[WardFive] Does DC's 54 of 55 SSS Compliance impact DC's employment rate and college admissions?

The District of Columbia is viewed as a government employment city.  I am not a statistician and I may be misreading this information.  However, I am posing this question.  Is a State’s Selective Service System registration compliance level related to jobs? 

 

Of the top ten States with the lowest unemployment – July 2012, each had a Selective Service System registration compliance rate in the 90’s (according to Selective Service System 2010 & 2011 data).  Of the States (including DC) in the bottom ten with the lowest Selective Service System registration, the unemployment rate ranged between 8.8% to 12.0%.

 

Is unemployment among District of Columbia African-American men and the overall national low college admissions rates related to the District of Columbia registration compliance with Selective Service System?

 

DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray has made creating jobs a high priority of his administration.  His efforts such as the “One City One Hire” program are working.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently indicated the District’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.9% in July 2012 and under Mayor Gray 3,400 jobs were added.  

 

Ward              Unemployment Rate (July 2012)

 

1                                            7.7%

2                                            4.4%

3                                            2.3%

4                                            7.3%

5                                            12.2%

6                                            9.0%

7                                            15.0%

8                                            22.5%

Source: DC Department of Employment Services

 

Federal law requires “virtually all men” – aged 18 through 25 years to register with Selective Service System.  In 2011, the District of Columbia was 54^th out of 55 among the States and territories in compliance at 56% of men born in 1992.  In 2010, the District of Columbia was 52^nd out of 55 among the States and territories in compliance at 62% of men born in 1991. 

 

On April 27, 2001, Mayor Anthony Williams signed a law stipulating that men aged 18 through 25 years in the District of Columbia may register with Selective Service System when they apply to obtain or renew a District of Columbia driver's license.  Registration forms are also available at any U.S. Post Office.  There are plans for an expansion of the federal job force in the District. 

 

However, along with providing training for the new jobs in the future, should there be a community-based driven effort to get our young men to register with Selective Service System to be eligible for new federal jobs?  Would the efforts of Mayor Gray to lower the unemployment of men in the District of Columbia be helped by increasing the Selective Service System registration of young men in the District of Columbia?

 

Link to register on-line - https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

Link to check a registration - https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfVerification.aspx

Link for men aged 26 years and older - http://www.sss.gov/Status.html

 

Failure to register is a violation of the Military Selective Service Act. Conviction for such a violation may result in imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine of not more than $250,000.  Even if not tried, a man who fails to register with Selective Service System before turning age 26 years may find some federal doors of opportunity are permanently closed – like Federal student loans and  federal jobs: 

 

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

Men, born after December 31, 1959, who aren't registered with Selective Service won't qualify for Federal student loans or grant programs. 

This includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG),

Direct Stafford Loans/Plus Loans, National Direct Student Loans, and College Work Study.

 

CITIZENSHIP

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) makes registration with

Selective Service a condition for U.S. citizenship if the man first arrived in the U.S. before his 26th birthday.

 

FEDERAL JOB TRAINING

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) offers programs that can train young men seeking vocational employment or enhancing their career. 

This program is only open to those men who register with Selective Service. Only men born after December 31, 1959, are required to show proof of registration.

 

FEDERAL JOBS

A man must be registered to be eligible for jobs in the Executive Branch of the Federal government and the U.S. Postal Service.

Proof of registration is required only for men born after December 31, 1959.

 

 

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WHO MUST REGISTER     

Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are aged 18 through 25 years, are required to register with Selective Service. It's important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental, physical and moral fitness by the military before being deferred or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed Forces.

 

NON-CITIZENS

Some non-citizens are required to register. Others are not. Non-citizens who are not required to register with Selective Service include men who are in the U.S. on student or visitor visas, and men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission and their families. Almost all other male noncitizens are required to register, including illegal aliens, legal permanent residents, and refugees. The general rule is that if a male noncitizen takes up residency in the U.S. before his 26th birthday, he must register with Selective Service.

 

DUAL NATIONALS

Dual nationals of the U.S. and another country are required to register, regardless of where they live, because they are U.S. nationals.

 

HOSPITALIZED OR INCARCERATED MEN

Young men in hospitals, mental institutions or prisons do not have to register while they are committed. However, they must register within 30 days after being released if they have not yet reached their 26th birthday.

 

DISABLED MEN

Disabled men who live at home must register with Selective Service if they can reasonably leave their homes and move about independently. A friend or relative may help a disabled man fill out the registration form if he can't do it himself. Men with disabilities that would disqualify them from military service still must register with Selective Service. Selective Service does not presently have authority to classify men, so even men with obvious handicaps must register now, and if needed, classifications would be determined later.

 

FULL-TIME MILITARY EXEMPTED FROM REQUIREMENT

Young men serving in the military on full-time active duty do not have to register. Those attending the service academies do not have to register. However, if a young man leaves the military before turning 26, he must register.

 

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES

Members of the Reserve and National Guard not on full-time active duty must register.

 

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Men who would be classified as Conscientious Objectors if they were drafted must also register with Selective Service. If a draft begins and they are called, they would have the opportunity to file a claim for exemption from military service based upon their religious or moral objection to war.

 

Robert Vinson Brannum