Selective Service Registration Low in San Diego

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published October 16, 2006 at 8:22 AM PDT

This story was published more than 18 years ago.

American males between ages 18 and 26 are supposed to register for the draft. But not everyone bothers to do it. Director of the Selective Service System talks about why it is important for men to re

Tom Fudge : The United States has not had a military draft since the end of the Vietnam War. But ever since 1980, young men in this country have been required to register for the draft. Mandatory draft registration was started during the Carter administration, as a response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Today, the system is still in place. But not all young American men bother to register. In fact, California has one of the lowest rates of compliance with the law of any state in the nation. That’s why William Chatfield is touring the country trying to get out the word that young men need to register.

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William Chatfield , director of Selective Service System.