University of Virginia Library

Strong Desire

At this time, there was a strong
desire on the part of Congress and
the people in general, to end forced
conscription. Selective Service did
not induct men after April 1946
and the most expensive and
appealing recruiting campaign this
country had ever been witness to
was undertaken.

The campaign was received
enthusiastically be everyone except
the young man who was to consider
the Army for his career. In spite of
new uniforms, and promises to do
away with time worn and
meaningless traditions, in spite of
financial benefits for former service
people, the Army found that it
could not maintain its desired
peacetime manpower quota of 1.5
million, and the Selective Service
function was put back into use in
1949.