SELECTIVE SERVICE AND YOU
This booklet is
designed to provide you with basic information and guidelines
on the Selective Service System, the registration requirement,
and other related facts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What
is The Selective Service System?
What
is the Selective Service Registration?
Who Must Register?
Who
is Exempt From Registration?
What Are the
Benefits?
How Do You Register?
What
Happens After You Complete a Registration Form?
Is Your Record
Current?
What If You Move?
Will There
Be a Draft?
Who
Would Be Selected For Induction?
How
Would You File a Claim for Postponement or Reclassification?
How
to Obtain Additional Information?
Who Must Register
Chart?
What is
The Selective Service System?
The
Selective Service System is an independent agency within the
Executive Branch of the Federal Government. The Director of
Selective Service is appointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate. Selective Service is not a part of the Department
of Defense.
The
Federal law under which the agency operates is the Military
Selective Service Act. Under this law, the mission of the
Selective Service System is to provide the numbers of men
needed by the Armed Forces, within the time required, should
Congress and the President decide to return to a draft, in
the event of a national emergency. Selective Service would
also be responsible for administering a program of alternative
service for conscientious objectors.
What
is Selective Service Registration?
Registration
is the process of providing the Selective Service System with
personal information, such as name, address, date of birth,
Social Security Account Number and other related information.
It is a civic and legal responsibility. Even though, no one
is currently being drafted, men are required to register with
Selective Service as soon as they reach age 18.
Registering
with Selective Service does not mean that you
are joining the military.
Registration
provides our country with a means to develop and maintain
an accurate list of names and addresses of men who might be
called upon if a return to the draft is authorized.
Failure
to register or otherwise comply with the Military Selective
Service Act is upon conviction, punishable by a fine of up
to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. In
addition, federal and certain state laws require registration
as a prerequisite for obtaining student financial aid, job
training, government employment, and U.S. naturalization.
Who
Must Register?
With
few exceptions, all male United States citizens and male aliens
residing in the United States and its territories must register
within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
Parolees,
refugees, and applicants for asylum are considered to be residents
of the United States and therefore must register within 30
days of their 18th birthday.
Disabled
men who are able to function in public, with or without assistance,
must register. A friend or relative may help a disabled man
complete the registration form if he is unable to do so himself.
Men
cannot register after reaching age 26
For
further information on who must register, refer to the "Who
Must Register" chart on the inside back cover of this
pamphlet.
Who
Is Exempt From Registration?
The
law exempts certain persons from the requirement to register:
Females
Lawfully
admitted non-immigrant aliens (such as those men on visitor
or student visas and members of diplomatic or trade missions
and their families) because they are residing in this country
temporarily.
Men
who are unable to register due to circumstances beyond their
control, such as being hospitalized, institutionalized, or
incarcerated. However, they must register within 30 days after
their release.
Members
of the Armed Forces on full-time active duty. This exemption
also applies to cadets and midshipmen at the United
States
service academies. However, upon release from active duty,
a man must register within 30 days if he is not yet 26 years
of age and has not already registered.
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
Do You Register?
There
are several ways a young man can register with the Selective
Service System:
Registration
On-Line
Young
men can now register with Selective Service using the Internet.
With access to the Internet, any young man can register by
clicking on the " Register On Line Now" icon at the Selective
Service web site (www.sss.gov).
He then enters in some basic information and within seconds,
hell receive his Selective Service Number. Within about
two weeks, he will receive an Registration Acknowledgment
Card in the mail.
Verification
On-Line
Since
Selective Service registration is required for student financial
aid, job training, or government employment, officials administering
these programs can now verify a young mans registration
by simply clicking on the "Check a Registration"
icon at Selective Service home page (www.sss.gov).
The
U.S. Post Office
You
can visit the nearest U.S. Post Office, pick up a Registration
Form, SSS Form 1M(UPO), complete and sign it, and mail it.
Registration
forms should be on the counter in the post office. If they
are not, ask a postal clerk for a Selective Service Registration
Form, SSS Form 1M(UPO). You are responsible for placing a
stamp on the completed registration form and mail it.
You
should receive a Registration Acknowledgment Card from Selective
Service within 90 days.
U.S.
Embassy or Consulate
If
you are a U.S. citizen living or visiting overseas at the
time you are required to register, go to the nearest U.S.
Embassy or Consular office where personnel will assist you
in registering. You can also register On-Line at the Selective
Service web site (www.sss.gov).
What
Happens After You Complete a Registration Form?
You
are not officially registered until your registration information
is entered into the Selective Service registration file and
you have been assigned a Selective Service Number.
You
will then receive in the mail a Registration Acknowledgment
Card showing the information recorded in your registration
file, your Selective Service Number, and a Change of Information
Form. If any of the information on your Registration Acknowledgment
Card is incorrect, it is important that you correct it and
mail the Change of Information Form back to Selective Service.
You should keep the registration acknowledgment in a safe
place as proof of your registration.
If
you do not receive your Registration Acknowledgment Card within
90 days of the date you completed your registration form,
it is important that you write to the following address or
call (847) 688-6888.
Selective
Service System
Registration Information Office
Post Office Box 94638
Palatine, IL 60064-4638
When
contacting Selective Service, please provide your full name,
date of birth, Social Security Account Number, and mailing
address.
Is
Your Record Current?
The
law requires that you keep the information in your registration
record up to date. It is important that you notify Selective
Service within 10 days if there is any change to the information
in your registration record. This applies only to men ages
18 through 25.
After
you reach age 26, there is no requirement to update your registration
record.
