pending receipt of more accurate information concerning the urgency of
certain war production programs and services#
Thecases of all registrants 30 through 37 who are now in Class I-A
or in the conscientious objector classes are to be reviewed by the
local boards and those registrants found to be qualified for occupation
al deferment under the new more liberal policies will be reclassified
even though an order to report for induction has been issued*
"Local boards," states the memorandum,"have full authority to de
termine what may be considered In the national health, safety or i
Interest," The War Manpower Commission’s list of essential activities
Is to be used as a guide, but local boards were instructed that they
"are not In any way restricted or limited bv the list. Local Boards In
considering the occupational deferment of a father, age 30 through
37, should weigh the case with sympathetic consideration." the memor
andum says,
"Among other things, the local boards in classifying a father should
consider the co?t to the Government under the Servicemen's Dependents
Allowance Act which would result in the event such father is inducted
into the armed forces; also the fact that the War Department has an
nounced its demobilization p&licies and is crediting a father of three
children ,with 36 points, which is the equivalent of 36 months of active
•ervice in the armed forces.
Officials at National Headquarters pointed out that occupational
deferments have been granted in the national interest find for the pur
pose of giving employers an opportunity to train replacements and that
except for men having highly specialized training employers have had
more than four years in which,to train replacements for their younger
men#
All of the changes in the regulations which may be necessary, states
the memorandum,"cannot be made until more accurate information is avail
able concerning the urgency of ..certain war production programs and
services#" However, there will soon be a revision of procedure and re
vised regulations that will further restrict granting of occupation de
ferments for men in the 18 through 29 year old group#
(Taken from recent NEWS RELEASE) John L. McCormick
T\4