text: 'take a step forward' to enter the military, mandatory or voluntary? under the current military selective services act is it mandatory or voluntary to "take a step forward"?   if it is mandatory, what are the penalties for not taking the step?  individual opinions are not wanted.  statutes or case law only please. the law under which the selective service system operates is the military selective service act. (act of june 24, 1948, c. 625, 62 stat. 604, as amended; 50 u.s.c. app. 451 et seq.). selective service regulations are contained in part 1600 of title 32 of the code of federal regulations (32 cfr 1600).  who must register? according to http://www.sss.gov/must.htm almost all male u.s. citizens regardless of where they live, and male immigrant aliens residing in the u.s., are required to be registered with selective service if they are at least 18 years old but are not yet 26 years old. men who are 26 years old and older are too old to register.   what are the penalties if you do not register?  according to http://www.sss.gov/fsbenefits.htm  registration is the law. a man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.   even if not tried, a man who fails to register with selective service before turning age 26 may find that some doors are permanently closed.   ah, okay i got your drift now.  a google search of "step forward selective services" comes up with a number of ways to avoid induction when registering.  see an article here or do a search for yourself:  http://www.truthradio.com/volunteer.htm