help: Q on selective service/fed employment

[ant]

I was wondering if anyone had some experience with this and could offer some advice. A friend of mine - 29 - doesn't think he ever registered with the selective service, and apparently once you're over 26 it's too late. This means he's not eligible for federal employment UNLESS he "can 'show by a preponderance of evidence' that his failure to register was not knowing and willful." He must "offer as much evidence supporting case, and as much detail, as possible." (from http://www.sss.gov/fsmen.htm)

So how the hell would he do that if he just didn't know? I don't know this guy that well, but I'm going to assume no one in his high school ever mentioned it, that his DMV (he's from PA) never mentioned it, that he's never registered to vote, etc. - I'm not a guy, so I don't know when this stuff pops up or how one would miss it. Don't you get an automatic notice when you turn 18?

Anyway, does anyone have any experience with this or how to provide this evidence? He's trying to find a job here in DC, and if he doesn't get one by the end of the month he'll have to move back to PA. There seem to be a lot of jobs on the usajobs site that he could qualify for, but since it's all automated we're not sure how he can work around this.

Thanks in advance.

[Bossy Monkey]

1. Kicking in hopes somebody knows the answer

I should think that a notarized affidavit to the effect that he just didn't know ought to meet the case, but I really have no idea. As he's now too old to register it ought to be a moot point, but of course that doesn't mean it is. Good luck to him.

[carpetbagger]

2. I'd be surprised if he never registered.

I started high school in Florida and finished in Maryland, registering in Maryland. The Florida draft people hounded me until I was about 23, even though although I moved at 15.