Officials: Don’t forget Selective Service

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, June 13, 2018

For the young men who may not know, registration for the Selective Service is the law and is important, and officials remind young men to do so.

Virtually all male U.S. citizens regardless of where they live and male immigrants whether documented or undocumented residing the U.S. who are 18 through 25 are required to register with the selective service.

Matthew Tittman said, “Men are required to register with selective service sometime during the 30 days before their 18th birthday, on their 18th birthday and the following 29 days after their 18 birthday that is a 60-day registration period.”

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Men who does not register within the 60 days are in violation of the law and should register as soon as possible. Late registrations are accepted up to the 26th birthday. However, once a man reaches his 26th birthday and still has not registered it is too late.

“Registering with the selective service does not mean you are joining the military,” Tittman said.

In a national defense emergency, men could be called in a sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. 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.

The reasons to register:

• A man’s only duty right now under the Military Selective Service is to register at age 18 and let the service know within ten days any changes in the information he provided on his registration form until he turns 26 years old.

• By registering all eligible men, selective service ensures a fair and equitable draft if required. However, there has not been a draft since 1973.

• It’s your responsibility to ensure that young men 18 through 25 understand the law so they can make an informed decision about registration. Currently more than 90 percent of eligible young men are registered.

• By registering, a young man stays eligible for jobs, college loans, grants, job training, driver license in most states and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men.

Additionally, locals are looking to fill a vacancy on the selective service board. A local board is a group of five citizens volunteers whose mission, upon draft to decide who among the registers will receive deferments, postponements or exemption from military service.

For more information email erik.dofelmier@sss.gov.