Selective Service Registration 

WHO MUST REGISTER

Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service. It’s important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, 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.

When to Register

The law requires virtually all male U.S. citizens (regardless of where they live), and male immigrants residing in the U.S. (permanent resident aliens), to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.   Therefore, to be in full compliance with the law, a man turning 18 is required to register during the period of time beginning 30 days before, until 30 days after his 18th birthday...a 60-day window.

Late registrations are accepted, but not once a man reaches age 26.  Men who do not register within the 60-day window are technically in violation of the law and should register as soon as possible.

A male non-citizen who first takes up permanent residence in the U.S. when he is at least 18 years old, but not yet 26 years old, must register within 30 days of becoming a resident.  If he first enters the U.S. as a resident when he is 26 years old or older, he does not register with Selective Service because he is too old to register.  Male non-citizens in the U.S. temporarily (valid student or visitor visa, diplomatic corps, etc.) do not register.

Early Submission:  It is now possible for a man to submit registration information early, as long as he is at least 17 years and 3 months old.   Selective Service will keep his information on file and process it automatically later in the year, when the man is within 30 days of reaching his 18th birthday.  An acknowledgment card will be mailed to the man when his registration is processed.  To submit early registration information, follow the same procedures as men who are 18 through 25 years old, listed below.

Here are some places to register:

At the Post Office
Selective Service "mail-back" registration forms are available at any Post Office.  A man can fill it out, sign it, affix postage, and mail it to Selective Service, without the involvement of the postal clerk. Men living overseas may register at any U.S. Embassy or consular office.

by Mail
A young man may also register by filling out a Reminder Mailback Card. Selective Service sends this card to many young men around the time they turn 18. Mailback cards are also available at some post offices. A man can fill out the card at home and mail it directly to Selective Service. Forms will be sent to: Selective Service System, Registration Information Office, P.O. Box 94638, Palatine, IL 60094-4638.

Check Box
Another way a young man can register is to check a box on the application form for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA form). A man can check "Yes" on Box #29 of that form, and the Department of Education will furnish Selective Service with the information to register the man.

At Their High School
More than half the high schools in the Nation have a staff member or teacher appointed as a Selective Service

Registrar. All students who register at Henry County High School should click on the registration link below. 

Benefits and Programs Linked to Registration

Registration is the law. A man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.  Even if not tried, a man who fails to register with Selective

Service before turning age 26 may find that some doors are permanently closed. 

Student Financial Aid

Men, born after December 31, 1959, who aren’t registered with Selective Service won’t qualify for Federal

student loans or grant programs. This includes Pell Grants, College Work Study, Guaranteed Student/Plus

Loans, and National Direct Student Loans.

Citizenship

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) makes registration with Selective Service a

condition for U.S. citizenship if the man first arrived in the U.S. before his 26th birthday.

Federal Job Training

The Workforce Investment Act (formerly called the Job Training Partnership Act - JTPA) offers programs that

can train young men for jobs in auto mechanics and other skills. This program is only open to those men who register with Selective Service. This applies only to men born after December 31, 1959.

Federal Jobs

A man must be registered to be eligible for jobs in the Executive Branch of the Federal government and the U.S. Postal Service. This applies only to men born after December 31, 1959.  Some states have added additional penalties for those who fail to register.

Selective Service wants young men to register. It does not want them to be prosecuted or denied benefits. If a draft is ever needed, it must be as fair as possible, and that fairness depends on having as many eligible men as possible registered. In the event of a draft, for every man who fails to register, another man would be required to take his place in service to his country.