Hershey Telegram to Draft Boards

Following is the text of the statement by Lieutenant General Lewis B. Hershey, Selective Service Director, to all local draft boards:

Under advice received today from the National Security Council with respect to occupational deferments, the list of essential activities and critical occupations are suspended, leaving local boards with discretion to grant in individual cases occupational deferments based on a showing of essential community need.

With respect to graduate school deferments, the National Security Council advises that it is not essential for the maintenance of the national health, safety, and interest to provide student deferments for graduate study in fields other than medicine, dentistry, and allied medical specialties ["allied specialties" are veterinary medicines, osteopathy, optometry], except that this recommendation does not affect existing regulations governing deferments for graduate students who entered their second or subsequent year of graduate school last fall.

The sequence of selection in filling calls still remains unchanged. A change in the order of call is not justified at this time. Fairness and equity to all men in the eligible age groups as well as the interest of the nation require that this long-standing practice be maintained.