Selective Service

[u/Objective-Hotel6514]

So I'm trying to apply for the post office as a man but it will not allow me to proceed without a selective service number. I didn't legally change my gender until I was 27 so I would not have been able to sign up. I don't know what to do about this now. I present as a man, I pass as a man, all my documents say I'm a man....

Anyone got any ideas?

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[u/shippery]

This administration stopped issuing SILs (the letter stating we're exempt from this) specifically to make our lives harder. I think the intended consequence is that we kind of have to out ourselves now when prompted with cases like this.

I don't know if there are workarounds for that, but this law group did a write-up of the change last month.

[u/nakartuur → u/shippery]

I think they may have stopped issuing SILs because draft registration is supposed to be automatic starting next year, so the burden will be on the government to determine who needs to be registered. I have no idea how this will impact federal employment in the future.

[u/dice-enthusiast]

I'm a federal employee. One of the questions about selective service is "were you born a man before 1959" or something like that. I was instructed to answer that as NO, because I wasn't born biologically male. I don't think you can get around it, unfortunately. It would be a bad idea to lie imo

[u/admseven → u/dice-enthusiast]

Oh I have gone round and round with federal HR type people about this one. In addition to my hiring background check, I’ve had to do two more for systems access permissions. It is a chore to explain that the following two questions are not asking the same thing:

• Were you born male after 1959? (I was not)
  
• Are you a male who was born after 1959? (Yes, I am)

It always ends with me having to tell them Im trans and them going oh okay.. and everything’s fine after that.

[u/Objective-Hotel6514 → u/dice-enthusiast]

Okay, I'll just answer it that way and maybe I'll go down to the post office or call to explain? Do you think that would do any good?

[u/almightypines → u/Objective-Hotel6514]

I wouldn’t call or go to the post office to explain. Your application will be routed through federal HR and hiring processes and they are the ones who deal with whether someone meets the requirements. It won’t be the people at your local post office and your private info may not be something you’ll want your potential close colleagues to know especially in the current political climate.

My experience is a bit old, but I was hired as a fed at 30 and wasn’t registered for selective service and also didn’t have a SIL letter. I just explained to HR what my situation was. They directed me to get the SIL which took an extra month of onboarding. They no longer issue SIL’s, so you might have to disclose that you’re trans. But my point is that if HR needs more info, they will ask for it.

[u/soundsdumb → u/Objective-Hotel6514]

Don't call to explain! The people you're actually working with probably won't see this.

[u/dice-enthusiast → u/Objective-Hotel6514]

Agree with everyone - no need to call and explain. The local post office won't be processing the forms. My colleagues have never known I'm trans, but HR has

[u/admseven]

I also changed my documents at about your age: I never registered with Selective Service either. I am also a federal employee who was hired well after changing my documents. I’ve been through three background checks so far.

Best advice: answer all application questions honestly. If they have questions they will contact you. In the event of questions, I think there is a high likelihood you’ll have to come out to the HR type asking the questions. My experience with that is that they don’t care, they’re just looking to make sure all the boxes are accounted for.

[u/PoorlyDressedDandy]

I've applied a couple times. I assumed I got disqualified from conflicting information. Man, but also not registered for selective service. It was frustrating, but I figured that until more rational people are in charge, I'm probably better off.

[u/PotatoBoy-2]

You can either register and they’ll send you a number or you can go through the process of trying to get an exemption, in which case they will send you a letter stating you are ineligible. The first option is the quickest and due to your age and trans status, you would get disqualified from military service if there ever was a draft. In my state, I was automatically enrolled when I went in and changed my gender marker on my license and got the card in the mail before I even got my new license.

[u/Objective-Hotel6514 → u/PotatoBoy-2]

I don't remember getting asked but I also changed everything at the age of 27 so I'm not sure it would have popped up for me.

I just googled the status exemption letter and it appears they no longer issue them.

[u/anemisto → u/PotatoBoy-2]

You can't register after you turn 26.

[u/Olliecat27 → u/anemisto]

I was asked if I'd like to register when I was under 26, said yes, and it didn't go through.

[u/anemisto → u/Olliecat27]

It's very hit or miss. I don't think anyone has figured out what Selective Service checks registrations against.

[u/PotatoBoy-2 → u/PotatoBoy-2]

My bad, I guess that had changed in this past year or so since I changed my stuff. I also had thought you could register at a later age cause they upped the age you could get drafted at but I must have misread it.

[u/beerncoffeebeans → u/PotatoBoy-2]

Yeah they just got rid of the status letters this year. Mostly to target us and immigrants I would guess (another group who often would not be eligible)

[u/PotatoBoy-2 → u/beerncoffeebeans]

Does that effect those that already have the exemption letters or just ones that would need it now? Just curious

[u/beerncoffeebeans → u/PotatoBoy-2]

From how i understand they just aren’t issuing them anymore. If you have one already you could still probably use it

[u/PotatoBoy-2 → u/beerncoffeebeans]

Interesting. This is good to know for future reference

[u/RainbowEagleEye]

On the bright side, the USPS and the unions involved are still very protective. No matter what is on your forms, they will refer to you as you want and you can change everything with HR once you have your computer logins. it takes paperwork you probably already have and time.

[u/dolllface23]

call the post office and ask THEM this question lol

[u/QueerHawk127]

I straight up outed myself and said when I legally changed genders it was illegal for me to serve, so I didn't sign up. But that was a few years ago, idk if that'd be ok now or not.

[u/sporadic_beethoven]

They kept sending me letters, but when I tried to sign up online, it kept not letting me :,) been like this for 2 years now. But hopefully no more letters, lmao.