What does an 'Army Registration Acknowledgment Card' mean?

[spindoctor]

My son (turning 18 this month) received a Registration Acknowledgment Card in the mail today that he is supposed to sign and carry with him at all times.

Now for those who don't know me, I am but a humble immigrant. If this is standard procedure we'll just file it under dumb questions.
But before he signs anything I would like some objective information.

The only "information" that came with the card is a recruitment brochure.

[CBGLuthier]

1. sounds like BS to me

He has to register with selective service bur he doesn't have to carry anything.

[Vincardog]

2. Get and keep a few sticks of MAry Jane. In case he has to take a physical

[driver8]

5. Definitely!! Smoke 'em if you got 'em. I would have my son

smoking so much pot he wouldn't be able to see straight. No way in hell would he ever pass a urinalysis.

[Vincardog]

14. Just in case have him wear a dress to the physical.

No room for pride here.

[Ilsa]

29. Do you think makeup would suffice? eom

[spindoctor]

16. I don't think he needs any encouragement there

:party:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Selective Service I would imagine.

http://www.sss.gov/

[spindoctor]

12. Thanks for the link. I guess he is registered, but the question remains...

...how was he registered?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

22. One is sent a registration card at the age of 18.

Fill it out or suffer the consequences.

[sarcasmo]

4. It's something the Federal Government requires when you turn 18.

Registration is done at the U.S. Post office. They now have him on file to begin the hounding.

[EFerrari]

6. It's bait

DON'T LET HIM TURN IT IN until you know what is happening.

All our love and strength to you and your son.

Beth

[Solly Mack]

7. It's the "proof" that he registered with Selective Service

as all 18 year old males must do

They send you a RAC once you've registered.

From the FAQ page on the Selective Service web page.

"I lost my registration acknowledgment card. How can I get another one?
Copies of proof of registration may be obtained by calling the Selective Service at [phone]. You may also obtain a copy by writing to: Selective Service System, P.O. Box 94638, Palatine, Illinois, 60094-4638. Make sure to provide your name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and current mailing address."

http://www.sss.gov/QA.HTM#quest21

[spindoctor]

8. He didn't register for anything though

Is that an automatic procedure?

[Solly Mack]

10. NO. It's not automatic.

He's supposed to register BEFORE he gets the proof of registration.

I edited my above post with some contact info so you can check into it.

Good Luck!!!

And also look for info from the Quakers on how to keep your son from serving.

[INdemo]

9. Please Note

If your son files for any college grants or student loans he must have registered with the selective service to be elgible.

[spindoctor]

13. I wish ;)

I have a hard enough time keeping him in high school. lol

[DawgHouse]

19. did he recently get a driver license?

My son registered for selective service at the DMV when he got his driver license. Shortly thereafter the form you are talking about showed up in the mail.

[spindoctor]

27. nope, had his license for about a year. nt

[Geoff R. Casavant]

28. It's not just student loans

A lot of opportunities for males depend on being registered -- sometimes even employment eligibility for some jobs. He needs to head to the post office next week and register. Sorry, but it's the law.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Army? Is it possible the card is proof of selective service Registration?

[KerryOn]

15. Spin doctor...

The federal government requires all men to register for the draft at age 18. Currently our government does not have a draft. We just have a volunteer army. They have not instated a draft, and don't worry your son has not joined he military. The government now has his name on file, so he can be called up easily if they were to reinstate a draft.

[U4ikLefty]

17. Are they STILL soing that??? What garbage...goddamn Reagan!!!

I can't stand that they FORCE us to register for a mystery draft under threat. I did that shit in the 80's & I thought that Clinton would be smart enought to end that shit...wrong!!!

If I was as aware as I was back then (I was a RW'er in the 80's) I would've refused & dealt with the results.

[spindoctor]

18. Thanks everyone! One last question remains.

He swears he did not register for anything!?

So what happened? Did the school 'trick' him into signing?

I have to leave for a while, but I'll check in later.

Thank you all for your contributions. My wife is impressed ;)

[Solly Mack]

20. I think it probably did happen in school

hand out a bunch of papers to sign - the student doesn't really pay attention to what they're signing

[July]

21. I'm going to get back to you after checking my son's documents.

He registered at 18, so I'll see what the form he got in the mail is called.

Sounds sort of scammy to me, but I'm going to check.

My understanding is that a lot of kids don't register at 18. In fact, I think the great state of Texas had the lowest rate of registration, IIRC.

Anyway, I'll get back to you in a day or two.

[Lars39]

25. I don't have the link handy,

but they've started comparing birth dates to selective service records.

on edit: reread your OP. The card sounds like bait.

[July]

23. Another thought on this.

I'm pretty sure that what young men get from Selective Service is NOT an "Army" Registration Acknowledgement Card.

I'm even more certain this is some kind of scam.

Whatever your son would get from registering with Selective Service would come from -- TA-DAAA! -- the Selective Service -- NOT from the Army.

I would throw out the card and the brochure. If your son hasn't signed up for anything, he hasn't signed up for anything. If he signs the card, it may be a scammy way to say he's committed (I don't think it would hold up legally, but it might fool a young man).

Still looking for my son's copies of what he got after registering, but I promise to let you know when I find them.

[mzteris]

24. Selective Service registration information

Here's what they have to say. If he says he DIDN"T DO any of these things, call his high school to see if THEY had a registration process he doesn't recall.....

Or maybe some other kid "registered him" like a joke??

Also, are you SURE it says ARMY Registration Acknowledgement Card? 'cause it shouldn't say that. (Can you scan and post it?)

Also, here's some links for ya:

http://www.forusa.org/programs/disarmament/IWillNotKill.html

http://www.progressiveaustin.org/nmofy/drupal//


*******
Registration must be completed 30 days prior to 30 days after the your 18th birthday. Late registrations are accepted, but you are technically in violation of the law. Failure to register can result in heavy fines and prison time. If you do not register until after your 26th birthday, you will lose your right to certain federal benefits including federal student loans or grants, federal job training, and jobs in the executive branch of the federal government and US Post Office.

You can register in the following locations:

Online at http://www4.sss.gov/regver/register.asp
At the Post Office
Forms are available to fill out at your local Post Office. You must affix postage to the card.
Reminder Mail Back Card
This card is mailed to young men from the Selective Service around their 18th birthday. Fill out the card and mail it back to the Selective Service.
Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA form)
You can also check ‘yes’ on box #29 of the Federal Student Financial Aid application. The Department of Education sends notice of your request to register to the Selective Service.
Local High School
Registration is also available at nearly half of all high schools in the United States.
**********

[spindoctor]

26. Mea Culpa! The card did not say _Army_ Registration

Sorry for the confusion, it was the included Army recruiting flyers that offset me.

I will check with his school on Monday.

[TahitiNut]

30. Good. That means it's a legitimate proof of registration.

Proof of Registration & Change of Address

A registration acknowledgment card will arrive in the mail about 30 to 90 days after a man sends in his registration card. Keep this document in a safe place as proof of registration.

If you have registered using the on-line registration web site at http://www.sss.gov, an acknowledgment card will be sent to you within two weeks.

If you do not receive an acknowledgment card within 90 days of registering, or if you require a replacement acknowledgment card, please call Selective Service at 1-847-688-6888. Your call will be answered by an automated voice processing system. Listen carefully to the directions, and select the option for receiving your own Selective Service number.

http://www.sss.gov/ack.htm