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"In simpler language, captain – they drafted me!"
– Leonard McCoy, 2270s (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

Conscription, or being drafted, was the act of forcing someone to enlist in a military, often without their consent.

A newspaper article published in 1930 quoted American motorists without license plates as saying "I'm going to be drafted next month and don't want to spend $15 or $20." (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")

In reality, no draft existed in the United States between 1918 and 1940.

Starfleet regulation 13982 allowed a Starfleet captain to conscript almost any person into service during a time of war. The mirror Gabriel Lorca, pretending to be the prime Lorca, cited this regulation when bringing convicted mutineer Michael Burnham onto the USS Discovery in 2256. (DIS: "Choose Your Pain")

In the 2270s, an upset Doctor Leonard McCoy protested his reinstatement under the reserve activation clause, clarifying "in simpler language, Captain, they drafted me!" (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

In 2373, Neelix asked Kathryn Janeway's permission to accompany a rescue team that was trying to locate Kes, giving his combat training and willingness to make the mission a success as reasons why he ought to go. She agreed, saying "Consider yourself drafted." (VOY: "Warlord")

In 2374, the Vori Defense Contingent actively maintained dozens of training facilities that were used to conscript their own people, as well as any aliens they were able to capture, to assist in their war with the Kradin. (VOY: "Nemesis")

Later that year, the N'Kree tried to conscript the Silver Blood USS Voyager into their battle fleet, but failed in their effort. (VOY: "Course: Oblivion")

Janeway later quipped, "I get the feeling I'm about to be drafted." when Lieutenant Ducane told of the need to correct Seven of Nine's temporal incursions. (VOY: "Relativity")

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