FAQs
The Selective Service System (SSS) is an independent agency of the United States government that maintains a database of registered male U.S. citizens and other U.S. residents potentially subject to military conscription (i.e., the draft).
Does the US still have a draft system? ›
The United States has not had a draft since 1973. Congress and the president would have to authorize a draft. In the case of a national emergency, the Selective Service will follow this process to draft eligible young men. Get more tips to help with the new responsibilities of adulthood.
Do they still send Selective Service cards? ›
Selective Service does not issue replacement cards. Instead, you can get proof of registration online. Once you verify that you are registered, download a letter of acknowledgment. This letter is proof that you registered with Selective Service.
What happens if I don't register for Selective Service? ›
If required to register with Selective Service, failure to register is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment. Also, a person who knowingly counsels, aids, or abets another to fail to comply with the registration requirement is subject to the same penalties.
Why did I get a Selective Service System letter? ›
Every man who is registered with the Selective Service System will receive a registration acknowledgement letter with a registration card in the mail from Selective Service within 90 days of registering. This is proof of your registration and can be used when applying for: state-based aid in 31 states. federal jobs.
Are you automatically registered for Selective Service when you turn 18? ›
The Agency holds their registration information and automatically enters their data into the system when they turn 18. Registering with Selective Service is your civic responsibility and keeps you eligible for student loans, job training, government jobs, and driver's licenses in most states.
Does the US still issue draft cards? ›
No, but Registration Acknowledgement cards are.
Registration Acknowledgement cards are being issued, but these are unrelated to a draft. The last time a man was drafted was in 1973. It would require an act of Congress to reinstate the draft.
Who cannot be drafted? ›
Exemptions
- Ministers.
- Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office.
- Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft.
- Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.
Can an only son be drafted? ›
Is he exempt from registration and the draft? No. the “only son”, “the last son to carry the family name,” and ” sole surviving son” must register with Selective Service. These sons can be drafted.
What age do men stop getting drafted? ›
Men turning 21 in the year of the draft would be second priority, men turning 22 would be third, and so on until a man turns 26, at which time he is over the age of liability.
If you do not receive a registration acknowledgment letter and card within 90 days of registering, please call us at 847-688-6888. Your call will be answered by an automated voice system. Listen carefully to the directions, and select the option for receiving your own Selective Service number.
Can you be drafted at age 35? ›
Present - The U.S. currently operates under an all-volunteer armed forces policy. All male citizens between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register for the draft and are liable for training and service until the age of 35.
Is Selective Service still mandatory? ›
Federal Law requires nearly all male US citizens and male immigrants, 18 through 25, register with Selective Service.
What is a good excuse for not registering for Selective Service? ›
The criteria for exemption from registration are: A man is placed in a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility, or mental institution on or before his 18th birthday, had no breaks of institutionalization of 30 days or longer, and remained institutionalized until his 26th birthday.
Who is exempt from registering for Selective Service? ›
Who is exempt from registration? There are a few cases when a man is exempt from the registration requirement. Men who are exempt do not have a Selective Service registration number and are in compliance with federal law. The few individuals who are exempt from this requirement are those on current non-immigrant visas.
What is the purpose of a draft system? ›
Kegerators are the most common example of a direct draw draft system. This is a standard system for delivering draft beer from keg to tap across a short distance. Carbon dioxide or a mixture of nitrogen and CO2, known as beer gas, is used to push beer from the keg through the beer line up to the draft tower and faucet.
How does the draft system work? ›
In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players. When a team selects a player, the team receives exclusive rights to sign that player to a contract, and no other team in the league may sign the player. The process is similar to round-robin item allocation.
Is the Selective Service System legit? ›
By law, men 18 to 25 years of age are required to register with the Selective Service System. The Selective Service System is an independent federal agency — entirely separate from the Department of Defense — that maintains a database of all people required to register.
Does Selective Service mean you will be drafted? ›
NOTE: Registering with Selective Service does not mean you are joining the military.