Selective Service and my son

[Bjornsdotter]

My son recently turned 18 and the day after his birthday we received a form from the Selective Service System for him to fill out and return.

Well we were still putting together his CO file and hadn't sent it in yet.
Today we received an "Official Registration Acknowledgment Card" from the SSS. Since we didn't send his card in yet, it was a bit surprising to receive this.

Then we noticed that the last name was misspelled on the card; with the exact same misspelling that occurred when he got a state ID last month. So a heads up to everyone....in the state of Illinois if you get a driver's license or a state ID they will automatically sign you up.

Cheers

[Nutmegger]

1. I had to sign up so I can receive federal financial aid

which isn't much by the way. DAMN IT!

[Bjornsdotter]

4. I know

it sucks.

I'm just so mad, because he didn't sign up. However the upside is now when he returns this card with his corrections, he can write Conscientious Objector all over it.

Cheers

[Inland]

2. Not surprised. The selection is theirs, not yours.

And they've made sure to cross reference all the databases beginning in the 1980s.

[XNASA]

3. It's the law to register with Selective Service anyway.

There's no way out of it. Well there is, but he would have to enlist at 17.

Which is what I did, all those many years ago.

[Bjornsdotter]

6. Yes, it is the law

...however the part that bothers me is that he didn't do it....it was done for him.

Cheers

[free4now]

7. Its a little disturbing

But my son did it 5 yrs ago and its alright. We are not ready for a draft and they wont get it by us easily so I really think were Ok on this.
Believe me my son does not want to go to war. He wont even touch a play gun and the signing up bothered me at the time. But it doesnt anymore.

[Bjornsdotter]

10. Thanks

...for your words of encouragement. It always helps when someone has been there before.

Welcome to DU! :toast:

Cheers!

[atreides1]

19. They Are Ready for a Draft!!!!

At the current time if the draft was reinstated, it would only take the Selective Service approximately 75 days before the first notices are sent out.

Most of the local boards are up and running, training of the board members has been taking place for at least the last 2 years. And all it takes is an act of Congress to start it up again, so they are ready for the draft.

How do I know?, because I was on a local draft board in Tucson Arizona, until we moved to Virginia!!!

[leftchick]

27. Thank you for the dose of reality

they can do a draft n no time. Think about it, who will stop them? Elections do not even factor into it.

[Bjornsdotter]

35. That's scary

...very, very scary. :scared:

Thanks for letting us know.


Cheers!

[AndyTiedye]

25. We Are One "Terra Attack" Away from the Draft

We are one Reichstag fire^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H "terra attack" away from having the draft instituted.

If we got attacked tommorrow, they'd start up the draft next week.

Does anybody think any of our congresscritters would dare oppose it?

[niyad]

31. are you aware that all the draft board positions were fully staffed about

two years ago? given the fact that the current thugs occupying the white house and environs don't give a DAMN about us, and that the house and senate and court are all run by rethugs, what makes you think that they will pay any attention to the protests? don't forget, when 15 million people hit the streets on 15 february 2003, the chimperor referred to them as a "focus group" and said he doesn't pay attention. probably one of the few true things he has said.

[The Wielding Truth]

11. High school as a requirement of fed funding must send in all

male students names who are turning 18. How's that for Big Brother.

[SoCalDem]

5. Too bad they don't automatically send voter registration forms

to all 18 yr olds..

[Bjornsdotter]

8. That was done

...automatically also when he received the ID.

Cheers

[SoCalDem]

9. That's good to know

:)

[hwmnbn]

12. Is this only males or both male and female?...

I have a niece who's about to turn 17.

I haven't had to worry about this stuff for 40 years.

[spuddonna]

13. Only males... for now... n/t

[Heddi]

14. I know at our local DMV, there are signs saying

that if you're a male over 18 getting any kind of state ID (dl, driver's permit, state ID), they will send your information to selective service to ensure that you've signed up. I think they have the same signs in South Carolina, but I'm not too sure.

I do know that not registering with selective service means no federal financial aid if he wanted something like that (The FAFSA won't even process your application if you're over 18 and haven't registered)

[Silverhair]

15. The draft will not be reinstated, so it is merely symbolic.

Only some on the left are calling for a draft. No one on the right is doing so.

[Katherine Brengle]

16. This is nothing new--every male over 18 who has a license or state id

has to register with Selective Service.

