What is the difference between "Selective Service Registration" and "THE DRAFT"?

PFC Daniel Starrett — Sun, 01 May 2016 16:47:43 -0400

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made May 1 at 2016 4:52 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sun, 01 May 2016 16:52:47 -0400

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.

Response by PFC Daniel Starrett made May 1 at 2016 4:57 PM

PFC Daniel Starrett — Sun, 01 May 2016 16:57:14 -0400

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.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 1 at 2016 5:55 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 01 May 2016 17:55:56 -0400

One (Selective Service) is the database for the other (conscription or 'The Draft).

Response by SSG Jeremy Kohlwes made May 1 at 2016 6:52 PM

SSG Jeremy Kohlwes — Sun, 01 May 2016 18:52:22 -0400

The selective Service Registration is the database that the draft, if it was ever used again, would pull candidates from.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 1 at 2016 7:26 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 01 May 2016 19:26:24 -0400

Selective Service Registration simply puts you on the list (data base) that would be used if there is ever the need for a Draft. Since a Draft is highly unlikely, your name is just on a list.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 2 at 2016 1:12 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 02 May 2016 13:12:43 -0400

Since I lived through a Draft, a couple points are missing. Registration into a database everyone is getting. The Draft is a process wherein a method is selected to pull from the pool of registrants whatever body count is needed. The last one had a number of exemptions going in like college student, sole survivor, and others. With those set aside, a "lottery" is held in which 366 balls of birth dates are in a big jar. They go on down the line with an effective cut off in which you're likely safe because it's a numbers game. I wound up in the Navy after West Point didn't like my eyes primarily because I pulled a draft number of Two and decided I would control my destiny. Wound up off 'Nam anyways but doing a job that I enjoyed for the most part.

At the time, women didn't register. There's some political noise today about equality but that isn't a requirement yet. I do remember the war was so unpopular, various dodging schemes were common including bailing out to Canada who would not extradite, forged medical exemptions, hardship games, etc. The percentage of dodging was so great, they had to dip well into the "safe zone" which in turn angered those caught up in it. Time of "need" was a problem because most thought we should be involved hence no need. The percentage of refuseniks is proportional to the unpopularity of the war.

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Sep 10 at 2016 1:39 AM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 01:39:41 -0400

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.