Posted on May 1, 2016
PFC Daniel Starrett
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Posted in these groups: F3b2d380 Selective Service (the Draft)
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PFC Daniel Starrett
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It has come to my attention that most people think that selective service registration and the draft are the same thing; and for those who do think this, you could not be more wrong.

The registration is not a draft. In laymens terms, it is nothing more than a census. Registering with the selective service does not put you in the military. It does not bind you to military law. It does not require you to report to your local MEPS station. ALL it does is register 99% of the men (currently) between the ages of 18 and 25. Nothing else.

THE DRAFT on the other hand DOES order you to report to your local MEPS station, where you will be given a physical, mental and legal evaluation to determine your ability to serve in the armed forces. If you are deemed unfit, whether it is because you have only one leg, or because you are schizophrenic, or because you are your parents only child, whatever reason, then your name is marked as unfit for duty and you are sent back home and your name removed from the list or marked that you are unfit until a certain date (as is the case for being in college).

So, to finalize, you have two different programs: the selective service registration program and the draft. The first is simply a census of all American (and certain other groups of) men between the ages of 18 and 25. The draft is conscription.

If Congress passes the vote requiring women to register? They are not being drafted any more than a man is. Our country is simply coming to its senses and taking a census of ALL men and women between the ages of 18 and 25.
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PFC Daniel Starrett
PFC Daniel Starrett
8 y
MAJ Carl Ballinger - okay, you are making a statement based off the first ten (?) minutes of my having posted this article, and then you are claiming that when I put my own opinion in on the matter (which I intended to do as part of the original post) that I am "answering phantoms".

I have to stop and wonder if there is a problem somewhere that has nothing to do with this post? I suggest in the future, at least in regards to myself, that is you have nothing to contribute directly in relation to my post, that you go elsewhere. I welcome any and all input, otherwise I would not have posted the question. I am looking for a healthy, key word here, debate. Not for someone coming in, trying to hijack it and insult me instead.

Good day to you.
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LTC Yinon Weiss
LTC Yinon Weiss
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1) You wrote that registering does not bind you to military law, but it should be noted that the act of not registering is a violation of the Military Selective Service Act.

2) Registration is a way our government keeps a list of names of men from which to draw in case of a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of our Armed Forces. By registering all young men, Selective Service ensures that a future draft will be fair and equitable.

Therefore, the purpose of the Selective Service is to register people in case of a potential draft. Its purpose is not just a "census" which merely counts the number of men between the ages of 18-25 (which is what a census is for), but it is a database intended to be used and explicitly drawn from for sole purpose of expanding the US Armed Forces in times of "national emergencies."

I'm not sure why your'e trying to split hairs with all these definitions??
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TSgt Scott Hurley
TSgt Scott Hurley
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Today the biggest problem is that there are those that do not know about the Selective Service. I talked to a financial aid advisor at the school I am going to and mentioned the Selective Service to him. He told me that any male that does not have a Selective service number is right then and there signed up for it. Then they get the financial aid they need. I even told an instructor the she has to have have her son sign up when he turns 18 even thou he may have a disability. This is so the government keeps track of those that are eligible so they do not draft someone with a disability. Of course the government will decide what disabilities will be identified that will disqualify you.
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LTC Yinon Weiss
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Selective Service Registration just means you are registered in the database for potential service. Draft means you're putting on a uniform and serving in the Armed Forces.
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PFC Daniel Starrett
PFC Daniel Starrett
8 y
not quite true on both points, but fairly accurate. The registration is nothing more than a census of men between the ages of 18 and 25. It does nothing and has no potential to do anything other than let our government know how many male 18 to 25 year olds we have int he country. The draft on the other hand USES the registration to randomly call any man that is between 18 and 25 to appear at their local MEPS station in order to be physically, mentally and legally examined for duty. If you are found fit for duty, you are pressed into service.
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PFC Daniel Starrett
PFC Daniel Starrett
8 y
MAJ Carl Ballinger - he is HALF correct on the first part as his statement indicates that thee ONLY purpose for the SSR is for drafting people in time of need, which it is not. On the second half he is completely wrong because the draft does not do anything OTHER than order you to report to your local MEPS station where you will then be examined for fitness of duty. If you are found unfit then you go home instead of into service. If yuo are fit, you are thus conscripted into service.
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SFC Joseph Weber
SFC Joseph Weber
8 y
PFC Daniel Starrett - You say he is wrong. So you know the answer? Why did you post the question? Was this a test? When do we get our grades? MAJ Carl Ballinger LTC Yinon Weiss
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TSgt Scott Hurley
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There is more to the Selective Service than being a tool for the Draft. It is used to identify those that are eligible for the draft by identifying those with disabilities that would disqualify you from service. It also will help you get a Federal Job, Security Clearance, and Federal Loans. There is more to Selective service than one thinks. There are those that think its for the draft only. But it is not. And we are going to have a problem because it is the law that you sign up for it when you turn 18. And how many 18-26 year old men did not sign up for it. Even the ones that are physically handicapped.
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