I don’t understand SSS. What catches your eye with the word effective?
Why not say that he registered on Sept. 4, 1980? When I read the word “effective”, that makes me think that it was done at a different time than the one stated.
Too many years of listening to BJ parsing words and smirking at us.
Selective Service System is just that. Even though all young men over 18 are required to register they are Selective in who they take into the service. Although I think I heard they are becoming more lax on qualifications now.
Registration became effective also means just that. When a person registers they are given a certain amount of time for it to become effective.
It's a lawyer's deal. It didn't happen then--someone managed to do it much later and make it "effective" at an earlier date so that he doesn't appear to have been in violation of the law then; and so that he appears to be eligible to hold positions for which it is a prerequisite.