Selective Service Registration
The Selective Service System is tasked with preparing to manage
a military draft if and when Congress and the President so
direct. The Selective Service System has not received such an
order, but will maintain its readiness as required by law.
If and when the Congress and the President reinstate a military
draft, the Selective Service System would conduct a National
Draft Lottery to determine the order in which young men would be
drafted. According to the Selective Service System, almost all male U.S.
citizens regardless of where they live, and male immigrant
aliens residing in the U.S., are required to be registered with
Selective Service if they are at least 18 years old but are not
yet 26 years old. Complete information at the
Selective Service System Web site
Note for Undocumented (Illegal) Aliens
If you are a man ages 18 through 25 and living in the U.S., then
you must register with Selective Service. It's the law. You can
register at any U.S. Post Office and do not need a social
security number. When you do obtain a social security
number, let Selective Service know. Provide a copy of
your new social security number card; being sure to include your
complete name, date of birth, Selective Service registration
number, and current mailing address; and mail to the Selective
Service System, P.O. Box 94636, Palatine, IL 60094-4636.
Be sure to register before your 26th birthday. After that, it's
too late!
Selective Service does not collect any information which would
indicate whether or not you are undocumented.
You want
to protect yourself for future U.S. citizenship and other
government benefits and programs by registering with Selective
Service.
Brief Overview of a Military Draft
Here is a brief overview of what would occur if the United
States returned to a military draft:
1. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT
AUTHORIZE A DRAFT A crisis occurs which
requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply.
Congress passes and the President signs legislation which starts
a draft.
2. THE LOTTERY
A lottery based on
birthdays determines the order in which registered men are
called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a
sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th
birthday falls during that year, followed, if needed, by those
aged 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 18-year-olds and those turning 19
would probably not be drafted.
3. ALL PARTS OF SELECTIVE SERVICE
ARE ACTIVATED The Agency activates and
orders its State Directors and Reserve Forces Officers to report
for duty.
4. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL
EVALUATION OF REGISTRANTS
Registrants with low
lottery numbers are ordered to report for a physical, mental,
and moral evaluation at a Military Entrance Processing Station
to determine whether they are fit for military service. Once he
is notified of the results of the evaluation, a registrant will
be given 10 days to file a claim for exemption, postponement, or
deferment.
5. LOCAL AND APPEAL BOARDS
ACTIVATED AND INDUCTION NOTICES SENT Local and Appeal Boards
will process registrant claims. Those who pass the military
evaluation will receive induction orders. An inductee will have
10 days to report to a local Military Entrance Processing
Station for induction.
6. FIRST DRAFTEES ARE INDUCTED
According to current
plans, Selective Service must deliver the first inductees to the
military within 193 days from the onset of a crisis.
Backdoor Draft
"Backdoor draft" is a term used to suggest the US Military is already
effectively conducting a military draft through Stop-Loss, IRR
(Individual Ready Reserve) activation and reserve activation.
(Stop-Loss is a US Military directive to extend the enlistments
of military personnel deemed critical to unit cohesiveness.) But
such extensions and activations are covered in contracts that
service members sign upon enlistment. The only surprise is that
in this War on Terror the military has actually used these
provisions.
Last Draft
In 1973, the draft ended and the U.S. converted to an
all-volunteer military. According to the Selective Service
System, "the registration requirement was suspended in April
1975. It was resumed again in 1980 by President Carter in
response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Registration
continues today as a hedge against underestimating the number of
servicemen needed in a future crisis."
Future Draft?
It would
be prudent to say the US Military does not want a military
draft, as motivated volunteers are much more desirable
than reluctant conscripts.
Currently,
the US Military is meeting many if not all recruiting goals. Though
the situation in Iraq has prompted some to decide against
joining the military, there are many patriotic Americans who
are deciding to contribute to the War on Terror.
However, a
military draft might be necessary if the US Military is drawn
into a third front (Iraq, Afghanistan, and ?). For example, an
armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula would likely involve large
numbers of American military personnel and a protracted
situation could necessitate a draft.
Additionally,
a "limited" military draft might be necessary if the US Military
has future recruiting difficulties. But this is
unlikely since the military has recruiting inducements
available, including enlistment bonuses, to fill recruiting
shortcomings.
Here at
MilitarySpot.com we love the military, so we are somewhat biased
about military service. We believe that every able-bodied young
American male, and every female who so desires, should serve
their country through military service. See our
Joining the Military page
to see why!
Military Draft
Backdoor Draft
Last Draft