Five careers could potentially exempt you from being drafted if World War III ever breaks out.
As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate - despite a ceasefire being announced - and with Russia’s increasing military aggression, the fear of a potential World War III is no longer relegated to the realm of fiction.
In fact, on Thursday, Trump was asked directly whether he considered Putin an enemy and if he believed the Russian leader had broader territorial ambitions. To which, the POTUS responded, per The Independent: “It’s possible. I consider him a person who I think is misguided.”
However, Trump did add that Putin was eager to resolve the conflict, stating: “He would like to get out of this thing. It’s a mess for him.”
Trump's comments came during the NATO summit in the Netherlands, where NATO leaders endorsed a significant increase in defense spending.
Experts - as well as the public - fear that the global climate is shifting dangerously close to full-scale conflict, which could mean that military conscription could once again become a reality.
But should a draft be reinstated in the US or UK, some careers might save you from being called to the front lines.
While the United States' Selective Service System does not currently provide blanket job exemptions from the draft, professionals in certain critical fields may avoid combat roles due to the essential nature of their work.
According to The Mirror, these include healthcare workers, educators, engineers, utility workers in key infrastructure, and ministers.
Individuals who can prove religious or moral opposition to war may be assigned non-military roles or alternative service, a process that echoes the tribunals used during World War II.
In Britain, for example, such conscientious objectors provided support through civil roles rather than military engagement.
The UK Parliament's historical records show that conscription began even before open conflict during WWII.
In May 1939, single men aged 20 to 22 were mandated to complete six months of training under the Military Training Act.
When war was officially declared on September 3, the National Service Act expanded that requirement to all men aged 18 to 41, with later amendments calling up women and even men as old as 60.
Those in critical industries such as medicine, farming, baking, and engineering were excused from direct service.
“There were not enough men volunteering for police and civilian defense work, or women for the auxiliary units of the armed forces,” one parliamentary account noted.
Afghanistan veteran and UK MP Mike Martin believes the possibility of war with Russia is very real.
“Obviously, if we get involved in a general war with Russia, we'll be conscripting the population - there's no question about that,” he said. “Being prepared generates deterrence, which decreases the likelihood [of war].”
Martin added: “The whole point about building the military up is it decreases the likelihood of this happening. I think that's an important caveat. I've fought in wars, I'm not a warmonger. But I recognise that you've got to [pursue] peace through strength.”
Martin’s warning comes just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the mass production of hypersonic Oreshnik missiles, boasting a strike range of over 3,400 miles.
These weapons, capable of reaching parts of the US and Europe, were previously used during Russia’s 2024 assault on Ukraine.
Putin claimed the missiles were “impossible to intercept,” comparing their destructive power to that of nuclear arms.
Despite skepticism from Western analysts, who note that the warheads remain experimental, the move has rattled global defense communities, particularly with Russia’s plans to deploy the missiles to Belarus, directly bordering NATO allies.