[Igel]

17. It's Illinois law.

Don't know if it's strong-arming or not. Sounds like "not", but there might be some consequence in road or school funding they don't mention.

http://www.sss.gov/FSdrivers.htm
"Description of Typical State Driver’s License Legislation
"These laws are simple and inexpensive to implement. They instruct the state’s Department of Public Safety or Motor Vehicles to include a consent statement on all applications or renewals for driver’s permits, licenses, and identification cards. The statement tells the applicant that by submitting the application he is consenting to his registration with the SSS, if so required by Federal law. Females are not required to register with SSS under current law. Men 26 years of age or beyond are too old to register.

"Transmission of applicant data to the SSS is accomplished electronically through an existing arrangement each state has with the data sharing system of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVAnet) at no extra cost to the state.

"Status of State Driver’s License Legislation
"As of August 5, 2005, 35 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia have enacted driver's license laws supporting SSS registration. They are: (1) Enacted and Implemented - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia; (2) Enacted But Not Yet Implemented - Maryland and Montana. "

[Bjornsdotter]

18. Yes it is the law

....however it's the choice of when and how to register that bothers me.

His school has been notified that they are not allowed to release any information on him unless I sign a release.

We know this came through the DMV because of the misspelling, so we'll be able to follow this where ever it leads....i.e. if they sell their lists to others.

IMO...."they" should be so quick to help the people who have already served.

Cheers

[TechBear_Seattle]

20. Regarding CO status

Since draft registration was reinstated, the Selective Service has not accepted any documentation for conscientious objetor status, so don't worry about sending it in :hi:

No harm in posting this link again, a FAQ about CO status. (Yes, I will have an updated version soon, I promise.)

http://www.serv.net/~techbear/writings/FAQ-CO.html

[Katherine Brengle]

21. There is no harm, however, in having extensive documentation put

together to back up your son's CO claim if he ever does need it. Make sure he writes down his thoughts, preferably in a public forum (have him start a blog or online journal or something), and tells as many people as he can about his feelings.

If he ever needs to file for CO status, it can be a very hard process, and he should be as prepared as possible.

[TechBear_Seattle]

22. I mention it at the end of the FAQ

Based on the file I created <mumble> years ago in high school, along with some suggestions for making use of new technology.

[Katherine Brengle]

30. Excellent. n/t

[Bjornsdotter]

24. Thanks!

We've got all of that. It took longer than I expected to get everything and we are in the process of send out the packets to various family members to hold (unopened) in case we need them at some point.

The online journal is a great idea, that's one we haven't thought of using.

Cheers!

[Bjornsdotter]

23. No not send them info on CO status

...just writing CO on the form. The letters and documentation are kept by various people; so if there were to be a draft, all of his stuff would be in order.

Thanks for the link!

Cheers!

[TechBear_Seattle]

26. Ah, that tactic

Used it myself, actually. And yes, having letters on file with your church, religious denomination or equivalent is a good idea too. Remember to keep at least two complete sets of everything, in a safe place where you can grab it within a few hours. If a draft is ever activated, you might not have enough time for everyone to send in their copies. Churches, friends, teachers, etc. should be your backup and where you refer any draft board inquiry, not your main storage.

[Bjornsdotter]

28. Thanks

Thank-you very much for your help.

Cheers! :toast:

[Spacemom]

29. I've already started a CO folder for each of my boys

ages 5 and 10.

And it pisses me off that I even have to think about doing such a thing. :mad:

Good luck to you and your son. :hug:

[rush07]

33. Wow. They made up their minds early. n/t

[Bjornsdotter]

34. Thank-you

Start early, I did. I hope when yours are 18 this will be a thing of the past.

Cheers

[coffeenap]

32. OH SHIT, Bdotter--I can't believe this!

But I do!

[yellowdogmi]

36. Just a thought.

I think this is when he needs to declare any concienstious objector status if he is of the mind to do that. You might want to consult an attorney. Does anyone know?

[Bjornsdotter]

37. Yes

...no lawyer, but that is what my son is doing. If they hadn't misspelled his name on the card it would be difficult. That's one of the reasons I was so angry.

Cheers

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Can they do this??

[Bjornsdotter]

39. I guess

...that they can. Scary isn't it? :scared:

Cheers