A Mother’s Reminder on Selective Service Registration Can Make a Big Difference for a Young Man’s Future

– SPONSORED CONTENT –

PRESS RELEASE

Important opportunities such as college loans, driver’s license tied to registration

You want to see your son succeed, so you always urge him to do the right thing. Sometimes that means giving advice about things you might not necessarily have firsthand experience with, like the latest fashions or girlfriend problems. So as your son approaches his 18^th birthday, take a minute to remind him about registering with Selective Service.

[tweet_dis]According to Federal law, virtually all men living in the United States must register with Selective Service when they turn 18.[/tweet_dis] Failure to register is a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment, though the Justice Department is not currently actively prosecuting men for failure to register. However, the American people – through their elected representatives in Congress and at the state and local levels across the country – have deemed Selective Service registration important enough to link it to numerous important opportunities.

For instance, men who fail to register cannot receive Federal student loans or participate in federally funded job training programs. They are barred from working for the Federal government, and many states, counties and municipalities also require registration for jobs ranging from office worker to fire fighter to law enforcement officer to paramedic.

[pullquote][tweet_dis]Men who fail to register with the Selective Service cannot receive Federal student loans or participate in federally funded job training programs.[/tweet_dis] [/pullquote]

In addition, most states don’t allow men who are not registered to receive or renew their driver’s license. And immigrant men wishing to become citizens must be registered with Selective Service if they are residents of the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 25, regardless of their immigration status. This includes men who are refugees or are undocumented.

Despite these facts, thousands of young men fail to register. Men typically say the reason they don’t register is because they didn’t know they had to, a situation that can be avoided with a firm but loving well-placed word.

[pullquote]To be in compliance with the law, men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, but if they miss that window it is still important to register.[/pullquote] To be in compliance with the law, men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, but if they miss that window it is still important to register. Beginning at age 17, men can pre-register with Selective Service. Men who do not register by the time they turn 26 are ineligible to register, and therefore potentially permanently barred from the many opportunities tied to registration.

Registration is quick and easy. It can be done online at www.SSS.gov or by filling out a registration form available at the post office. The only information that a man must provide is his name, date of birth, and current address. Selective Service registrations are not currently cross-referenced with immigration, law enforcement or similar government lists.

Registration is the law, but it is also important to the security of our nation. Although the last military draft ended in 1973 – and the unlikely event of a future draft would require the authorization of both houses of Congress and the signature of the President – the mission of the Selective Service System is to maintain a database of all American men between the ages of 18 and 25 who could be called upon in the case of a national emergency.

Just like you made sure your son finished his math homework all these years, check to see if he’s registered with Selective Service. You’ll get peace of mind, and he’ll get the chance to take advantage of the full array of opportunities available to him to build a successful future.

###

[Photo by .DesertMonsterBell]

CLICK HERESubscribe to the Latino daily