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The Military Service Act (Public Law 97-252) was amended so that as of July
1, 1993, any student required to register with Selective Service who fails to do so is ineligible for Federal student financial aid to attend postsecondary school.
Specifically, this includes Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans.
The following information from the Selective Service System provides more
information about this requirement.
WHAT IS THE SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM?
The Selective System is an independant 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 with name, address,
phone number, and other related information about one's self. 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 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 s 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 U.S. and its territories must register within the period starting 30 days before, and ending 30 days after, their 18th birthday.
Parolees, refugees, and applicants for asylum are considered to be residents of the U.S. and therefore must register.
Handicapped men who are able to function in public, with or without assistance,
must register. A friend or relative may help a handicapped man complete the registration form if he is unable to do so himself.
Members of the National Guard and Reserve Forces, not on full-time active duty, must register.
Men cannot register after reaching age 26.
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.
HOW DO YOU REGISTER?
If you are required to register, all you have to do it to visit the nearest U.S. Post
Office, pick up a registration form, complete and sign it, and hand it to a postal clerk. The clerk will check your form against some type of identification, such as
your driver's license. The postal clerk will not give you a receipt; however, you should receive a registration acknowledgment from Selective Service within 90 days.
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.
Please understand that postal clerks and office staffs are not thoroughly familiar
with the details of Selective Service operations and procedures. They are only required to help you fill out the registration form. If you need additional
information, please write or call Selective Service.
You may also register on line by clicking here
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
showing the information recorded in your registration file, your Selective Service number, and a change form. If any of the information on your registration
acknowledgment is incorrect, it is important that you correct it and mail the change 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 within 90 days of the
date you completed your registration form, it is important that you write to the following address or call (708) 688-6888.
SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM
Registration Information Office
Post Office Box 4638
North Suburban, IL 60197-4638
When contacting Selective Service, please provide your full name, date of birth, Social Security Account Number, mailing address, and if possible, the date and place where you completed your registration form.
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 each time you move or if there is any other 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.
If you fail to maintain current information in your registration record, you may be
found to be in violation of the Military Selective Service Act and subject to the penalties discussed.
WHAT IF YOU MOVE?
The law requires that you notify Selective Service each time you have a change of
address.
To notify Selective Service, mail your change of address on the bottom half of the
Registration Acknowledgment sent to you in the mail or on a Selective Change of information Form, SSS Form 2, which you can obtain at any U.S. Post Office, or
U.S. Embassy or Consular 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.
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CATEGORY
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YES
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NO
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All male U.S. citizens
born after December 31, 1959, who are 18 but not yet 26 years old, except as noted below.
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X
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Military-related
Members of the Armed Forces on active duty (active duty for
training does not constitute "active duty" for registration purposes)
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X*
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Cadets and Midshipmen at
Service Academies or Coast Guard Academy
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X
*
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Cadets at the Merchant Marine Academy
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X
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Students in Officer
Procurement Programs at The Citadel, North Georgia College, Norwich University, and Virginia Military Institute
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X
*
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National Guardsmen and Reservists not on active duty
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X
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Delayed Entry Program enlistees
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X
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ROTC students
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X
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Separates from Active
Military Service, separated for any reason before age 26
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X
*
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Men rejected for enlistment for any reason before age 26
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X
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Civil Air Patrol Members
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X
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Aliens **
Lawful non-immigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular
personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with unexpired Forms I-94, I-95A, or Border Crossing Documents I-185, I-186, I-1586, or
I-444)
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X
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Permanent resident aliens
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X
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Special (seasonal) agricultural worked (I-688)
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X
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Special agricultural workers (I-688A)
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X
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Refugee, parolee, and asylee aliens
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X
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Undocumented (illegal) aliens
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X
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Dual national U.S. citizens
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X
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Confined
Incarcerated, or hospitalized or institutionalized for medical
reasons
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X
*
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Handicapped physically or mentally
Able to function in public with or without assistance
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X
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Continually confined to a residence, hospital, or institution
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X
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* Must
register within 30 days of release unless already age 26, or already registered when released, or unless exempt during entire period age 18 through
25.
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**
Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northem 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.
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You may register with the Selective Service on-line by clicking here on the
Selective Service website link.
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