Selective Service System
From Freepedia
The Selective Service System is the means by which the United States administers military conscription. It entails registering all males over the age of 18 with the system for the purpose of ready information available about potential soldiers in the event of war.
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History
In 1917, after the United States entered World War I, Congress passed the Selective Service Act.
The original Act was allowed to expire in 1947 because it was thought that a sufficient number of volunteers would enlist for the nation's defense. But the number of volunteers was not enough, and a new draft act had to be passed in 1948. Between 1948 and 1967 several draft laws were enacted.
On December 1, 1969, a draft lottery was held.
Current status
Though the United States abandoned conscription in 1973, the Selective Service System remains as a contingency should the measure be reintroduced.
Under current law, all male US citizens are required to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Certain male aliens residing in the US, including those present illegally, are also required to register if they are between 18 and 25 years of age. Failure to register is against the law.
In 1980, a person required to register who did not could face up to five years in jail or a fine up to $250,000. Despite these penalties, government records indictate that from 1980 through 1990, there were only 20 indictments, of which 19 were instigated in part by self publicized and self reported non-registration. The last prosecution took place in Janurary of 1986, after which many believed the government declined to continue prosectutions when it became apparent that the trials were themselves causing a decline in registration. As an alternative method of encouraging registration, federal legistlators and most state legislators passed laws requiring that in order to receive financial aid, federal grants and loans, and certain government benefits, an individual had to be registered with selective service.
Interstingly enough, California, the nation's most populus state (which has the most votes in the Electoral College) has the highest rate of non registration.
Structure and operation
In the original version, men were selected for service by random selection by number in a lottery. Eligible men between the age 18 and 45 were drafted. Only 2.8 million men out of 24 million registered were called up.
According to these laws, every man had to register with his draft board when he reached the age of 18. The System is an independent agency within the Executive Branch of the Federal government of the United States.
Classifications
If a draft were held, local draft boards would classify registrants to determine if they were exempt from military service. According to US Code Title 32, Chapter XVI, Sec. 1630.2, men would be sorted into the following categories:
Class 1-A: Available for unrestricted military service
Class 1-A-0: Conscientious objector available for noncombatant military service only.
Class 1-C: Member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health Service.
Class 1-D-D: Deferment for certain members of a reserve component or student taking military training.
Class 1-D-E: Exemption of certain members of a reserve component or student taking military training.
Class 1-H: Registrant not subject to processing for induction.
Class 1-O: Conscientious objector to all military service. A registrant must establish to the satisfaction of the board that his request for exemption from combatant and noncombatant military training and service in the Armed Forces is based upon moral, ethical or religious beliefs which play a significant role in his life and that his objection to participation in war is not confined to a particular war.
Class 1-O-S: Conscientious objector to all military service.
Class 1-W: Conscientious objector ordered to perform alternative service.
Class 2-D: Registrant deferred because of study preparing for the ministry.
Class 3-A: Registrant deferred because of hardship to dependents.
Class 3-A-S: Registrant deferred because of hardship to dependents (separated).
Class 4-A: Registrant who has completed military service.
Class 4-B: Official deferred by law.
Class 4-C: Alien or dual national.
Class 4-D: Minister of religion.
Class 4-F: Registrant not acceptable for military service. To be eligible for Class 4-F, a registrant must have been found not qualified for service in the Armed Forces by a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) under the established physical, mental, or moral standards. The standards of physical fitness that would be used in a future draft remain undefined. It should be remembered that obesity is more common among young Americans than in other NATO countries that retain conscription. Openly admitted homosexuals are not allowed to serve in the American military.
Class 4-G: Registrant exempted from service because of the death of his parent or sibling while serving in the Armed Forces or whose parent or sibling is in a captured or missing in action status.
Class 4-T: Treaty alien.
Class 4-W: Registrant who has completed alternative service in lieu of induction.
Class 4-A-A: Registrant who has performed military service for a foreign nation.
See also
External links
Categories: Pages needing expert attention | United States government stubs | Independent Agencies of the United States Government | Conscription in the United States
