Community Chat

[pdlinda]

NO POLITICAL COMMENTS PLEASE

I have a grandson who recently turned 18 y.o.   I recalled reading that he has to register with the U.S. Govt for the military draft.

He tells me he heard nothing about it and was not advised by any official in or out of his school to register.

Does anyone have any experience with having an 18 y.o. register for the military draft?  Thank you!

[lgfan]

'Registering For Draft' Isn't the Same Thing as 'Getting Drafted'

Under current U.S. law, anyone who was born a man and is currently between the ages of 18 and 26 is eligible and required to register for the draft. Once you turn 26, you are out of the draft. 

The U.S. military has not used that list of names to call people up for military service (i.e., drafted them) since the Vietnam War, but in the case that a draft is reinstated, the U.S. needs a list of everyone eligible for service to determine who will actually be called to serve. That list is maintained by the Selective Service System and theoretically contains every man eligible for service, between the ages of 18-25. When you register for the draft, you put your name on the U.S. government's list. That's it. 

****edited to remove link

[Etoile308]

Do a search of the Selective Service System.

[pdlinda]

@Etoile308   I was curious regarding consequences of NOT registering for the draft and, also, if the age range was

18-26 whether it would be acceptable to wait a few months or years to register. 

I was concerned about penalties.

[Etoile308]

If you go to their website there are Frequently Asked Questions.

[pdlinda]

@Etoile308   Will do.  Thank you!

[Sage04]

I guess no one told my nephew and friends who just turned 20 and  are in college.

[Sage04]

So what happened to the females? My husband (long before he was my husband) joined the Marines at 17 and that's what he wanted to do. Haven't heard of any one doing that in years.

[Etoile308]

Back in my day, notification to apply was included prior to applying for student aid. Also notification was given when applying for a driver's license. And I remember seening the posters at the post office.

[Sage04]

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@Sage04 wrote:

So what happened to the females? My husband (long before he was my husband) joined the Marines at 17 and that's what he wanted to do. Haven't heard of any one doing that in years.

Also I know of the (JROTC) Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program that prepare high school students and that includes females also.

Don't know of any of my nephews friends who joined.

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