I am 37 years old and would like to join the National Guard with possible active duty in the Army thereafter. I wish to state first off that I have absolutely no criminal record, not even a parking ticket to my name, a high school diploma, and am physically sound.
However, I found out a while back that, apparently, I am not registered with Selective Services. My name or regestration number does not turn up on thair database, although I maintain that I did register. My father specifically remembers taking me down to the local post office, and I remember filling out the form, sometime after my 17th birthday in 1987. If the form did not reach the offices, or was lost or misplaced somewhere along the line, I was never informed of it. I did not become aware that I was not registered until about four years ago, but I don't think my insistance that I did is of any help.
My question is simply, does this apparent failure to register disqualify me from military service?
I have yet to call my local recruiter, as I rather doubt if they would know off hand, and it might take them six months to get back to me.
I would not think this would matter at all. I joined the Army in 1980 when I was 18. This was around the same time Selective Service started. I never registered with Selective Service since I joined the Army. I was a Paratrooper stationed in Alaska and got a nasty letter from Selective Service addressed to me with my rank and addressed to me at my duty station. The letter stated I had failed to register with Selective Service and I could be fined, imprisoned, and barred from federal employment. I took the letter to my 1SG and asked him if this meant I was not in the Army anymore. He snatched the letter from my hand and said he would take care of it and to get the Hell out of his office. I never heard from them again and I am still serving in the Guard. LOL I guess this makes me a draft dodger. Any way to answer your question I would doubt it would have any bearing on your being able to join the National Guard or the Regular Army.
Thank you very much for the insight RavenWarrior! The situation you describe might be a little different however, because you were within draft age (17-27) at the time. I was long past the cutoff date before I even discovered I wasn't registered (it may be that your 1SG simply registered you himself, or followed some procedure exclusive to those already admitted).
I cannot find any information in regards to this matter. The SSS website, and all other sources, merely state that those who fail to register may be "ineligible for some Federal jobs". None the lists I've seen of disqualifications for military service mention draft registration, but all are vague and/or incomplete, and are probably geared more towards those within age for registration. A 26 year-old can simply go online and register right there at the recruiter's desk, but I'm 37.
I would still go for it. I don't think they even check to see if you registered with Selective Service. Even if the did I would not think it would matter. Besides I would just tell them I had no idea I was not in their data base and that I had registered but Selective Service must have lost it before it was placed on their data base and that I had registered and since I never heard from them I figured every thing was good to go.
One thing I learned during President Clinton's time in the White House is to deny everything, admit nothing and make false allegations. Shoot it got him 2 terms in the White House. Also its always easer to get forgiveness than permition.
You could always make an anominous call to a Guard recruiter and ask him about it. If its no problem then why tell your recruiter and if it is then still don't tell him and there is a chance they won't check. Never give them any info if they don't ask for it.
Right now you can enlist even if you have a felony conviction so I doubt the fact your name is not in the Selective Service data base would be a show stopper.
It shouldn't be a show stopper but we do ask and it is on the application and we have to look it up I work for a recruiter and have to do it everyday but like I said it shouldn't stop you from enlisting by the way what state are you in?
I figured it would not be a show stopper. I would hate for them to tell me I would loose my retirement pay cause I never registered with selective service.
Originally posted by eazytnt: It shouldn't be a show stopper but we do ask and it is on the application and we have to look it up I work for a recruiter and have to do it everyday but like I said it shouldn't stop you from enlisting by the way what state are you in?
If its does not matter then why do they go to the trouble of looking?
Oops, sorry guys, I posted under my wife's(NGwife615). According to my wife, I enlisted 7/17, hence the screen name, lol Maybe they check, just to scare the **** out of you, who knows.
My husband had the same problem I think his recruiter had him go down to the post office and register even though he's 36 already any way I remember talk of it. In the end his elistment went through fine so I don't think it will be a big deal.
He's been in the NG for 9 months now.
Right now the Guard needs people so they'll try to work with you on alot of things. If we weren't involved in Iraq things might be different.
Originally posted by TissaM: My husband had the same problem I think his recruiter had him go down to the post office and register even though he's 36 already any way I remember talk of it. In the end his elistment went through fine so I don't think it will be a big deal.
He's been in the NG for 9 months now.
Right now the Guard needs people so they'll try to work with you on alot of things. If we weren't involved in Iraq things might be different.
Its all about supply and demand. When the Guard is meeting their recruiting goals then the standards for enlistment go up and when they start falling short they lower the recruiting standards in order to meet the recruiting goals.
