Selective Service registration and college programs - question

[July]

My son is applying for a summer program at a U.S. university, and the application form asks, "If you are a male between 18 and 26, have you registered for Selective Service -- Y/N?" followed by "If yes, give your Selective Service number here" (followed by a blank).

He's not applying for financial aid, and these questions are part of the regular application.

Anyone know what's up?

[bleedingheart]

1. Isn't this the norm?

being a gal..I never had to do this but I think financial aid and some work-study stuff is tied to the selective service.

[Frances]

2. Why should only guys have to have a selective service number?

nt

[bleedingheart]

4. because that is the way the law works...women are excluded

"
WOMEN AND THE DRAFT Printer Friendly Version

Women Aren't Required to Register
Here's why:
THE LAW
Selective Service law as it's written now refers specifically to "male persons" in stating who must register and who would be drafted. For women to be required to register with Selective Service, Congress would have to amend the law.

THE SUPREME COURT
The constitutionality of excluding women was tested in the courts. A Supreme Court decision in 1981, Rostker v. Goldberg, held that registering only men did not violate the due process clause of the Constitution.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
At President Clinton's request, the Department of Defense reviewed this issue in 1994. DoD noted that America's prior drafts were used to supply adequate numbers of Army ground combat troops. Because women are excluded by policy from front line combat positions, excluding them from the draft process remains justifiable in DoD's view. Although no conclusions were reached, DoD recognized that policies regarding women need to be reviewed periodically because the role of women in the military continues to expand.

The Selective Service System, if given the mission and additional funding, is capable of registering and drafting women with its existing infrastructure.
"



http://www.sss.gov/FSwho.htm

[Frances]

8. Thanks for the links

But according to your post, the issue of gender did come up in 1994. That was 11 years ago.

I would think that if we really do have a draft, there would be a lot of discussion about retaining the gender inequity, especially since women and men have worked together so closely in Iraq.

[northzax]

3. has he registered?

Federal Law requires all men between the ages of 18-25 to be registered with the SSA. Any institution that takes federal funds (like a university) has to ask if he's registered. If he's not 18, then it's not a problem. If he is 18, and has not registered, then he won't be accepted.

I don't recall ever getting a SSA number, come to think of it. I mean I guess I must have, but no one ever asked me for it.

[bleedingheart]

6. You are right...it is the law, I just checked out the web site

for the Selective Service.

Here it is from the web site..

"Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service. It's important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental, physical and moral fitness by the military before being deferred or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed Forces. "

http://www.sss.gov/FSwho.htm

There are very few exceptions.

[One_Life_To_Give]

7. You can look up your number at SSA

I had to look up mine when filling out a SF-86.
You can retreive your own SSA number from them on-line or they also have a phone number for it.

[HereSince1628]

5. It's standard practice...n/t

[July]

9. Thanks, all.

I knew about the registration requirement, but I don't get the part about the application question -- I'm going to look for the law requiring colleges to ask about it. I thought it only applied to financial aid applications, but it seems I was wrong.