"You Can Handle This?"

Menstuff® has compiled the following information and Q&As on the mandatory Selective Service sign-up program for 18-25 year old boys/men in the U.S.

NOTE: This information is provided strictly as a service and may be updated or changed by the Selective Service System without our knowledge. Therefore, it is your responsibility to use this as information only and to clarify all information with the Selective Service System, when appropriate!

Know the Facts
Who Must Register

Will I Be Drafted
What Happens If I Don't Register?
What are the Benefits?
How Your Register
After Your Register...
Need More Information?

Related Issues: Can You Handle It?, Land Minds, POWs, War

Know the Facts

What is Selective Service Registration? Registration is the process by which the U.S. government collects names and addresses of men age 18 through 25 to use in case a national emergency requires rapid expansion of the Armed Forces. Men should register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Men who are 26 years old and older are too old to register.

Who Must Register

With few exceptions, all male U.S. citizens and male immigrant aliens residing in the U.S. and its territories must register if they are 18 through 25. Refer to the chart for specifics.

Will I Be Drafted

Registering with Selective Service does not mean you are joining the military. (See the chart for "Who Must Register") The fact that a man is required to register does not mean that he will be drafted. No one has been drafted since 1973. No one can be drafted into the military unless ordered by Congress and the President. A draft would most likely occur only in the event of war or national emergency.

What Happens If I Don't Register?

Not registering is a felony. Young men convicted of failure to register may be fined up to $250,000, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. In addition to being subject to prosecution, failure to register may cause you to permanently forfeit eligibility for certain benefits.

What are the Benefits?

Federal and many state laws require registration-age men to be registered with Selective Service to remain eligible for applying for the following benefits: student financial aid, government employment, employment with the U.S. Postal Service, job training and U.S. citizenship for male immigrants.

How Your Register

Save a Stamp, Save Time, Register On-Line. A quicker way to register is on-line through the Internet at the Selective Service System web site (http://www.sss.gov). If you cannot register on-line, then follow the instructions listed below and fill out and mail the attached card.

Complete the Registration Card that is available at a U.S. Postal Service office putting your information in BLACK INK and CAPITAL  LETTERS ONLY. Then tear off card, add postage, and mail.

Note: If you're concerned about privacy of personal data, you may mail this card to Selective Service in an envelope. Please apply proper first class postage.

After Your Register...

Watch your mail. Within 90 days after registering you should receive in the mail a Registration Acknowledgment Card from Selective Service which will provide you with a copy of your registration record. Safeguard that document since it will serve as official proof of your registration. If you do not receive a Registration Acknowledgment Card within 90 days after registering, it is very important that you verify that your registration has been received. Verify or check your registration on-line (http//www.sss.gov) or call 888.655.1825, or write to: Selective Service System, Registration Information Office, PO Box 94638, Palatine, IL 60094-4638.

Keep Selective Service Informed of Changes. Once you register, the law also requires you to keep Selective Service informed of your address changes within 10 days so you can be reached without delay. You can inform Selective Service of an address chance by going to www.sss.gov, writing to the address above, or you may go to any post office for a Change-of-Information form (SSS Form 2), fill it out and mail to Selective Service.

Need More Information?

Selective Service System has two booklets available for additional information. The "Information for Registrants" booklet explains the induction, claims, and appeals process that would be in effect if inductions were authorized in the future. The "Selective Service and You" booklet provides information about Selective Service and your registration responsibilities. These publications are available on the SSS web site (http://www.sss.gov)

Selective Service System, PO Box 94739, Palatine, IL 60094-4739 or www.sss.gov

Source: Selective Service System Form 1M (Feb 02) OMB Approval 3240-0002  


Who's Eligible?

Category
Yes
No

All male U.S. citizens born after 12/31/59, who are 18 but not yet 26 years old, except as noted below:

Y

.

Military-related. Members of the Armed Forces on active duty (active duty for training does not constitute "active duty" for registration purposes)

.

N*

Cadets and Midshipmen at Service Academies or Coast Guard Academy

.

N*

Cadets at the Merchant Marine Academy

Y

.

Students in Office Procurement Programs at The Citadel, North Georgia College and State University, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

.

N*

National Guardsmen and Reservists not on active duty.

Y

.

Delayed Entry Program enlistees

Y

.

ROTC students

Y

.

Separatees from Active Military Service, separated for any reason before age 26.

Y*

.

Men rejected from Active Military Service, separated for any reason before age 26

Y

.

Civil Air Patrol members

Y

.

Aliens** Lawful nonimmigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with unexpired Forms I-94, I-95A, or Border Crossing Documents I-185, I-186, I-586 or I-444.)

.

N

Permanent resident aliens

Y

.

Special (seasonal) agricultural workers (I-688)

Y

.

Special (seasonal) agricultural workers (I-688A)

.

N

Refugee, parolees and asylee aliens

Y

.

Undocumented (illegal) aliens

Y

.

Dual national U.S. citizens

Y

.

Confined: Incarcerated or hospitalized or institutionalized for medical reasons

.

N*

Handicapped physically or mentally: Able to function in public with or without assistance

Y

.

Continually confined to a residence, hospital, or institution

.

N
* Must register within 30 days of release unless already age 26 or already registered when released, or unless exempt during entire period age 18 through 25.

** Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. citizens. Citizens of American Samoa are nationals and must register when they are habitual residents in the United States. Habitual residence is presumed whenever a national or a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Federated States of Micronesia resides in the United States for more than one year in any status, except as a student or employee of the government of his homeland.

Note: Immigrants who did not enter the United States or maintained their lawful non-immigrant status b continually remaining on a valid visa until after they were 26 years old were never required to register. Also, immigrants born before 1960 who did not enter the United States or maintained their lawful non-immigrant status by continually remaining on a valid visa until after March 29, 1975 were never required to register.

*    *    *


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