Selective Service - Do you really need to register?

[Serena]

Hello, I turned 18, almost one month ago, so as I was reading the website even trans women are required to register right? Well, if I decide to not do, what it's going to happen to me? I don't care, I don't want to register, just the thought of registering makes me feel like I am a man, and I'm not, so I'm not going to. That's completely discriminatory.
Why do people even need to do that anyway? I know that no one is probably going to get drafted anymore, but still, it's discriminatory.
No, I haven't changed my gender marker, and just in case, I'm not even an american citizen, I've only lived here 2 years in the US, and I do have a green card (which apparently you still need to register even if you are not a citizen). I'm pretty sure my uncle didn't register, but I can't know for sure. I really hope someone will change this. My family doesn't even know of this selective service stuff, if they knew they would probably want me to actually join the military or something, knowing my mom she would think I would change or something.
Also, I think I read somwhere that you are not allowed to get financial aid for college without registering, is that true?

I heard it on my high school bell announcement too, and I was cringing I really can't. It's a principle, I am not a man and I will not register.

[Randi]

If you do not register you will not be eligible for student financial aid, loans or grants, vocational training under the workforce investment act, government employment or a security clearance.

You will not be able to become a U.S. Citizen unless you register for the selective service.  More information here:

https://www.sss.gov/FSbenefits.htm
 
Transsexuals are not exempt:

SEX GENDER CHANGE / TRANSSEXUAL
Individuals who are born female and have a sex change are not required to register. U.S. citizens or immigrants who are born male and have a sex change are still required to register.

[enigmaticrorschach]

unforutnately unless your gender is legally changed, all males must apply if your planning on using financial aid and such . i had to and its a headache. literally had a recruiter call me a few weeks after my first semest

[Emily E]

If your planning to get a US citizen ship and its required just go down and register I know it sucks but its the law and once its done you can more or less just forget about it.   

I joined the military when I turned 18 and got the notice after I went to boot camp and argued with them for a couple years because I thought that I was in the military why should I register for selective service but when I went back home on leave I met the postal clerk (where I was supposed to register) and we talked and he said I understand where your coming from but its the law so just register and then forget about it and if they ever do a draft you can show you did your time. 

So I registered and forgot about it and have only thought about it when applying for jobs and loans when the number was asked for.

I don't think you have to worry if you complete transition as you would be viewed as a woman and I don't see the laws changing to include women in the draft.

[Serena]

If your planning to get a US citizen ship and its required just go down and register I know it sucks but its the law and once its done you can more or less just forget about it.

I can't forget about it, this is some serious stupidity, that american government need to change, and it's super discriminatory. I feel like crying now, well even if I was about to change my gender marker I would still need to register because it says that you need to because of being assigned male at birth.

[enigmaticrorschach]

though i had to register, i wont be able to be draft because i can claim mental disability which bars me from serving. but i agree, it shouldnt happen but thats what it is

[Serena]

and I don't care that would not be drafted because then I would be considered unfit, then why do you need me to register to begin with? I am not a man.

[enigmaticrorschach]

*shrugs* honestly i really don't know and i dont mess with military laws or political laws. i can't say for anyone else but i think its all superiority. men are naturally built for combat. as long as your genes have the XY chromosome, no matter what you do, to the eyes of the government, your still a man. its like their still stuck in the 40's

[iKate]

You may have been automatically registered when you got your green card, so there's really no getting around it.

It's stupid and it sucks but that's what it is for now. I think all genders should be required to register though.

and I don't care that would not be drafted because then I would be considered unfit, then why do you need me to register to begin with? I am not a man.

Women serve in the military, and they are even going to be allowed in combat roles sooner rather than later.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

There really isn't going to be a draft unless there's armageddon and in that case you have bigger things to worry about.

[iKate]

I don't think you have to worry if you complete transition as you would be viewed as a woman and I don't see the laws changing to include women in the draft.

I disagree, I see it happening sooner rather than later. Women are going to be in combat roles by 2016 and with that will come the possibility of a selective service requirement down the line. And why not. Equality and all that good stuff.

[CB]

and I don't care that would not be drafted because then I would be considered unfit, then why do you need me to register to begin with? I am not a man.

I would say screw it. Why would they want someone who is not a US citizen anyway? And to top that that you'd be transexual and the US military doesn't like transexuals unlike some other more progressive  countries where they are allowed in the militaryvh.

