About Selective Service

The Selective Service System is an independent federal agency that has been a distinguished part of America’s history for over a century, spanning eras of conflict and peacetime.

We are part of America’s National Defense Strategy, fostering deterrence through innovation and supporting the Department of Defense’s priority to maintain a formidable end-strength that provides America’s all-volunteer force with the overmatch necessary to deter, compete and win in the future.

Our Mission and Vision

Mission: To register men and maintain a system that, when authorized by the President and Congress, rapidly provides personnel in a fair and just manner while managing an alternative-service program for conscientious objectors.

Vision: To be a trusted, actively engaged national defense partner and the sole source of conscripted talent for national security in the event of a national emergency.

Strategic Vision Elements

Readiness: As a readiness organization, we deliver on the promise of a national strategic capability to the Nation. We remain ready for immediate mobilization and transition to full operations in support of a national draft lottery if directed to do so by the President and Congress.

Registration: High registration rates across the nation serve as the foundation of fairness and equity for full operations, better ensuring that a national draft lottery has the highest level of participation possible.

Management excellence: By upholding high standards of Management Excellence, we are able to consistently provide the full spectrum of functional and programmatic support to Agency operations.