Are you a male? 18 years of age? Younger than 26 years old?
If you answered yes to all of those questions, then you need to register with the Selective Service System.
What is the SSS
The Selective Service System is the government agency that keeps track of all the people eligible to be called up in the event the military draft is reinstated. Currently, that includes virtually all men between the ages of 18 and 25. By law, these individuals are required to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
How Does Registering Benefit Me Financially?
I’m glad you asked. For one, it prevents you from paying a hefty fine (currently $250,000). Yes, not registering is against the law. Specifically, you are violating the Military Selective Service Act. However, being prosecuted for this crime is extremely unlikely. You see, the government has to prove that you knew you were supposed to register, but chose not to. This is very hard for them to do.
But…the government knows this and has figured out other ways to make you register:
- In order to receive federal student aid (grants, student loans, and work study), you must register with the SSS. These benefits alone are worth thousands of dollars.
- If you’d ever like to work for the Executive branch of the federal government or the U.S. Postal Service, you need to register.
- Individual states can also set their own rules regarding registration. Here in Ohio, those who fail to register are charged out of state tuition rates at universities. In fact, I just received a letter from the community college I attend through PSEO alerting me to the fact that I will be charged the out of state rate unless I supply them with my registration number.
“But I’m not going to college and I don’t care about federal employment…”
OK. You got me. Except…
- Most states require you to register to receive a driver’s license! Some states also won’t let you renew your license if you haven’t registered. You can see the list here.
- Also, if you would like to become a U.S. citizen and you arrived in the U.S. before your 26th birthday, you must register with the Selective Service System.
As you can see, there are many reasons why it’s in your best interest to register. You don’t even have to be 18 to submit your information. If you are at least 17 years and 3 months of age, you can actually register right now and your information won’t be processed until you’re 18.
To do so, just head on over to www.sss.gov and click “Register Online”. You’ll be taken to a new page where all you have to type in is your:
- Name
- Address
- Social Security Number
Once that’s done, just click “Submit Registration“. Within a few weeks, you’ll receive a letter in the mail with an identification card that serves as proof you are registered.
Final note: If you forget to register before you turn 26 years old, you are basically screwed. You will never receive federal (and most likely state) student aid or be hired for a job located in the executive branch. If you can show credible evidence that you did not know you were supposed to register, then you may be allowed benefits, but this appears to be extremely unlikely.
