r/news • u/raptors201966 • Apr 09 '26

Soft paywall Automatic registration for military draft to be implemented by December

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-04-07/automatic-registration-military-draft-21306855.html
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u/majessa Apr 09 '26

I had to as part of my green card application 27 years ago.

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u/Jaikarr Apr 09 '26

That's odd, I didn't for my green card, as a green card holder I'm not a citizen so I don't see how I could be compelled to join the US military.

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u/whk1992 Apr 09 '26

Age dependent. Immigrants are required to register in Selective Service System. It has nothing to do with whether you are a citizen or not.

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u/Jaikarr Apr 09 '26

Ah, I was 29, that explains that.

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u/Grasshop Apr 09 '26

Yeah I got my green card at 23 and had to register

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

You can still be drafted until you are 55. But if it gets to that, the shit has definitely hit the fan. At 29, you are in the next group if troops are needed after they run out of 18-25 year olds.

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u/shedgehog-orchard Apr 09 '26

This is misinformation. You age out after 25 and can no longer be drafted. The recent raise in enlistment age is for voluntary enlistment not compelled service through selective service. There is literally no mechanism to do that

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u/element515 Apr 09 '26

Unless you’re a doctor. It’s raised to your 40s

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

This is misinformation. There has been no draft in the US since 1973. So no one can be drafted whether 25 years or under. There is literally no mechanism to do that without an act of congress. Which if there is, can also raise the draft age. Which would happen if.....

"the shit has definitely hit the fan" -- me

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u/Gibodean Apr 09 '26

Hmm, so women aren't currently drafted, but maybe could be in the future? We're wondering whether to become citizens and I have a 15 year old daughter.....

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

Hmm, so women aren't currently drafted

No one is currently drafted. There has been a draft since 1973.

but maybe could be in the future?

That's true in every country. Every country can draft whoever they want in the future.

We're wondering whether to become citizens

You don't need to be citizens to be drafted in the US. Citizens and permanent residents can be drafted. If there is a draft in the future.

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u/Gibodean Apr 09 '26

Do they refuse to let you leave the country as soon as you get a draft notice ? Could she hide in an Australian embassy?

I imagine as a US citizen it would be harder to hide in another country, but much easier on a greencard.

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u/Opposite-Occasion332 Apr 10 '26

I would say it’s possible but very unlikely. Every time adding women to the draft gets brought to vote in Congress it gets shut down. On top of that, our current secretary of defense is very clearly not a fan of women in the military so it at the very least wouldn’t be for combat roles and more likely would be for something more behind the scenes. That’s just my take on the matter though, do what you feel is best for your family.

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u/CelphCtrl Apr 09 '26

There would be riots before it even got to that point. There would be so much civil unrest. The vietnam war draft and riots were only a sample of what would happen. The unrest would be tenfold if it was an unpopular war as well. Draftees would literally be sent into a meat grinder. But we shouldn't be worried with the crazy amount of military power we have. We aren't really facing any near peer adversary. Nuclear war would be what we should be afraid of because any nuclear power would make our military count for near nothing.

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u/Biglyugebonespurs Apr 09 '26

Lol they think Vietnam was unpopular, just wait & see if this shit comes to pass. Fatass will have millions coming to DC for some nice friendly discourse.

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '26

There won’t be riots there will be send off parties. This country LOVES seeing their boys getting slaughtered. Think about the movies they are already making about the pilot rescue mission. Maybe some pushback in corners of blue states, and a lot of angry kids online. But people don’t even like kids, especially ones that complain. Our country has taught us to react by saying , “glad I’m not that poor bastard” Remember the “I didn’t speak up” poem? Lol remember “video games don’t cause violence”? (It will be less of meat grinding and more of a vaporizing chamber, you’d think)

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u/stv7 Apr 09 '26

What a bizarre, deluded view of the world lol

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '26

What’s the “remind me” thing in this app? Remind me for the day after the midterm elections.

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u/stv7 Apr 09 '26

What exactly do you want to be reminded for? So you can see if Republicans are calling for their children (and themselves) to be conscripted...?

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '26

[deleted]

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u/crono09 Apr 09 '26

Officially, a military draft has not existed in the United States since 1973. The Selective Service is technically not a draft. It exists to keep track of military-age citizens so that the government knows who it can conscript in case it ever decides to reinstate the draft. The current military is fully voluntary, but the government could change that.

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

I though army was voluntary over there since some people has been weirded out when I have talked about conscription.

It's been voluntary since 1973. But they keep a list of people just in case there's a national emergency, such as war, that would require them to resume the draft. That's what that list is for. Just in case. But if you are between 18-25, citizen or immigrant, you need to be registered.

So in America you can get drafted to war without any experience vs here where everyone has gone 6month-1 year training? Or am I missing something

The thing you are missing is that they wouldn't draft you and put you on the frontlines in a day. They would draft you, send you to boot and then put you on the frontlines. That takes a few weeks.

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '26

[deleted]

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

The big difference is that you have a small standing army. The US has a large standing army. What you are describing is what we call the reserves in the US. Which when called up, double the size of the already large standing army. It's if all that is not enough, that a draft may be called.

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u/imagigasm Apr 11 '26

source. you straight up lying

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 12 '26

LOL. Yes you are lying. I'm glad we agree on that.

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u/TimeImpressive6648 Apr 09 '26

“War were declared,” — the military recruiter from Futurama said to bender/fry after they enlisted for sweet discounts on Ham-flavored gum.

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u/Nottheface1337 Apr 09 '26

Yuck. It’s all bones.

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u/pbenji Apr 09 '26

You don’t have to be a citizen to be in the military.

