Search

VOLUNTEERS - Board Member Program

Selective Service wants to hear from men and women in the community who might be willing to serve as members of local boards.

Local boards members are volunteers nominated by state governor or equivalent officials, and appointed by the Director of the Selective Service System on behalf of the U.S. President. They play an important community role closely connected with our nation's defense.

If a military draft becomes necessary, approximately 2,000 local boards throughout the United States would decide which young men in each community receive deferments, postponements, or exemptions from military service based on federal guidelines.

Board Member Requirements

  • Must be 18 years old or older
  • Must be a citizen of the United States
  • Men must have registered with Selective Service, except those born from March 29, 1957 through December 31, 1959
  • Must not be a member of law enforcement occupation as defined by Selective Service policy (example: police officer or judge)
  • Must not be an active or retired career member of the Armed Forces or Reserves or National Guard
  • Must not have been convicted of any criminal offense

Group of Various Board MembersLocal and Appeal Boards

A Selective Service local board is a group of five citizen volunteers appointed by the President. They play an important community role closely connected with our nation's defense. If a military draft becomes necessary, approximately 2,000 local boards throughout America would decide which young men in each community receive deferments, postponements, or exemptions from military service based on federal guidelines.

Read More

Featured Board Member of the Month

Stephen P. Olson - Region I

Board Member of the Month – Stephen P. Olson - Region I

Stephen P. Olson was born in 1950 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Growing up, he held various jobs including one at a local funeral home as an apprentice embalmer while pursuing collegiate studies.

In 1969, after a year of the monotony of the same daily routine, Mr. Olson decided it was not his calling so he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. As was tradition at the time, he took his Oath of Enlistment on home plate at Tiger Stadium before an evening ballgame. After training at Ft. Knox, KY, for both basic training and advanced individual training in armor reconnaissance, he was sent to Germany for five months and subsequently one year in Vietnam.

Mr. Olson served a full deployment with the 1st Cavalry Division as a classified clerk and door-gunner with Company B, 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion. After his Vietnam tour and honorable discharge, Mr. Olson continued his studies at Wayne State University, finally graduating in 1976.

Married to Janet (Ritter), they have three children: Elizabeth, Catherine, and David. As parents, they were intent on teaching their children the value of service to others. Elizabeth has served as a Chaplain’s Assistant during two tours in Iraq. Catherine is actively serving in her local church and community. David also joined the military and has served a tour in Afghanistan.

Mr. Olson worked for the Ford Motor Company, in the Rouge Plant, from 1972 until his retirement in 2002. After September 11, 2001, he began work with the newly formed Transportation Security Administration at Detroit Metro Airport. He also served in positions with the Passport Agency and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department. He truly cherished the awesome experience it was to see a large courtroom in the Federal Building, filled with people from every corner of our globe, taking the Oath of Citizenship.

Mr. Olson was recruited by Major Rick Galsterer last year to become a board member with the Selective Service System in Wayne County. Although he is in the process of moving to a new home across the state of Michigan, he quickly volunteered to fill a board member vacancy in the new county. Mr. Olson has been a pleasure to work with and his service to his country is honorable.

Board Member Resources

For an online toolkit for anyone who wishes to help recruit new board members, or reach out to organizations that serve young men click here.

Board Member Information Request

Application Form

 

 

 

 

This form is for people interested in becoming a board member with Selective Service.

Inquire Here

To Apply:

Complete the request form for an application here. When you submit your information, you will receive in the mail an official application for board membership, a business reply envelope, and a Board Member Information Booklet which gives the details on board member responsibilities. Once you return your application, a Selective Service employee will contact you to schedule a personal interview.

Board Vacancies

NOTE:  Information listing board member vacancies is only available for Region 1 as a test run.  Based on the results from the test run for Region 1, Selective Service may provide a listing of board member vacancies for Region 2 and Region 3.

Local board appointments are for 20 years. The last largest recruitment of local board members was in Year 2000. In less than five years, a majority of Selective Service local board members will be reaching the end of their tenure. 

REGION 1:  CT, DE, IL, IN, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, and Washington DC, 

Authorized 3,620 board members; as of September 30, 2018, there were more than 3,300 local and appeal board members.

To see a listing of the latest vacancies click here.

REGION 2:  AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Authorized 3,585 board members; as of September 30, 2014, there were 3,274 board members currently serving.

REGION 3:  AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, IA, KS, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands

Authorized 3,470 board members; as of September 30, 2018, 2,946 board members were currently serving.

Question?

Any Questions?Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding Selective Service's board member program, please contact Selective Service by email: Information@sss.gov.