OT need advice on Selective Service problem

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:11 pm

My brother in law turns 44 next month. He is trying to become a teacher, and that involves student loans. He filled out his Federal application for student assistance and it got held up because they said he didn't register for the draft 26 years ago.
He swears he did, and I have no reason not to believe him.
He has the Status Information Letter he needs to fill out, including the part where he has to explain why he did not register.
He's a guy trying to better himself. He pays his taxes, votes, and tells me he registered.
If he doesn't get financial aid he's pretty much done. He gets one shot with his letter, with no appeal.
Any advice?

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:18 pm

As much as it may be distasteful, this is one of the things that the ACLU excells at, my high school chum is invloved with the Texas chapter, I can make a phone call.

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:20 pm

PM sent

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:21 pm

Good luck guys. Quinn, keep us posted on how this progresses...

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:26 pm

BTW, he is pro-2nd Amendment and carries.

P

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:27 pm

Have him go online to the Selective Service website and check his registration if it says he is not registered it only takes a minute to complete it on line. I do this for people all the time so that they can enlist it is an easy process. http://www.sss.gov/

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:29 pm

" I got friends in low places " done.

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:42 pm

JReed wrote:Have him go online to the Selective Service website and check his registration if it says he is not registered it only takes a minute to complete it on line. I do this for people all the time so that they can enlist it is an easy process. http://www.sss.gov/

He's 43 years old. Way past the deadline. I wish it were that easy.

P

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:46 pm

Ah missed his age the first time threw disregard.

SFRanger7GP · Post by **SFRanger7GP** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:52 pm

Go online and look and then make some calls. I got told I had never registered during a security clearance renewal (which I had) after I had already served 24 years and had retired from the Army! It took about a half a day of phone calls and being polite to people that didn't deserve it to get it straightened out.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:03 pm

This is just a bueurcratic SNAFU
all will be well.

rhead · Post by **rhead** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:49 am

My son had the same problem when he regestered. Two of the numbers in his SSN had been transposed when they manualy transfered the data from the regestration site to their archives. No idea why they do this manualy.

OI phones in... · Post by **OI phones in...** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:26 am

You know... I don't think I ever registered either... but then, I enlisted at 17 too...

Curious ...

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:39 am

**There are no records in the Database before January 1, 1960**

Looks like I'm SOL.

(Snap out of luck)

Still have my SSA Card, 1A, and when I drew "13" as a draft number when a Senior in HS I told my folks the next day I was enlisting in the Marines. There was much wailing and knashing of teeth, but I left for the University of Parris Island in August, '72. Still got that card, too.

Semper Fi,

Noah

kirkwood · Post by **kirkwood** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:46 am

He should have gotten a Selective Service card. Does he have that buried away someplace? I had mine up until the day I was no longer eligible, but I'm not sure how I could prove I was registered now. Did he change his name or apply for a new SSN?

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:13 am

Kirkwood,
Wow!
Mine returned to it's orginal organic matter years ago, disintegrated.
I remember that old gunnery sargeant at the Mills building ( when I got mine ) telling me that if he saw me 30 years from now, and I did not have it on me, he would " kick your !@# "
I believed him.

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:39 am

Got my card back in 1969 when turned 18. Still have and carry it 40 years later.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:27 am

kirkwood wrote:He should have gotten a Selective Service card. Does he have that buried away someplace? I had mine up until the day I was no longer eligible, but I'm not sure how I could prove I was registered now. Did he change his name or apply for a new SSN?

See, that's another reason I don't think I actually filled one out... I don't have one of those in my file box.

Wouldn't be funny to be in the Field somewhere and find out during Mail Call that you had been Drafted?

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:24 am

kirkwood wrote:He should have gotten a Selective Service card. Does he have that buried away someplace? I had mine up until the day I was no longer eligible, but I'm not sure how I could prove I was registered now. Did he change his name or apply for a new SSN?

I registered in January 1987 and never received a card. Did they stop issuing them after a certain timeframe?

I also never knew, until following JReed's link, that there is any such thing as a Selective Service Number. I wonder why they don't use that, instead of one's Social Security Number, as a service number?

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:44 am

Be sure to have your friend write in that he's a minority; they'll apologise, send him to school on a full ride, and send a bonus check for his trouble!

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:59 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:Wouldn't be funny to be in the Field somewhere and find out during Mail Call that you had been Drafted?

I had two draft cards when I joined the Navy (Nov. '72) and I was 1A on both. While I was in boot camp, my Mom forwarded a letter to me from my local draft board, ordering me to report for a pre-induction physical.

BTW, I joined because my lottery number was 61, when we all thought any number below 200 was an instant ticket to Saigon. As it turned out, they stopped drafting people at number 55, and that year was the last year for the lottery.

OJ · Post by OJ » Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:38 pm

Ysabel Kid wrote:Good luck guys. Quinn, keep us posted on how this progresses...

