The groups which might be able to avoid conscription should it ever be reintroduced have been revealed, as the potential threat of a Third World War continues to linger.
While some tensions may have been calmed by Donald Trump's speech in Switzerland yesterday (21 January), where he said he doesn't 'want to use force' in acquiring Greenland.
President Trump was consistent in claiming that he will take Greenland 'one way or the other', with several reasons given on why he believes the US needs the autonomous territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The 79-year-old stated: "I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force. All the US is asking for is a place called Greenland. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember."
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While this is good news for the UK and NATO, tensions with Russia are continuing to persist, as Kremlin officials seem all-too-happy to issue worldwide threats.
Many experts have claimed that the British military could be in trouble if it came down to a fully-blown war, with numbers in the Army dropping from around 110,000 in 2010 to about 74,000 today.
In 2025, the government claimed that it was 'not considering' reintroducing conscription, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighting that 'nobody is talking about conscription'.
As tensions continue to rise though, many believe that the UK would be in big trouble if it came down to combat.
Conscription has been implemented twice on these shores before, during both the world wars, so who would be exempt in the event of a military call-up?
Professions
A 2024 YouGov poll revealed that 38 percent of under 40s wouldn't volunteer and even 'refuse to serve if called up' in the event of a war, meaning conscription may be the only option.
People deployed in key industries were exempt from being drafted at the time of both world wars, with clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial workers exempt during the Great War.
By the Second World War, exempt professions included baking, farming, medicine, coal mining and engineering.
Age
It was recently revealed that five groups of people would 'most likely' serve first in the military, and this is the order in which they'd be called up:
- Young, fit men
- Single people with no children
- Women
- Ex-soldiers and reservists
- Older people (people up to the age of 51 were required to serve in the military by the end of WW2)
Conscription in World War II only applied to men aged between 20 and 21 at first, though this would be extended to men aged 18 to 41.
The National Service Act was introduced in 1948, requiring men aged between 17 and 21 to do military service for 18 months before being put on the reserve list for four years.
Service time was put up to two years in 1950 due to the Korean War, but the reserve period was brought down to six months.
Medical conditions
Certain health issues would provide an exemption from being called up, as the British Armed Forces currently doesn't allow those suffering from hearing or vision problems to enlist.
In addition, neurological conditions, severe skin problems, as well as psychiatric and cardiovascular issues, could be enough for someone to be exempt from being on the front line.
People with bone or joint problems, shoulder problems, or those with a history of bone fractures, could also be allowed to stay home.
However, it's worth noting that Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, has said he 'cannot see conscription returning in the short term' and there were 'no plans' to bring it in, but warned that 'the situation in the world may deteriorate very significantly'.
Joshua Nair