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I enlisted when I was 17.

As luck would have it in 1969, when the 1st draft lottery took place, my birthday was the 1st one picked.

I got out on Sept 12 1969, 2 days before I turned 21

By law you have to be released one day before you turn 21, unless you have bad time to make up.

Had I not already served, I would have been drafted at 21.

PS I also had to register with Selective Service after I had gotten out since I was 17 when I enlisted.

My Navy recruiter set my enlistment for active duty to start Sept 13, one day before I turned 18

I then spent 13 weeks at Great Lakes wondering what I did to be there. LOL

December 1, 1969 marked the date of the first draft lottery held since 1942.

Sept. 14 'Wins' Draft Lottery

June 8 Brings Up The Rear;
850,000 Affected by Drawing

By Mike Miller

WASHINGTON -- The Selective Service System today was notifying the nation's 4,000 draft boards to arrange their files of draft eligible young men for 1970 with those born Sept. 14 at the top of the heap to be called up first.

http://www.donnan.com/draft_lottery.htm