Selective Service Teenage Birthday Age Required Register Men

In a typical American's "lifetime" (the period of time a person is alive), he or she experiences several "milestone" birthdays. "Milestones" are significant periods or events "indicating" (showing; marking) significant changes or stages in development.

For teenage girls, their 16th birthday is sometimes celebrated with a "sweet 16" party, indicating that she is "on the verge of" (nearly) becoming a woman. The 16th birthday is important also because most states allow people 16 years old or older to apply for a driver's license.

For both boys and girls, their 18th birthday is important because this is the age typically considered the beginning of "adulthood" (the state of being an adult; not childhood). At age 18, most teenagers have graduated high school and are expected to either attend college or begin working. Many 18-year-olds move out of their parents' home, another "rite of passage" (event that indicates that a person is maturing and becoming like an adult).

Teenage boys at age 18 are required by law to register with the Selective Service System. The Selective Service System is the U.S. government's way of keeping information about men who are "eligible for" (meet the requirements for) the "draft," when the government requires that men serve in the military, usually because there is a war and not enough "voluntary" (done by one's own choice or decision) soldiers. Men who are between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System, and those "turning" (becoming) 18 years old are required to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.