A
Selective Service Local Board is a group of five citizen volunteers
whose mission, upon a draft, will be to decide who among the
registrants in their community will receive deferments, postponements,
or exemption from military service based on the individual
registrant's circumstances and beliefs.
How
Local Board Members are Appointed
Local Board members are appointed by the Director of Selective
Service in the name of the President, on recommendations made
by their respective state governors or an equivalent public
official. If you are interest in serving as a Local
Board member, you may apply online for
an
application package. Some requirements
to be a board member are that they be:
-
U.S.
citizens
-
at
least 18 years old
-
not
a retired or active member of the Armed Forces or any
Reserve component
-
live
in the area in which the board has jurisdiction
-
be
willing to spend enough time at the position.
During
Peacetime
The Board Member program is one of the primary components
of the Selective Service System. Over 11,000 volunteers are
currently trained in Selective Service regulations and procedures
so that if a draft is reinstated, they will be able to fulfill
their obligations fairly and equitably. Board members undergo
an initial 8-hour training session and then participate in
annual training in which they review sample cases similar
to real-life situations.
During
a Draft
Registrants with low lottery numbers will be ordered to report
for a physical, mental, and moral evaluation at a Military
Entrance Processing Station to determine whether they are
fit for military service. Once he is notified of the results
of the evaluation, a registrant will be given 10 days to file
a claim for exemption, postponement, or deferment. At that
time, board members will begin reviewing and deciding the
outcome of the individual registrant's case. They may personally
interview the registrant and persons who know him to gain
a better understanding of his situation. A man may appeal
a Local Board's decision to a Selective Service District Appeal
Board.
|
