Selective Service - Do you really need to register?

[Wild Flower]

Im in the military... lord have mercy on my soul since suicide crosses my mind very often (I simply hate it... and force into a job I hate... but too afraid to get kick ouf... so life is hell). the country waste a lot of money on the needs of the army.... dude, I gave my best efforts into a military occupation, technically failed out, and over 2 yrs of a garbage job being plunge down my throat that I hate.... I rather had gotten kick out last year when it wasnt so bad I guess, but I should have a say over my life for signing up.... but no!!! Stupid idiocracy. No money is worth doing something your force too... or dishonarable discharge. Why ruin someone life with that
?? Its like prison. Im held by that fear tactic... and then i say people not even putting equal efforts that i am and getting away with it. I hate it. Like... I didnt sign up to drive too, hate driving, hate everything about life.... THIS is PRISON.

But no.... all likelihood you wont serve, and even if you did... transsexuals arent allowed.

[awilliams1701]

Yes the whole thing is stupid, but I had to register myself. Its not that big of a deal. I haven't heard anything back since I registered. I'm reasonably certain they never would have wanted me anyway. I don't even have the card anymore. I lost it several years back. Trust me its not a big deal and you'll completely forget about it.

No, actually it's even worst, because that's practically just for ftm guys, who would be seen as "women" from this discriminatory program and are not required to register, while I am because assigned male at birth.

Well, I guess I wasn't registered yet, because I needed to for my fasfa application for financial aid, and I had to push the register me thingy, so yeah... I guess, I am registered now, and I feel super bad about it. Again, even if there would never be going to be a draft ever again, it's just the principle, why are trans women required to register, and even if I was to change my gender marker to female, they say on the website that they need all the people to register who were assigned male at birth.

[enigmaticrorschach]

you know, I can't even find my card either. since I was high risk, I'm sure they took my name off the list anyways. hmm, now imma go home and see if I can dig it up after work

[iKate]

you know, I can't even find my card either. since I was high risk, I'm sure they took my name off the list anyways. hmm, now imma go home and see if I can dig it up after work

No, you remain registered for life.

You can't be drafted once you turn 26, however.

Don't worry about losing the card. I lost my card so I asked for a letter. I had to get one for US citizenship.

[kelly_aus]

That's not the problem, the problem is that they are using our genitals and the assigned at birth to force us to register to being with, if they won't let us be a member of the service, then why force us to register?

How about instead of complaining about a law that you don't like, you work to have it changed?

From a strict legal point of view, your argument is invalid anyway. From my reading of the the laws in question, they care only about your birth sex, not your gender identity.. So if your birth sex was male, you have to sign up. Now, I'm not saying this is right or fair, just telling it how it is.

[Rudy King]

That's not the problem, the problem is that they are using our genitals and the assigned at birth to force us to register to being with, if they won't let us be a member of the service, then why force us to register?

When I turned eighteen, ever though I am legally blind, I still had to sign up.  I got quite a few phone calls, and after their two minute speech, I'd politely let them know I was legally blind, and they would just say, "Oh, sorry!  There's nothing we can do for you.  Have a good day!".  And they would hang up.

I knew I couldn't serve, but I still had to sign up.  It's just the law.

[awilliams1701]

Not that I'm complaining, but I wonder why I never got any calls. However I moved into my own place not long after and my parents moved out of state. As a result any phone number they had would be invalid. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

[enigmaticrorschach]

haha, actually that reminds me, my cell phone number actually changed and i don't answer the house phone. so basically if i was called (unlikely since i can plead insanity and therefore incapable of serving) they'd have to send the police to pick me up. i can feign innocence because i just didnt know

[tgchar21]

From a strict legal point of view, your argument is invalid anyway. From my reading of the the laws in question, they care only about your birth sex, not your gender identity.. So if your birth sex was male, you have to sign up. Now, I'm not saying this is right or fair, just telling it how it is.

Actually like I said (assuming I'm correct, which is more likely given that you're not from the U.S. where all this doesn't apply) it's not the law but rather how the agency is interpreting it. (The act says "male persons" without defining that, so if anyone thinks it's unfair - or wants to take advantage of the flaw under the right circumstances like I suggested in my last post - they can take it to the courts to get their opinion.)

[Valwen]

I actually still have my card it's in my wallet, though I am still presenting as male. Back then I even signed up for the military entry program, even though I knew I was transgender. I sorta regret not actually going but I know it would have been a mistake, note to anyone thinking about it they won't let you off easy. Despite being very closeted at the time I payed out of pocket like 75$ a session for 3 sessions seeing a therapist who had never dealt with gender issues before, so that she would write me a note that basically said. This person is crazy don't take them.

On the positive side I have found the card useful on occasion over the years when I needed another form identification. It's rarely on a company's list but it's hard to argue with military identification.

But ya it's dumb that the rules haven't been revised in the last century.

--Serena

[Emileeeee]

They told me I was automatically registered when I enlisted and they still sent me letters about registering after I got out. I had no fear of being drafted though. I actually tried to get back in when 9/11 happened and because my discharge says "Personality Disorder" they said I wasn't eligible for re-enlistment.

My issue with it is why do only men have to register? There are women begging to serve in combat these days, but only men have to register? Are they saying women aren't capable soldiers and therefore don't have to register?

[LordKAT]

Women can register if they want to.

[tgchar21]

Women can register if they want to.

Actually they can't (on the online registration page once you scroll down it says below the gender radio buttons that "Current law does not permit females to register").

[mac1]

No, you remain registered for life.

You can't be drafted once you turn 26, however.

Don't worry about losing the card. I lost my card so I asked for a letter. I had to get one for US citizenship.

Not true. During the Viet Nam War the age was either 26 or 27 (not sure) if you never had a deferrment or 35 if you had a deferrment for school or other.  There was another requirement for married with children.  I would suspect that the age was also greater than 26 for both Korea and WWII.

Women have always been able to enlist for certain areas of service but have not been eligible for the draft.

[tgchar21]

@mac1 - iKate referred to the maximum age they can call you up for the first time (and not how long they can call you up after receiving a deferment).

[LordKAT]

Maybe not online but my sister and I did register for the draft. Right out of high school.

[SuchisLife]

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.

What is actually super discriminatory is that females aren't required to register.  Females serve in the military as well.  I agree that the government needs to change, but that change would be requiring everyone or no one to register.  Real equality is a bitch, sometimes.

[Mallory]

The military isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed my 6 years and I enjoyed the 4 years of paid college.  I think everyone, male and female and non-gender conforming and everything in between regardless of sexual orientation, should be made to do at minimum 2 years of service.

Once you're done with those two years you'll feel one of two ways: Hate the establishment even more because you lack the intestinal fortitude to adapt and overcome the unique challenges that life presents, or you'll have far more respect for your freedoms and for those who defend them.

Sign up, write your congressman/woman so that you can express how you feel about it, and get it over with.

[SuchisLife]

For what it's worth, I served 6 years.  I still work for the military as a contractor and have for the past 9 years.

[kelly_aus]

Once you're done with those two years you'll feel one of two ways: Hate the establishment even more because you lack the intestinal fortitude to adapt and overcome the unique challenges that life presents, or you'll have far more respect for your freedoms and for those who defend them.

Wow.. What a load of self righteous crap. America has long passed the point where it's military spending is unsustainable and it's "superpower" status is more of a laugh than serious - maintained only by it's nuclear weapons. While there is a place for all countries to have military forces, the time is long passed that it's main aim should be enforcing it's will on other countries.

I've got all the "intestinal fortitude" I need, I transitioned.