Almost
all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S.,
who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective
Service. It's important to know that even though
he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted
into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would
be called in sequence determined by random lottery number
and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental,
physical and moral fitness by the military before being deferred
or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed
Forces.
A
chart of who must register is also
available.
NON-CITIZENS
Some non-citizens are required to register. Others are not.
Noncitizens who are not required to register with Selective
Service include men who are in the U.S. on student or visitor
visas, and men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission
and their families. Almost all other male noncitizens are
required to register, including illegal aliens, legal permanent
residents, and refugees. The general rule is that if a male
noncitizen takes up residency in the U.S. before his 26th
birthday, he must register with Selective Service. For a more
detailed list of which non-citizens must register, see
Who
Must Register - Chart .
DUAL
NATIONALS
Dual nationals of the U.S. and another country are required
to register, regardless of where they live, because they are
U.S. nationals.
See also Aliens and Dual Nationals
- Liability for Service
HOSPITALIZED
OR INCARCERATED MEN
Young men in hospitals, mental institutions or prisons do
not have to register while they are committed. However, they
must register within 30 days after being released if they
have not yet reached their 26th birthday.
DISABLED
MEN
Disabled men who live at home must register with Selective
Service if they can reasonably leave their homes and move
about independently. A friend or relative may help a disabled
man fill out the registration form if he can't do it himself.
Men
with disabilities that would disqualify them from military
service still must register with Selective Service. Selective
Service does not presently have authority to classify men,
so even men with obvious handicaps must register now, and
if needed, classifications would be determined later.
FULL-TIME
MILITARY EXEMPTED FROM REQUIREMENT*
Young men serving in the military on full-time active duty
do not have to register. Those attending the service academies
do not have to register. However, if a young man leaves the military
before turning 26, he must register.
NATIONAL GUARD AND
RESERVES*
Members of the Reserve and National Guard not on full-time
active duty must register.
CONSCIENTIOUS
OBJECTORS
Men who would be classified as Conscientious
Objectors if they were drafted must also register with
Selective Service. If a draft begins and they are called,
they would have the opportunity to file a claim for exemption
from military service based upon their religious or moral
objection to war.
*NOTE: If
a man
failed to register with Selective Service, Section 12(g) of
the Military Selective Service Act allows non-registrants to
receive benefits under specific conditions. As a veteran, or
part-time National Guard or Reservist, the man satisfies
those conditions with his DD Form 214 showing the dates of his
military service, or a current military ID card if still on
active duty or a member of the National Guard and Reserves.
These documents serve as evidence that the man's failure to
register was not knowing and willful. Therefore, men who
served on full-time active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
should not be denied student financial aid, loans, or
grants; vocational training under WIA; government
employment; and security clearances, on the basis of their
failure to register with Selective Service. As long as the
man has proof of his active duty military service, such as
his DD 214, or current military ID card if still on active
duty or a member of the National Guard or Reserves, his
subsequent failure to register should not be a bar to any
benefits or programs, contingent upon registration
compliance, for which he is otherwise qualified.
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