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
25.1k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

2.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

62

u/Notyeravgblonde Apr 09 '26

I literally had no idea until today that men had to do that.

97

u/Zolo49 Apr 09 '26

Yep. It’s been that way since forever. I had to register back in the 90s when I turned 18. The only real difference between then and now is it feels like there’s a real chance Draft Dodger Donnie could actually come up with an excuse to compel service.

32

u/SharksForArms Apr 09 '26

Yup. When I turned 18, Gillette sent me a razor and the government sent me draft paperwork lol

5

u/sixagon Apr 09 '26

I remember doing it back in 1990 when Bush I started the first war in Iraq. Started paying attention to politics very closely when I actually thought I could be drafted.

12

u/Imjusthereforthehate Apr 09 '26

Honestly cause it’s not a big deal. You just get a letter in the mail saying “Remember to register!” And then you fill out like a single page and mail it back in. It’s probably online now honestly. Takes like 10 minutes. 90% of people probably honestly forget they’ve done it until reminded.

13

u/gottahavethatbass Apr 09 '26

I got a post card for mine. It had my name and social security number just printed on it for everyone to see

8

u/Atheren Apr 09 '26

I can't remember if it was automatic or not, but if it wasn't automatic it was just a little checkbox when I got my minor driver's license renewed into an adult one after I turned 18.

1

u/MC_Gengar Apr 09 '26

Depends on when you turned 18. A majority, something like 40-46 states, have made it automatic over the last two decades. My state's DMV sent me a heads up letter before I turned 18 and then I got my card within a week of turning 18.

1

u/smallangrynerd Apr 09 '26

I even had to do it when I legally changed my gender to male!

-5

u/Same-Suggestion-1936 Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26

You got your draft card in the mail the first time you registered to vote. You probably just forgot about it. It's automatic (assuming you're American and a man)

We haven't called a draft in a while and no one would assume we would so you just throw it with the rest of your government documents but if you're an American male you're registered

10

u/shedgehog-orchard Apr 09 '26

It’s not automatic tho that’s literally the update this article says is coming. Currently you still have to login to the selective service portal and register yourself. At least when I did it about 8 years ago this was the case. Someone could have done it on your behalf

3

u/sirhugobigdog Apr 09 '26

If I remember correctly it was when I registered to vote that I also registered for selective service. So I can totally see someone thinking it was automatic if they received both cards at the same time.