Yep - in 1943 I turned 17 - dropped out of high school (had enough credits to graduate - diploma mailed to me the next year) and enlisted as an aviation cadet. Went to med school and had a reserve commission (turned medical) - I knew when the Korean War erupted they couldn't win without me - turned out they didn't "win" with me and I returned to civilian life in 1955 with my reserve commission.

Bottom line - I never registered for any draft.

I guess I would be listed as a "draft dodger" -

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:55 pm

I turned 18 in '70 .... 1970 that is. Registered with great trepidation and displeasure and went home. Got all my cards in the mail. Classified as 1A for the longest time. Carried them until the draft lottery where my birth date was 354 I think. After that I took them out of my wallet and put them in a safe place. A couple weeks ago I was looking for something and found them.

I think I'm classified as 1H or something the last time they sent me anything.

Joe

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:06 pm

Well, I went to the site... I guess I am registered, though I don't remember doing it and don't have a card.

I apparantly did it sometime after I went to Basic...

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:14 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:Wouldn't be funny to be in the Field somewhere and find out during Mail Call that you had been Drafted?

Happened to a friend of mine. His Mother got letters from the Draft Board DEMANDING he show up. She finally convinced them he would appear before them if they were willing to go to VN and get him since he was SF and on his second tour...

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:14 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:Well, I went to the site... I guess I am registered, though I don't remember doing it and don't have a card.

I apparantly did it sometime after I went to Basic...

Your recruiter probably did it.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:48 pm

JReed wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:Well, I went to the site... I guess I am registered, though I don't remember doing it and don't have a card.

I apparantly did it sometime after I went to Basic...
Your recruiter probably did it.

Probably, but the very concept is dumb. Why do you need a draft # when you are already GI?

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:51 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:
JReed wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:Well, I went to the site... I guess I am registered, though I don't remember doing it and don't have a card.

I apparantly did it sometime after I went to Basic...
Your recruiter probably did it.
Probably, but the very concept is dumb. Why do you need a draft # when you are already GI?

Its the Government when do they ever make sense.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:36 pm

If he doesn't get financial aid he's pretty much done. He gets one shot with his letter, with no appeal. Any advice?

Pharm,

I'm a strong advocate of anyone and everyone furthering their education and that the only barriers keeping us from it are "ourselves".

Anyone that really wants to go back to school isn't going to let a lack of "federal financial assistance" stop them.

There are many options for him...here are a few.

Personal bank loans
family loans
credit cards
getting a 2nd or 3rd job
Selling excess stuff on Ebay or Craigslist (guns/cars/TVs/entertainment system)
Cutting back on unnecessary expenditures
Buying generic brand items

I did it myself with two kids and two jobs and I've known many others who have as well.

If he's really serious about it, there's always a way.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:47 pm

meanc,
I worked at the same place as a 58 year old woman, she told me she had just got her degree in accounting, and she had so much student debt, she would never be able to pay it off in her lifetime.
I have been acquainted with others who were carring a staggering amount of student debt.
One size does not fit all, and will not fit all.

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:18 pm

mescalero1 wrote:meanc,
I worked at the same place as a 58 year old woman, she told me she had just got her degree in accounting, and she had so much student debt, she would never be able to pay it off in her lifetime.
I have been acquainted with others who were carring a staggering amount of student debt.
One size does not fit all, and will not fit all.

meanc, I agree that if there's a will, there's a way.
I gotta go with mescalero1 on this one, though. 44 is a little late in the game to shoulder the kind of debt he'd face.

P

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:33 pm

I think, sociatal pressure is a big factor in this equation.
We WANT to tell people we are degreed professionals,
so we do the things that bring us that option.
But was it worth it?
" Society everywhere is in conspricy against the manhood of each of it's members, it loves not realities and creators, but names and customs, discontent is the want of self reliance, it is infirmity of will"

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:31 pm

mescalero1 wrote:I think, sociatal pressure is a big factor in this equation.
We WANT to tell people we are degreed professionals,
so we do the things that bring us that option.
But was it worth it?
" Society everywhere is in conspricy against the manhood of each of it's members, it loves not realities and creators, but names and customs, discontent is the want of self reliance, it is infirmity of will"

I've packed concrete forms right along with guys with degrees; letters after your name mean very little.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:37 pm

I think that was the point I was trying to make.

OJ · Post by OJ » Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:36 pm

JReed wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:
JReed wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:Well, I went to the site... I guess I am registered, though I don't remember doing it and don't have a card.

I apparantly did it sometime after I went to Basic...
Your recruiter probably did it.
Probably, but the very concept is dumb. Why do you need a draft # when you are already GI?
Its the Government when do they ever make sense.

I dunno what the rules are today and they may have changed since the military service is all volunteer now but, I volunteered by enlisting in WWII and , having a reserve commission, volunteered again for the Korean War and was released from active duty still with a reserve commission - thus, never registered for the draft.

If I had not had a reserve commission when returning to civilian life, I would have been required to register for the draft but, with a special rating for those who had put in their service time. Anyone who enlisted didn't register for the draft before going in and on getting out if their rank was enlisted.

