How many do not sign up for the Selective Service when it's the law?

TSgt Scott Hurley — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 16:42:14 -0500

Recently I have come across individuals that have not signed up for Selective Service. They were both surprised when I informed them it was the law. It seems to me that they were never informed that they had to sign up when they turned 18 and one of them I gave the site where they can go to sign up because of the course we are taking can get him a government job. This seems to be a problem today?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2016 5:25 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 17:25:13 -0500

I blame it on "stupid"...why it's not mentioned during a civics class I won't understand. They're supposed to do it within 30 days of turning 18...but can up until they turn 26.

https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration

According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service can accept a late registration but not after a man has reached his 26th birthday.
Some men may have failed to register during the time they were eligible to do so and may now find they are ineligible for certain benefits:
federal student loans and grant programs
federal job training under the Workforce Investment Act
federal jobs or security clearance as a contractor
U.S. citizenship for immigrants

Response by PO3 Michael James made Feb 8 at 2016 6:46 PM

PO3 Michael James — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 18:46:16 -0500

Actually, I still have my 4-A card with my selective service number in my wallet.. dated Jan. 1972, its beat-up.. but hey, its pretty cool..

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 8 at 2016 9:47 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 21:47:23 -0500

TSgt Scott Hurley They would have found out pretty quickly when they applied for government school loans or grants.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2016 10:48 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 22:48:42 -0500

Weird, I was informed of it when I went to get my driver's license and they had a pre-registry thing where you could fill it out but wouldn't go into effect until later.

Response by SrA Jason Stiefer made Feb 9 at 2016 6:14 AM

SrA Jason Stiefer — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 06:14:00 -0500

When I was younger I remember the commercials too. I never registered either, instead I joined the Air Force.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Feb 9 at 2016 7:19 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 07:19:31 -0500

Shoot, I was on the DEP waiting to leave for basic training and I still did my selective service stuff. Doesn't surprise me that there are people who don't know though. I don't remember ever really being told about it in school at all. I knew about it from my parents and others that I had talked to. I wouldn't be shocked at all though to find out people I know hadn't done it, in fact out of the men in my high school class (of which I think there were 9 or 10 of us) I can think of one or two other than myself that probably did it on time. The rest I'm not so sure on.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 9:10 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:10:06 -0500

My senior year of HS, we had to take a US Government class. In that class, towards the end of the year, they passed out the registration cards and walked through the steps on how to fill it out for all of the males 18+. It took maybe 5-10 minutes max of class time and I don't recall any guy opting not to do it - it just seemed like a normal part of being 18 and "growing up".

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 9 at 2016 9:28 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:28:28 -0500

Honestly, I never did either. I went to boot camp at 17, never had to...

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Feb 9 at 2016 11:17 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:17:39 -0500

At one time it may have seemed more like the 'thing to do' than nowadays. When I was 18 I recall getting to the SS office as soon as I could to register, feeling it was somehow my duty or obligation to do so. There was still a draft at the time.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 9 at 2016 12:41 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:41:11 -0500

I worked with a young man last summer who claimed that he had not registered. I told him that it was the law for all 18 year old men to register and necessary for financial aid and government jobs. He laughed. I recall that I registered at the local post office on my 18th birthday. I received notification that I was off the roles for the draft while I was in Platoon 1064 at MCRD Parris Island. I was a bit older than most of the 72 recruits but there was 2 older men in my platoon.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Feb 9 at 2016 12:53 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:53:50 -0500

I remember initially failing to sign up because I thought that I did not need to because I was already serving...I was wrong and got it corrected when I did find out.