[FTMax]

If you need financial aid for school or if you're ever hoping to have any kind of government job (federal, state, or local), you will unfortunately need to register.

I'm putting in for a bunch of federal jobs right now under my new name and gender marker, and I needed to fill out an exemption form because I was born female and transitioned to male. I don't think it's required for MTFs to fill out the exemption form, but that might make you feel a little better about it? You just need to fill out your personal information and attach copies of your transition documentation.

[Emily E]

I disagree, I see it happening sooner rather than later. Women are going to be in combat roles by 2016 and with that will come the possibility of a selective service requirement down the line. And why not. Equality and all that good stuff.

oh I'm sure it will happen but the question is when... this country (the United States) hasn't had an active draft since the Vietnam War in the 60's and other then selective service registration changes nothing about it has really changed.  True there are people running for office as well as anti-war protesters that regularly bring it up trying to scare everyone into seeing their point of view but realistically it's extremely unpopular with everyone... the military doesn't want it (I mean really why would anyone want to have a bunch of people working for them that want nothing more than to be somewhere else) the politicians don't want it because it wouldn't get them reelected... the general public doesn't want it because drafting someone is like grabbing someone and telling them it's their turn to jump into a volcano... no sane person wants it. 

People (men) generally worry about women and don't want to see them hurt... even when a women volunteers herself everyone worries about her.   

The United States had a women who was captured during the gulf war (I forget exactly when) she was serving in a combat support role (which means she was working right alongside the men in combat roles) and if I remember right she was held for like a month before she was found but the whole time she was held everyone was worried about her (with good reason) and what would happen to her... so when you look at events like that you can see that that kind of purposed change would be very unpopular.  In my opinion the equal rights movement will have to be around a long time or the United States would have to be very desperate before that kind of change would pass.

[iKate]

I would say screw it. Why would they want someone who is not a US citizen anyway? And to top that that you'd be transexual and the US military doesn't like transexuals unlike some other more progressive  countries where they are allowed in the militaryvh.

There are a lot of non U.S. citizens in the military right now. They can apply for citizenship after a year of service, so that is a huge incentive. As for the military itself they want people to sign up and they aren't really turning them away because there is a need.

Also openly trans people will be included sooner rather than later. Steps are being made.

Just saying "screw it" has more consequences than just not being drafted. You lose federal student aid which is a major component of how college students pay for college. You also cannot take a federal job.

[Randi]

https://www.sss.gov/fsstateleg.htm

27 states have laws that will automatically register you for the selective service when you apply for a driver's license.

It gets even worse if you reach the age of 26 without having registered.  At that point you can never register and will be forever barred from government employment and many benefits.  You will be prevented from attending many state funded universities.

It's great to stand on your principles, but you will pay a heavy price.

[stephaniec]

basically as a human being you have the freedom to do whatever you want , but you need to accept the consequences of your choices as relating to living within the framework of society.

[Rudy King]

*shrugs* honestly i really don't know and i dont mess with military laws or political laws. i can't say for anyone else but i think its all superiority. men are naturally built for combat. as long as your genes have the XY chromosome, no matter what you do, to the eyes of the government, your still a man. its like their still stuck in the 40's

Not quite true.  I know a girl with CAIS, and can't join  because she's Intersex.  She has a karotype of XY, but is fighting to join.

Ironically, if I wasn't blind and joined, I would have found out about being Intersex a long time ago.

[enigmaticrorschach]

Not quite true.  I know a girl with CAIS, and can't join  because she's Intersex.  She has a karotype of XY, but is fighting to join.

Ironically, if I wasn't blind and joined, I would have found out about being Intersex a long time ago.

well thats just wrong on so many levels. is she wining the case?

[Rudy King]

well thats just wrong on so many levels. is she wining the case?

So far, no.  she's trying to go up the chain, but no luck.  she's really getting bummed about it, and trying to see if she could join a different branch (she want's to join the Navy).

I guess, because we have medical issues, due to our condution, there afraid we might not be able to heal normally or something?  idk.

[iKate]

Not quite true.  I know a girl with CAIS, and can't join  because she's Intersex.  She has a karotype of XY, but is fighting to join.

Ironically, if I wasn't blind and joined, I would have found out about being Intersex a long time ago.

Was she AMAB?