Do young men still have to register for the draft when they turn 18, even tho the draft is no longer enforceable?

I thought yes, but someone else said no. Who's right?

So far as I know registration is still required.

Yes.

"As a part of that readiness, virtually all men in the U.S. are required to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Men must be registered to be in compliance with federal law and stay eligible for student loans and grants, government jobs, job training, all security background clearances, and U.S. citizenship for immigrants." - Selective Service System (SSS.gov)

Here are some ways to register:

* REGISTER ON-LINE
Young men may now register on-line with Selective Service at www.sss.gov. * AT THE POST OFFICE
Selective Service registration forms are available at any post office. After filling it out, the registrant signs the form in the presence of a postal clerk and shows some identification, such as a birth certificate or driver's license. The postal clerk then sends the form to the Selective Service System. More recently, post offices are stocking "mailback" registration forms. 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 United States 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. These individuals help register male high school students.

REGISTRATION EXCEPTIONS AND EXEMPTIONS

NONCITIZENS
Some noncitizens are required to register; others are not. Noncitizens who are not required to register with Selective Service include men who are in the United States on student or visitor visas, and men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission and their families. Almost all male noncitizens are required to register, including illegal aliens, legal permanent residents, and refugees. The general rule is that a male noncitizen who first takes up permanent residence in the United States 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 United States 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.

DUAL NATIONALS
Dual nationals of the United States and another country are required to register, regardless of where they live, because they are also United States nationals.

HOSPITALIZED OR INCARCERATED MEN
Young men in hospitals, mental institutions, or prisons do not have to register while they are committed. However, they must register within 30 days after being released if they have not yet reached their 26th birthday.

DISABLED MEN
Disabled men who live at home must register with Selective Service if they can reasonably leave their homes and move about independently.

Men with disabilities that would disqualify them from military service still must register with Selective Service. Selective Service does not presently have authority to classify men.

FULL-TIME MILITARY EXEMPTED FROM REQUIREMENT
Young men serving in the military on full-time active duty do not have to register. Those attending the service academies do not have to register. If a young man leaves the military before turning 26, he must register.

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES
Members of the National Guard and Reserve not on full-time active duty must register.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
Men who would be classified as Conscientious Objectors if they were drafted must also register with Selective Service. If a draft begins and they are called, they would have the opportunity to file a claim for exemption from military service based upon their religious or moral objection to war.

For more information, contact Selective Service at 1-888-655-1825 or visit their website at www.sss.gov AS OF: 03-16-2001

Failure to register or otherwise comply with the Military Selective Service Act is upon conviction, punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. In addition, federal and certain state laws require registration as a prerequisite for obtaining student financial aid, job training, government employment, and U.S. naturalization.
--------
Speaking from experience, I can tell you that the average draft board has absolutely no sense of humor. When I applied for a renewal of my student deferrment in 1968, one of the members of my local draft board, who appeared to be either asleep or dead (of old age) suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Never could go to college. Got drafted." Knowing that I had absolutely no chance of getting the deferrment after that, I replied, "Well, the Spanish sunk the Maine. We had to do something about that." They were not amused.

Thanks, and you just answered my second question.

I was gonna ask what would happen if they didn't.

quote:

I can tell you that the average draft board has absolutely no sense of humor.

I guess we can laugh about the vagaries of the draft board now, DG. At the time, I had visions of death in rice paddie and a body bag. Wasn't so funny then, eh?

It was funny until I got re-classified; less so when I got the letter from Johnson.

Some colleges require each student to sign a statement of compliance with the selective service system.

Incidentally I was born in 1958 and was not required to register. I turned 18 in 1976, between Vietnam and the hostage taking in Iran, when there was momentum to dismantle selective service altogether.