Old Glory - our Stars & Stripes above and the USMC Eagle, Globe, and Anchor below

rhead · Post by **rhead** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:23 pm

If you don't want the debt don't borrow the money. I got no federal or state assistance and had no scholarships. I had a job. I paid my way and most of my wife's. I sent money home to help my sister. I graduated with a degree in chemistry and zero debt and some money in the bank. I was also tired of eating dried beans and rice. I did miss a lot of parties and a lot of sleep. If any one wants to go to school they can it just takes a lot of work. Anyone who thinks they have to borrow the whole amount to go to school has never thought it out or done the math.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:41 pm

mescalero1 wrote:I think that was the point I was trying to make.

I used a hell of a lot less words.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:44 pm

rhead wrote:If you don't want the debt don't borrow the money. I got no federal or state assistance and had no scholarships. I had a job. I paid my way and most of my wife's. I sent money home to help my sister. I graduated with a degree in chemistry and zero debt and some money in the bank. I was also tired of eating dried beans and rice. I did miss a lot of parties and a lot of sleep. If any one wants to go to school they can it just takes a lot of work. Anyone who thinks they have to borrow the whole amount to go to school has never thought it out or done the math.

Good for you, but not everyone has that freedom; some of us are under a mountain of debt from medical or other bills, a family, limited opportunities, or having to care for a loved one.
I get sick of hearing from someone who had it hard and thinks nobody else should have it any easier, or that anyone can do it.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:51 pm

Travis Morgan wrote:
Good for you, but not everyone has that freedom; some of us are under a mountain of debt from medical or other bills, a family, limited opportunities, or having to care for a loved one.

Not one of the reasons you presented, and probably 99% of any others you can come up with, are not valid reasons at all.... they are nothing more than EXCUSES !!!

I don't care how you cut it, how many different sad stories you give, or how many excuses you can come up with... In this day and age there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but ourselves, keeping us from a higher education !!!

None said it was or would ever be easy.

But impossible it is not, especially to those so inclined.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:26 pm

meanc wrote:
Travis Morgan wrote:
Good for you, but not everyone has that freedom; some of us are under a mountain of debt from medical or other bills, a family, limited opportunities, or having to care for a loved one.

Not one of the reasons you presented, and probably 99% of any others you can come up with, are not valid reasons at all.... they are nothing more than EXCUSES !!!

I don't care how you cut it, how many different sad stories you give, or how many excuses you can come up with... In this day and age there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but ourselves, keeping us from a higher education !!!

None said it was or would ever be easy.

But impossible it is not, especially to those so inclined.

How the hell would you know, blowhard? As for myself, right now, we're broke as hell, and we're down to one income, as I'm still trying to get over back surgery; if there's money laying around here, I woulda found it!

.....now, on another topic: anyone wanna suggest new apps for my iphone? I need one to direct deposit my welfare and order my cigarettes and porn, since 'Ole Blowhard thinks I'm not trying.

rhead · Post by **rhead** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:31 pm

Travis Morgan wrote:
rhead wrote:If you don't want the debt don't borrow the money. I got no federal or state assistance and had no scholarships. I had a job. I paid my way and most of my wife's. I sent money home to help my sister. I graduated with a degree in chemistry and zero debt and some money in the bank. I was also tired of eating dried beans and rice. I did miss a lot of parties and a lot of sleep. If any one wants to go to school they can it just takes a lot of work. Anyone who thinks they have to borrow the whole amount to go to school has never thought it out or done the math.
Good for you, but not everyone has that freedom; some of us are under a mountain of debt from medical or other bills, a family, limited opportunities, or having to care for a loved one.
I get sick of hearing from someone who had it hard and thinks nobody else should have it any easier, or that anyone can do it.

I am well aware of that. I am one of them. My father had a severe stroke when I was 14. The medical bills exceeded $100000 in 1964. All of our savings disappeared overnight. I contributed to the family income from that time until his death 18 years later. You are wrong everyone does have that freedom. some just do not avail themselves of it. I did not say no one else should have it easier. I just fail to see why they should have it easier on some one else's money. I am sorry for your misfortunes but fail to see how that prevents you from having a job while you go to school. I am sorry that you are sick of hearing that anyone can do it. I for one am sick of hearing "I can't do it some one will have to do it for me."

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:41 pm

right on.

Don't forget you can take your time going through school, i.e., just do one quarter a year if you can't afford more. Takes longer but it gets done; my mother got a master's degree that way. No debt, just pay as you go.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:56 pm

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:34 pm

Being stupid is fine, but you can stop proving it now; we believe you!

Alan Wood · Post by **Alan Wood** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:05 am

El Chivo wrote:right on.

Don't forget you can take your time going through school, i.e., just do one quarter a year if you can't afford more. Takes longer but it gets done; my mother got a master's degree that way. No debt, just pay as you go.

Dooable however you need to check on the school rules on graduation rights. The one I went to had a limit to the number of semesters away before your catalog rights changed. Or credits disapeared.