Jamaican males between the ages of 18 and 25, who are now living in the US or possess dual citizenship, are set to be automatically registered for military service come December and, in the event of a war, could be drafted.
Although most men in this age group were already required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS) within 30 days of turning 18, the government agency submitted a proposal on March 30, 2025, for automatic registration.
The new registration process was approved by Congress under the National Defence. Authorisation Act for fiscal year 2026, which President Donald Trump signed into law in December 2025.
According to the SSS website, the agency will implement the switch to automatic registration come December to create a “streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment”.
Undocumented immigrants, dual citizens, green card holders and refugees must register. Failing to do so is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or US$250,000 in fines. Failing to register can also affect eligibility for federal student financial aid and federal employment. Some states also limit access to benefits if you are eligible but not registered, and for non-citizens, failure to register would also block or delay naturalisation.
It is not known how many Jamaican men will be affected by this change, but according to the 2020 United States census, some 2.6 million people identified themselves as either being solely Caribbean or partially (mixed). Of this number, the majority, or some 1,047,117 people, identified as Jamaican. The US is the main destination of choice for Jamaican migrants. However, the US State Department suspended immigrant visa processing for Jamaica, among 75 countries, earlier this year.
The ongoing war in Iran has sparked renewed questions about whether the US will enact a military draft. The last time a military draft was in effect was February 1973, during the Vietnam War.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Labour government’s Armed Forces Bill — introduced to Parliament in January 2026 — will raise the maximum recall age for the strategic reserve (primarily ex-regular veterans) from 55 to 65.
The changes are due to take effect in spring 2027 and will also allow reservists to be mobilised for “warlike preparations” rather than only in cases of direct national emergency or attack on the UK. Those who have already left the military will not be affected unless they opt in. The move comes as government officials are facing pressure to demonstrate that the UK can rapidly scale up its defence in response to escalating tensions in Europe and the Middle East.
Given escalating geopolitical tensions, several countries have taken steps to beef up their military. Since the start of the year, Germany has enforced a conscription law that introduces several new elements, including voluntary military service and mandatory medical examinations for part of the population.
Among sweeping changes to Germany’s military service policy was the requirement for men aged up to 45 to get permission from the armed forces before any significant stay abroad, even in peacetime. The legislation demands that all 18-year-old men fill out a questionnaire to gauge their suitability to serve in the armed forces but stops short of conscription. Men aged 17 to 45 were required to apply for authorisation to leave Germany for more than three months, but that aspect of the legislation was suspended earlier this month following public outcry.
Just this week, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi supported the introduction of mandatory military service for Iraqis. He said it is “a social and security necessity” and noted that he has consulted other lawmakers on the matter.
Many of Iraq’s neighbours, including Iran, Jordan, Turkey, and Kuwait, have mandatory military conscription.