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Selective Service

Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
 
National Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia 22209-2425
Phone: 703-605-4100
FAX: 703-605-4106
 
The Selective Service is a government agency whose job is to provide untrained manpower for the Armed Forces if there is a national emergency. For more info click here.

 

Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service (for complete list click here). It's important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental, physical and moral fitness by the military before being deferred or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed Forces. If you're a male U.S. citizen within 30 days of your 18th birthday or age 18 through 25, you can register with Selective Service by clicking here.

 

Educating young men about the registration requirement is essential. If a man fails to register, he is in violation of Federal law and subject to a $250,000 maximum fine, a prison term of up to five years, or a combination of both. Additionally, a young man who fails to register is ineligible for many opportunities. He must register to be eligible for Federal student loans and grants, most Federal employment, including the U.S. Postal Service, job training under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), some state employment, and U.S. citizenship (for male non-citizens applying for citizenship).