REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES MILITARY SERVICES

WHAT IS MILITARY REGISTRATION?

—> Selective Service registration is the process by which the U.S. government collects names and address of males who are between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-five (25) years of age. If there should be a national emergency, which requires rapid expansion of the Armed Forces, it is that list that would be used to call upon men to serve in the military.

WHO MUST REGISTER?

—> All male United States citizens and mae immigrant aliens residing in the United States and its territories must register if they are eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25) years of age. All male citizens and male immigrant aliens residing in the U.S. must register within thirty (30) days of their eighteenth (18th) birthday.(106)

DOES REGISTRATION MEAN THAT I WILL BE DRAFTED INTO THE MILITARY
SERVICES?

—> No one has been drafted into the military service since 1973. No one can be drafted into the military unless ordered by our Congress and the President of the United States. If there was a declared war or national emergency, a draft could occur. While there is some movement to change this, as the law stands now, only males, and not females, must register and remain eligible to serve in the military services.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF I FAIL TO REGISTER FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES?

—> If you fail to register you could be convicted of the crime of failure to register, which is a felony. You could be fined up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or imprisoned for up to five (5) years, or both. You could also permanently forfeit your eligibility for benefits such as student financial aid, government employment, job training, and U.S. citizenship for male immigrants.(107)

HOW DO I APPLY FOR CONCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR STATUS TO AVOID BEING
DRAFTED BASED ON MY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS?

—> A person must apply for conscientious objector status. A conscientious objector is a person who can prove that his sincere religious beliefs prevent him from bearing arms because to do so would violate his religious opposition to war. It can be a lengthy process that involves interviews with you, essays written by you, and character witness letter about you. If approved by the military you can be discharged from the military or reassigned to a non-combat position.

HOW DO I COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND REGISTER FOR THE MILITARY SERVICE?

—> Registration can be completed online through the Internet at www.sss.gov. If you are concerned about the privacy of your personal data that must be revealed during the registration process, you can register by mail after obtaining the form from the U.S. Post Office. Within ninety (90) days of registering, you should receive in the mail an acknowledgment card. You should safeguard this document, as it is your best proof that you registered.

You can call 1-888-655-1825 for further information. You must always let the Selective Service know of your address changes within ten (10) days of any move, so you can be reached without delay.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MY SCHOOL IN PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT ME TO THE SELECTIVE SERVICE?

—> Under the No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law in 2002, high schools are now required to provide "directory information" about you if you are male. Directory information includes your name, address, date and place of birth, as well as your phone numbers, to military recruiters. Schools that refuse to comply face losing federal education funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Military recruiters now have the same access to certain high school directory information that colleges currently have. The new law may be challenged in the future resulting in some possible changes in these requirements.(109)

MUST I FIRST GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ME WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEFORE THEY CAN DISCLOSE IT?

—> As discussed in CHAPTER THREE, EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, (Subchapter VI, Student Privacy Rights), of this Handbook, there is a provision in the law that allows your parents to opt out or prevent your school from sharing any information about you with the federal government. If you experience resistance from your school, contact the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union at (401) 831-7171.