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Every
member of the military participates in the military's
primary mission: to prepare for and fight wars.
Some members of the military develop profound objections
to participating in war and apply for discharge
as conscientious objectors. Applying for conscientious
objector status is intimidating -- it is made even
more so by the long and complicated process devised
by the military. If you decide to apply for conscientious
objector discharge, assistance from a knowledgeable
counselor is invaluable.
Help
is available:
Consider
applying for a conscientious objector discharge
if you are distressed handling weapons, have doubts
about the missions you are required to support,
or do not believe that you want to take part in
war.
Members
of the military who develop a "firm, fixed,
and sincere objection to participation in war in
any form or the bearing of arms," based on
moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, are entitled
to discharge from the military or transfer to non-combatant
status. A conscientious objector must meet three
criteria:
- you
must object to participation in war in any form;
- you
must base your objection on "religious training
and belief" (which can include moral or
ethical training and belief) that "crystallized" after
you entered the military; and
- you
must demonstrate that your position is "sincere
and deeply held."
An applicant
for conscientious objector status must submit a
written application and be interviewed by a chaplain,
military psychiatrist, and investigating officer.
The written application must describe:
- The
nature of the applicant's beliefs about participation
in war.
- How
those beliefs changed or developed since entering
the military.
- When
and why the applicant's beliefs prevented him
or her from continuing to serve in the military.
- How
the applicant's daily lifestyle has changed as
a result of his or her beliefs.
While
the concept of objecting to war is fairly simple,
the legal criteria that a military conscientious
objector must meet are more complicated. To be
a conscientious objector, you must have a firm,
fixed, and sincere objection to personally taking
part in war, not merely to the idea of war. And
you must object, not merely dislike or be saddened
by war.
Deciding
whether you object to participation in war in any
form is the primary moral question to consider.
You are likely new to the concept of objection
to war; most soldiers do not even know that a discharge
for conscientious objection exists.
Rethinking
one's beliefs about war raises a host of questions.
Two typical questions asked by applicants and investigating
officers alike are: "Would you fight if the
country were attacked?" and, "Would you
have fought Hitler?"
The important
thing to remember about these questions is that
while they are interesting to discuss, they have
no real answer. For instance, it is simply impossible
to really know what a person would have done had
he or she been born in a different time. Rather
than attempt to speculate, you can explore what
your beliefs would require in various hypothetical
situations. In answering such questions, applicants
must reaffirm what they will not do -- they will
not participate in war in any form.
(the
above information copied directly from The
GI Rights Hotline)
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