Texas veterans split on federal move to auto-register for military draft

Pending administrative review, the new registration process for the military draft is expected to be in place in December.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:22am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty military recruitment office, with sunlight streaming through the windows and casting long shadows across the room, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of history.The debate over automatic military draft registration exposes the lingering tensions and personal traumas of past wars, even as the government seeks to modernize the system.San Antonio Today

The federal government is moving toward automatically registering eligible young men into a military draft pool beginning in December. For decades, men ages 18-25 have been required to self-register through the Selective Service System (SSS), the agency that maintains the database of enrollees potentially subject to military conscription. The automatic registration process was approved by Congress in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Why it matters

The change would not reinstate a draft, but it would ensure the government maintains a complete and accurate database in the event one is ever needed. However, the proposal raises concerns among some veterans, with those who experienced the Vietnam War era expressing opposition, while others see it as a civic responsibility.

The details

Authorities argue the new process is designed to improve compliance and reduce administrative costs. The self-registration requirement applies to U.S. citizens and migrants. Penalties for failing to sign up include financial penalties, loss of federal benefits and jail time.

  • The automatic registration process is expected to be in place in December, pending administrative review.
  • The last military draft in the U.S. was conducted in 1973 during the Vietnam War.

The players

Fred Alvarado

An Army veteran who served during the Vietnam era, Alvarado opposes the shift to automatic registration, citing his personal experiences and the mental scars he still bears from the war.

Le Roy Torres

An Army veteran and co-founder of Burn Pits 360, Torres supports automatic registration, arguing it reinforces a shared civic responsibility and reminds young men that 'freedom isn't free'.

Peter Bernal

The commander of the American GI Forum Bexar, Bernal and Cynthia Garcia, chair of the American GI Forum My City is My Home, expressed serious concern and a historic perspective on the new system, while supporting the ability to defend the nation.

Cynthia Garcia

The chair of the American GI Forum My City is My Home, Bernal and Garcia expressed serious concern and a historic perspective on the new system, while supporting the ability to defend the nation.

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What they’re saying

“It was a horrible war. We lost a lot of good friends there.”

— Fred Alvarado, Army veteran

“Every day, it's a different struggle. It's never going to go away.”

— Fred Alvarado, Army veteran

“I totally don't agree on this. Think of the parents, think of the kids. I don't think we should have this kind of draft at all.”

— Fred Alvarado, Army veteran

“It reminds young men that freedom isn't free. It's a small acknowledgement that there's this debt owed to those who have served before them.”

— Le Roy Torres, Army veteran

“We support maintaining the ability to defend our nation. But any system tied to compulsory service must be approached with caution, humility, and a firm commitment to constitutional oversight.”

— Peter Bernal and Cynthia Garcia, American GI Forum Bexar and American GI Forum My City is My Home

What’s next

Pending administrative review, the new registration process for the military draft is expected to be in place in December.

The takeaway

The proposal to automatically register young men for the military draft has divided Texas veterans, with some expressing concerns rooted in personal experiences of war and others seeing it as a civic responsibility. The debate highlights the complex and sensitive nature of any potential reinstatement of conscription, even if a draft is not currently planned.