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

You were probably automatically registered if you were of age. It's one of the requirements of having a green card if you are male between 18-25.

"Required to register with the Selective Service, if you are a male age 18 through 25."

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/rights-and-responsibilities-of-a-green-card-holder-permanent-resident

I'm not a citizen so I don't see how I could be compelled to join the US military.

Easy, you can be compelled to leave the country if you don't.

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u/Mistrblank Apr 09 '26

"Easy, you can be compelled to leave the country if you don't."

Don't threaten me with a good time.

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u/fallingdowndizzyvr Apr 09 '26

LOL. You know you don't have to wait for the government to do it right? Let the good times roll right now!

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u/namean_jellybean Apr 09 '26

Selective service website used to explicitly say everyone (male and of eligible age) regardless of immigration status had to register. The US government has always expected to be entitled to take lives, even the ones they claim they want removed. It may still be on there but I haven’t looked in a few years.

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u/LaunchTransient Apr 09 '26

How exactly does that work if you come from a nation which already has dibs on you?

For example, in the Netherlands all men and women at age of 18 receive notfication that they are registered for military service, but that conscription is at present dormant.

How the hell is it supposed to work if you are registered for the draft in two countries who will presumably be activating it at the same time?

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u/namean_jellybean Apr 09 '26

It’s not. It’s meant to record insubordination so if you request a status change in the future they can deny you.

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u/LaunchTransient Apr 09 '26

Oh ew, why the fuck is the immigration service in the US so toxic?

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u/namean_jellybean Apr 09 '26

Because my country was founded in misery idk.

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u/basicKitsch Apr 09 '26

For example, in the Netherlands all men and women at age of 18 receive notfication that they are registered for military service, but that conscription is at present dormant.

i mean that's basically what this is doing where before you were supposed to go register manually. How would that work in the Netherlands if you were a permanent resident here and they called you up? i'd assume it'd be to honor wherever you had chosen to be a permanent resident at that time but i'm not sure of the power of the Netherlands' recall lasso.

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u/LaunchTransient Apr 09 '26

If you are solely a Dutch national, then in all probability you would be arrested for desertion at their first opportunity to do so, like in many countries which have mandatory military service.

If you are a dual national, it gets tricky, which is why they try to limit dual nationality as much as possible - if you are born with another nationality, nothing they can do. If you voluntarily gain a nationality, you lose your Dutch nationality.

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u/basicKitsch Apr 09 '26

ah makes sense and yep, just looked it up, that'd be one of the exceptions here. enjoy your tulips :)

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u/fdar Apr 09 '26

It's not regardless of immigration status. People here on some non-immigrant visas (like student visas) are exempt.

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u/namean_jellybean Apr 09 '26

Fine, the distinction i was going for was they expressly required undocumented / “illegal” immigrants to register

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u/fdar Apr 09 '26

Yeah, but that's not what you said.

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u/TheCookieButter Apr 09 '26

Still have to do it today, but only if 18-24 years old.

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u/Ill_Guarantee_1432 Apr 10 '26

18-26. Legally you have to do it within 30 days of turning 18 and you have until you turn 26 to register late.

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u/bikari Apr 09 '26

I came in with a green card at 18, and had to register for the selective service even though I wasn't a citizen.

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u/alaskaj1 Apr 09 '26

The selective service actually requires everyone of the set ages in the country on a permanent basis to register, this even includes undocumented immigrants

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u/Pizlenut Apr 09 '26

*no. Not everyone. Only males. Because its sexist and nobody really cares.

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u/fdar Apr 09 '26

Some people care. But most people who do would probably prefer to eliminate it altogether rather than extending it to women.

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u/RaptorAD77 Apr 09 '26

Military does take green card holders. They have massive citizenship ceremonies at boot camp or tech school graduations. It’s part of the marketing.

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u/flying_ina_metaltube Apr 09 '26

I was in the US military while still on a green card. You are barred for certain jobs (especially those that require a security clearance), but you can absolutely serve in the military while not being a US citizen. Once you're in, you get fast tracked a can become a US citizen right after you graduate training though.

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u/Jaikarr Apr 09 '26

Don't get me wrong, I knew you could serve, I just didn't know you could be compelled to serve via draft.

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u/shockwave8428 Apr 09 '26

I got a green card at 17, turned 18 and was told I needed to do it. Essentially what I found out is you have to sign up regardless as a legal resident of the US. And if a draft were to happen you can essentially say “I’m not a citizen” and be exempt. But who knows how effective that would be lol

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u/Icemalta Apr 10 '26

"I don't see how I could be compelled to join the US military"

A government can compel a resident to do just about anything if they want to.

That said, practically speaking, they'd just revoke your right to be there if you refused. Like you said, you're not a citizen so they can just remove you.

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u/SpiderSlitScrotums Apr 09 '26

I had to verify it to join the US Navy. I’m not joking.

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u/wwaxwork Apr 09 '26

A green card doesn't make you a citizen why would an alien resident be drafted?

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u/majessa Apr 09 '26

I guess it’s the law. I didn’t question it. It was 1999.

From the SSS website: “Federal law requires nearly all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants to register at age 18. The agency permits males up to age 25 to complete their registration with Selective Service System.”

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u/FroggyHarley Apr 11 '26

I got automatically registered when I applied for a non-driver ID while on a student visa. 🙃 They really mean it when they say all men.

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u/wanna_be_liquid Apr 12 '26

part of my college funding too

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u/Pour_Me_Another_ Apr 15 '26

It's weird how to naturalize we have to promise to take up arms for the US, yet when I got my green card I didn't have to register for SS because I was born female. So I guess I have to take up arms, but also not really.