- Selective Service System registration is expected to become automated later this year.
- Eligible young men in the United States are required by law to add their names to the military draft registry.
- A U.S. military draft has not been in effect for over a half-century — and lawmakers show no interest in reinstating it.
For decades, young men living in Utah and across the country have registered for the U.S. military draft pool — aka “Selective Service” — by going online or mailing in selective service cards.
That’s likely changing this year.
Beginning in December, the Selective Service System is expected to move to automated registration for eligible men ages 18-25. No more need to self-register.
On March 30, the federal agency submitted a proposed rule for automatic registration to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which will review and finalize the change.
Registering with the Selective Service System allows the federal government to maintain an up-to-date roster of eligible young men who could be conscripted into military service in the event of a national emergency such as a large-scale war.
The United States hasn’t exercised a military draft in over a half-century, ending in 1973. So the task of self-registering has become something of a formality — a rite of passage for young men.
The country has long maintained its all-volunteer military force.
But although the military draft ended decades ago, the government still wants to keep track — via the Selective Service System — of young men who could be called into military service, if needed.
The system is also authorized to manage an alternative program for conscientious objectors.
Federal law requires all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants to register with the selective service at age 18. Women are not required to register.
And required young men who neglect to add their names to the registry could face consequences.
“A man who fails to register may be ineligible for opportunities important to his future,” according to the selective service site.
“He must register to be eligible for state-funded student financial aid and employment in many states, most federal employment, job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men.”
For young men who are required to register with the SSS, failure to do so is also “a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or five years imprisonment.”
Prosecutions are extremely rare, but the selective service maintains the authority of referring names of suspected violators to the Justice Department for possible criminal charges, according to USA Today.
Trump champions selective service automation
The SSS’s anticipated automated registry was prompted by President Donald Trump, who ordered the shift from self-registration last year. It was later approved by Congress under the National Defense Authorization Act.
This statutory change transfers responsibility for registration from individual men to the selective service “through integration with federal data sources,” according to the program website.
“SSS will implement the change by December 2026, resulting in a streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment.”
Modernizing legacy conscription applications will “ensure secure, reliable systems are ready in the event of a national emergency.”
The selective service will utilize $6 million from the federal government’s Technology Modernization Fund.
America’s military conscription history
The American military conflict in Iran — which is currently on hold during a precarious ceasefire — has expectedly prompted new interest and discussion surrounding the possibility of future military drafts.
The United States has used conscription systems since the Revolutionary War era. A military draft was used in World War I, but was dissolved at the end of the conflict.
In 1940, prior to the nation’s entry into World War II, the first peacetime draft was enacted in response to increased global tensions. That allowed the country to rapidly meet wartime manpower needs following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, according to the selective service website.
The military draft ended following World War II, but was reenacted a short time later during the chill of the Cold War.
“From 1948 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means,” according to the selective service.
“Induction authority expired in 1973, but the Selective Service System remained in existence in ‘standby’ to support the all-volunteer force in case of an emergency.
“Registration was suspended early in 1975 and the Selective Service System entered into ‘deep standby.’”
Bringing back the military draft would require an act of Congress — and lawmakers have not signaled any such interest.