To
notify Selective Service, mark your change(s) on the Change
Information Form attached to the Registration Acknowledgment
Card and mail it to Selective Service, or complete a Change
of Information Form, SSS Form 2, which you can obtain at any
U.S. Post Office or U.S. Embassy or Consulate office.
You
may also notify Selective Service of any change by letter,
but be sure to include your full name, Social Security Account
Number, Selective Service Number, and date of birth, as well
as your new mailing address.
If
you fail to maintain current information in your registration
record, you may be found in violation of the Military Selective
Service Act and subject to the penalties discussed on page
2.
What
If You Move?
The
law requires that you notify Selective Service within 10 days
each time you have a change of address.
To
notify Selective Service, mark your change(s) on the Change
Information Form attached to the Registration Acknowledgment
Card and mail it to Selective Service, or complete a Change
of Information Form, SSS Form 2, which you can obtain at any
U.S. Post Office or U.S. Embassy or Consulate office.
You
may also notify Selective Service of any change by letter,
but be sure to include your full name, Social Security Account
Number, Selective Service Number, and date of birth, as well
as your new mailing address.
Will
There Be A Draft?
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 ordered for induction by Selective Service unless
Congress and the President determine that inductions are necessary.
This would most likely occur only in the event of war or a
national emergency.
Who
Would Be Selected For Induction?
Men
who will reach age 20 during the calendar year in which inductions
occur would be the first group to be called. If more men are
needed that year, after all men turning 20 are considered,
the order of call would continue up to those who will reach
age 21, then 22, and on up through age 25. The order of inductions
within each age group would he determined by a lottery which
matches a random sequence number with birth dates.
If
you were selected for induction you would be sent an "Order
to Report for Induction" along with detailed instructions
explaining where to report and what actions would be required
on your part to fulfill this requirement. However, if you
file a claim for postponement or reclassification the induction
will be delayed until a decision is made on whether the claim
is accepted or denied. Some examples of the requirements to
obtain a postponement or a reclassification are as follows:
Postponements:
For
full-time college students who desire to finish their
current semester.
For
full-time college students in their last academic year
who desire to finish that academic year.
For
high school students not yet 20 years old who desire to
stay in school until they graduate.
Reclassifications:
For
men whose induction would create a hardship to their dependents.
For
students studying for the ministry.
For
ministers of religion.
For
Conscientious Objectors. Those who hold deep religious,
moral, or ethical beliefs against participation in war.
If the objection is to participate in combat military
service only, one would be inducted to perform only non-combat
military service; if the objection is to participate in
all military service, in lieu of induction one would be
ordered to perform civilian work contributing to the maintenance
of the national health, safety, or interest as determined
by the Director of Selective Service.
How
Would You File a Claim For Postponement or Reclassification?
Upon
being found qualified for military service after an Armed
Forces Examination, and prior to your induction into the Armed
Forces, you will be given an opportunity to submit a claim
other than 1-A (available for unrestricted military service)
to the Area Office providing administrative support to your
Local Board of Assignment. If you request a postponement of
your induction, the request must be made in writing to your
Area Office before the date you are scheduled to report. The
request may be made utilizing the SSS Form 262P (Request for
Postponement of Induction), sent with the Induction Order,
or by letter.
How
To Obtain Additional Information?
For
additional information on Selective Service registration,
visit the SSS web site (www.sss.gov),
call (847) 688-6888, or write to:
Selective Service System
Registration Information Office
P.O. Box 94638
Palatine, IL 60094-4638
WHO
MUST REGISTER CHART?
With
only a few exceptions, the registration requirement applies
to all male U.S. citizens and male aliens residing in the
United States who are 18 through 25 years of age.
Category
|
YES
|
NO
|
All male
U.S. citizens born after December 31, 1959, who are 18 but
not yet 26 years old, except as noted below: |
X
|
|
Military Related
|
|
|
Members
of the Armed Forces on active duty (active duty for
training does not constitute “active duty” for
registration purposes) |
|
X*
|
Cadets
and Midshipmen at Service Academies or Coast Guard Academy |
|
X*
|
Cadets at
the Merchant Marine Academy |
X
|
|
Students
in Officer Procurement Programs at the Citadel, North
Georgia College and State University, Norwich University,
Virginia Military Institute, Texas A&M University,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
|
X*
|
National Guardsmen and
Reservists not on active duty |
X |
|
Delayed
Entry Program enlistees |
X
|
|
ROTC
Students |
X |
|
Separatees from Active Military Service, separated for any
reason before age 26 |
X*
|
|
Men
rejected for enlistment for any reason before age 26 |
X
|
|
Civil Air
Patrol members |
X
|
|
Aliens**
|
|
|
Lawful
non-immigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular
personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with
unexpired Form I-94, or Border Crossing Document DSP-150) |
|
X
|
Permanent
resident aliens (USCIS Form I-551) |
X
|
|
Special
agricultural workers |
X
|
|
Seasonal
agricultural workers (H-2A Visa) |
|
X
|
Refugee,
parolee, and asylee aliens |
X
|
|
Undocumented (illegal) aliens |
X
|
|
Dual
national U.S. citizens |
X
|
|
Confined
|
|
|
Incarcerated, or hospitalized or institutionalized for
medical reasons |
|
X*
|
Handicapped physically or mentally
|
|
|
Able to
function in public with or without assistance |
X
|
|
Continually confined to a residence, hospital, or
institution |
|
X
|
*Must register within 30 days
of release unless already age 26.
NOTE: To be fully exempt you must have been on
active duty or confined continuously from age 18 to 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 by 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.
Last Updated February 7, 2013
©2013 Selective Service System
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