Posted on 10/22/2009 9:43:13 AM PDT by Jeremiah1
When I found out about the selective service registration I was devastated. I am 32 yrs. old, have a wife and three children and am struggling to make dinner much less a future. I was recently layed off for the second time in 1 yr. Going back to the unemployment office was something I dreaded. I heard that President Obama made it possible to recieve unemployment benefits while attending school to change your career!! Fantastic, I thought. After alot of thought and planning my wife and I decided this was best for our family. I went to my local college, filled out all the forms and registered. I paid the non refundable fees which left us with 60.00 to our names thinking, it will be alright. I was told to fill out an FAFSA application online to pay for the schooling, great because there is no way I could afford the schooling to become an electrical engineer. I fill it all out and am told my schooling is covered %100. Things were finally looking up until I was told that there was a problem with my application processing. I was told that I never registered for the selective service. I had never heard of the selective service before that email. I called the number in the email for the selective service. They explained this is the law and by the time your 18 and blah blah blah. No one told me, not school, not friends, not family!!! No one!!! I was told , Sir, I'm sure someone told you to go to the post office and fill out the card. No, no one did. Why wouldn't I have done it I asked. See, for me the military wasn't an option. I wanted to join the military while still in high school. My best friend entered the delayed entry program for the Marine Corps, I wanted to go Navy. All my mother had to do was sign the paperwork but she wouldn't , she said No. There was nothing the recruiter could do. I had just turned 16 yrs. old at that time. I was put out of the house that year for a multitude of reasons both my wrongs and my mothers. I was on the streets and bounced from friends houses, to the woods and then finally Jail. I turned 18 yrs. old in jail. As soon as I got out of jail I went to my local recruiters office to enlist only to find that I must first complete my 5 yrs of probation. Meanwhile it is discovered that I have bipolarism. The military wouldn't have taken me anyway. From age 17 to 26 was spent either in jail or on the street waiting for jail. I didn't have any real family or friends or any kind of hope. People didn't bother to lend a hand much less inform me of some post card. The worst part about this is that at 32 years old it is hard for me to find work even though I earned 2 diplomas in prison. I commited my last crime over 12 years ago. I now have a family of 5 that all depend on me through God and I can't return to school and become a more productive member of society like I did while incarcerated. All because of a secret post card. What may be common knowledge to some isn't so common to others. I think G.I. Joe said it best with, "And knowing is half the battle." They could've put the selective service requirements in the credits, I would've known, would be starting school in a few weeks and wouldn't be thinking of becoming a bigger criminal than I ever was before. See now I feel like I don't belong, I have never belonged and no matter what I do I get knocked down, it makes you want to knock back. Then I think of those other 4 innocent family members of mine. I just don't know what to do at this point. I will lose my home and everything I worked for to provide these 3 children the life I never had and my own government is helping that happen. To boot, now they accept felons in the service and it still doesn't help me. Isn't the service a federal job? How many enlisted felons serving in Iraq never filed a selective service registration? My grandfather, who is a WWII Veteran said with tears, "Jer, this isn't the same country I fought for and watched so much sacrificed for."
I have to wonder if this isn’t a trial balloon for Obama forging his?
If this guy is seriously trying to improve his life, bashing him for past mistakes serves no useful purpose, for you or him.
Why don’t you ask Obama for help? He seems to have had the same problem and apparently found a workaround.
It is pretty well publicized so you would have a tough time making “I didn’t know” stick. If you really want to make a name for yourself, claim sex discrimination since only males must register and only males face the penalty. Let’s give the ERA another try.
My thought exactly.
I kinda agree. I concede this could be a BS post, but it sounds real. Pity the guy decided to post this on a no-holds-barred political forum, though — he’s about to get a new oriface.
I kinda agree. I concede this could be a BS post, but it sounds real. Pity the guy decided to post this on a no-holds-barred political forum, though — he’s about to get a new oriface.
Yeah - agree. You’d have to have your head stuck in the sand to NOT know about Selective Service.
Sorry Jeremiah, but I can’t sympathize.
Quit whining, and make your own way in the world, dude. Why the hell should I have to pay the tuition, etc. for a convicted felon who did not even bother to fill out his Selective Service registration because he was probably too stoned to comprehend it.
You say that you have your act together and have a 5 person family depending on you. Good. Ruck up and be a man. Quit complaining like a wussy and go get a job like the rest of us.
To: Jeremiah1
Stop whinning. Just think if you were black or Mexican or born with sight or hands! Go on welfare and register as a democrat and you’ll feel better...OR...buck up and do the best at each and every thing you do.
At least there were spaces between the words.
I smell BS.
I haven't downloaded the FAFSA yet, but the Wikipedia page about it says that the Selective Service requirement is only for men between 18 and 25. Once you get past 25 I don't think it matters anymore.
Do you have a church family / pastor? Go to God first and then other things will fall into place.
In the off chance that you are not a troll, and are someone truly in need...
Try contacting the Salvation Army or Goodwill. They can help you get back on your feet and help you learn better decision making skills.
Good luck!
Ask for his bank account number so you can deposit the check directly.
XD
—
Gee. He tried to sign up three times, but claims he didn't know about any draft registration?
Guy ain't smart enuf to be in da military. Ain't competent enuf to be behind of (or in front of) friendly troops with an armed weapon either.
If you’re a troll like everyone but me seems to detect effortlessly — nice jeremiad.
If not, I sympathize, but you sound like a survivor and you have more than you are counting. A family is priceless. Keep your chin up, something will come along.
And the PIN so I can check that the money got in.
I sent off my registration form well BEFORE I turned 18. I can’t recall, but I probably sent it early because I graduated from HS at 17.
When my parents were cleaning out old files a couple of years ago, they found a letter from the SSS I got thanking me for registering early.
So he definitely gets no sympathy from me.
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