MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE (10 November 1998)		FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:  LTC John Dwyer, Public Affairs Officer 101 EGGERT CROSSING ROAD LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648 609-530-6939

At 10:30 a.m. (EST) on November 19, 1998, a senior U.S. government official will throw a "switch." Instantly, millions of young men will find it much easier to fulfill a civic and legal responsibility.

As of that moment, 18 through 25-year-old male U.S. citizens everywhere (as well as male non-citizens residing in the U.S.) will be able to register with the Selective Service System using the Internet. "This will be real, interactive, on-line registration," notes the Honorable Gil Coronado, Director of Selective Service. "For nearly two decades men have been going to a post office, completing and mailing a registration form, and waiting 60 to 90 days to receive an acknowledgement card from us. With this new on-line service, a man with a valid Social Security number will be able to connect to the Selective Service Web Site, link to the Agency's computers, type in his registration information, click on the "submit" button which appears on the screen, and instantly be given his Selective Service number. Additionally, he will receive a formal acknowledgement postcard in the mail much faster…within two weeks."

 Federal law requires virtually all men to register with Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18. Although late registrations are accepted, a man cannot register after reaching 26. Failure to register is a felony and causes a man to be ineligible for student loans and grants for college, most Federal and many state jobs, and training under the Job Training Partnership Act. Male draft-age immigrants who fail to register cannot obtain citizenship.

 Although the U.S. relies primarily on an all-volunteer military today, the Selective Service System and the draft registration program help America remain prepared to reinstate a timely and fair draft in a future crisis, should a draft become necessary.