How you can help young men focus on important decisions
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By NewsTaco (2.5 minute read) 
This is the time of year when all eyes are on college basketball. For many college basketball players, the NCAA national tournament (better known as March Madness) is the culmination of a hard-fought season. And for many college seniors it’s the end of a collegiate career that began when they made their initial commitment to play for the college of their choice.
It’s called signing day, and it’s a ritual of high school sports programs across the country. It’s the day when recruited high school basketball players sign letters of intent to play for a specific college or university. This April 12, hundreds of high school athletes will be making one of the most important decisions of their lives.
A serious choice
It’s a serious choice and it’s not unlike the choices made by all 18 year olds when they come to the end of their high school careers: Should they go on to college? Can they afford it? Should they enter the workforce?
For all men living in the U.S. who are 18 years of age there is another important decision that is required by law: They must register with the U.S. Selective Service.
There’s no exception. In fact, citizenship or resident status is neither a requisite nor an impediment. The Selective Service does not ask for a young man’s residency status, nor does it share information with any other government agency. All young men regardless of race, religion, ability, or residency status must register with the Selective Service when they turn 18.
Good news
There is no penalty if they fail to register before their 26th birthday, but if they miss that deadline, there are serious consequences. They can:
- Lose eligibility for an educational PELL grant.
- Lose eligibility for many federal and state government jobs.
- Experience significant delays in the immigration process.
The good news is that signing up is easy and only takes a few minutes.
Men must simply visit the Selective Service homepage at SSS.gov and click on the button that says “Register.” On the next page, there’s a Registration Form with a few simple questions including name, address, birth date, and social security number.
It’s easy to do
If a man doesn’t know his social security number or doesn’t have one, the paper registration form does not require a social security number and can be printed from the website or picked up at most U.S. Post Offices.
If you know an 18-year-old man living in the U.S., you may be advising him about the next step he’ll take in life–whether it’s which college to attend or where to look for work. At the same time, make sure you also remind him to register with the Selective Service.
It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s the law.
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[Phoyo by donsathletics/Flickr]
