Washington,
July 11, 2001ÒAlmost
exactly one month from the minute David Edmond Lucitt
of Haymarket, Va., used his home computer to register
on-line with the Selective Service System (SSS), he
was standing in front of the U.S. Capitol being honored
by members of the Congress. On June 11, 2001, the
18-year-old home-schooled Eagle Scout candidate became
the millionth man to register with SSS via the Internet.
The Agency had inaugurated the on-line registration
program in December 1998, and the number of men choosing
to register by computer has grown steadily since,
with more than 52,000 men registering by that method
in June. Lucitt seemed nearly overwhelmed by the attention
he was receiving, simply for doing what every man
has to do when he reaches age 18.
Hosted by Selective Service Director Alfred Rascon,
Lucitt had a morning meeting at the Pentagon with
General Henry Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. In the afternoon at the U.S. Capitol, Lucitt
was honored by Virginia Sen. John Warner and Virginia
Rep. Frank Wolf. He received a commemorative plaque
from Director Rascon, and signed a large version of
his Registration Acknowledgment Card, measuring 2
X 5 feet. This "world's largest Registration Acknowledgment
Card is ordinarily a wallet-sized "proof of registration"
card that each new registered man receives in the
mail.
Lucitt plans to attend college in Fall 2002. Like
thousands of young men every day, Lucitt simply logged
onto the Selective Service web site at www.sss.gov,
keyed in some basic information, and instantly received
his Selective Service registration number. Men can
also register at any local post office by completing
a registration card, or they may fill out and return
a card they may get in the mail. Currently, Internet
registration is the easiest and fastest method for
young men to register. In addition to the Internet
registrations, almost 30,000 other registrations arrive
at the Selective Service Data Management Center in
Illinois every week.
Federal law requires virtually all men to register
with Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18.
All U.S. male citizens, no matter where they reside,
as well as male non-citizens residing in the U.S.,
are required to register. Although late registrations
are accepted, a man cannot register once he reaches
age 26. Moreover, Selective Service registration is
linked to many benefits such as eligibility for federal
student loans and grants, training programs under
the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), federal jobs in
the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, and jobs
with the U.S. Postal Service. More than half of the
states have enacted legislation that links benefits
such as state tuition assistance and eligibility for
state jobs to registration. Also, 11 states have enacted
legislation connecting Selective Service registration
with a man's application for a driver's license. Additionally,
male immigrants who are in the U.S. when they are
18 through 25 years old may be denied U.S. citizenship
if they fail to register.
Millions of young men have registered since registration
was reinstituted in 1980, but none has been drafted.
By having the names and addresses of men 18 through
25 years old on file with the SSS, America remains
ready to face any threat. The SSS estimates that currently
88 percent are registered. The last draft ended in
1973.
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CONTACT:
Alyce Teel-Burton - (703) 605-4100
