Inspired by EDNA ST VINCENT MILLAY poem people bring their thoughts and passions to create an original and emotional film. With original music by Thomas. A conscientious objector is an 'individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service' on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience. Military Discharges and Military Counseling. Conscientious Objection. Fact Sheet. After you read this fact sheet, please call the Hotline (8. Conscientious Objection Discharge. Everyone has a conscience. Few people wrestle with their conscience as much as members of the military, especially those in combat. Counselors with the GI Rights Hotline talk with military personnel every day who are questioning the morality of the orders they have received or jobs they are expected to perform. If you are one of those people, you came to the right place. You should know that you are not alone. In fact, every year hundreds of military personnel apply for conscientious objector status. Conscientious objectors have been with us as long as there have been wars. Definition of Conscientious Objection Current military policy has defined conscientious objection as the following: “A firm, fixed, and sincere objection to participation in war in any form or the bearing of arms, by reason of religious training and/or belief.” (DOD 1. This definition has been further clarified by both military policy and our legal system. Here’s what some of the words or phrases found in the above definition really mean: “Religious”The term “religious” also includes moral and ethical beliefs that have the same force in a person’s life as traditional religious beliefs. The term “religious” does not include essentially political, sociological, or philosophical views.“Training and/or Belief”“Training and/or belief” refers to the source of conviction or, more simply, the experiences and values you hold that do not allow you to participate in military service or the bearing of arms. This may come, for example, from a lifetime of involvement in an organized religion that teaches active love for the enemy (i. It could also arise from experiences serving in the military or from other life experiences.“Participation”This term highlights the personal nature of the claim. Thus a CO claim cannot be an abstract critique of war. It indicates that your set of personal values is the reason you are requesting discharge or reassignment, not that you think war is illogical or bad policy, for example.“In War”The term “In War” does not mean that a CO has to object to the use of violence by a police force or for self- defense, although many COs do hold nonviolent convictions. Additionally, it is important to note the difference between force and violence. Punching someone is an example of violent force, while pulling a child away from a moving car is an example of nonviolent force.“In Any Form”This means that you must be opposed to all real war at this point in time. Those who object to a particular war would be called “selective conscientious objectors” and they do not qualify as conscientious objectors under current US law. If you believe in “Just War Theory”, held by many religious traditions, then to be a conscientious objector under the current legal definition you would have to apply the theory and conclude that there is no just war. To qualify for discharge from the military you must show that you do, in fact, conscientiously object to participating in war, and that your beliefs have changed, or “crystallized” since you joined the military. If you believe you might fall within this definition, read on. If You Are Facing Deployment Usually applicants for conscientious objection wait until their application is complete and ready to turn in before informing their command that they intend to apply. Regulations do not require a command to reassign a conscientious objector applicant until a complete application is submitted, but typically commands will reassign conscientious objector applicants on the basis of notification of the intent to apply. Before the application is forwarded to headquarters, you should get a second opportunity to write another rebuttal if anything new has been added to the record. The Decision If your application is approved, you will be discharged (or reclassified as a non- combatant if that's what you applied for).
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