| I have posted some information in another notes conference about
applying for conscientious objector status in the US military. Since
this is very much a men's issue, I have collected this information for
posting here.
A few comments are in order. First, all the information about CO
status is based on the current draft laws. Congress can establish
conscription based on those draft laws with a simple vote; however, I
have been told that if Congress wanted to amend the draft laws, there
would have to be an involved process of posting the proposed changes
prior to a waiting period. If this is true, it might not be as likely
that the current draft laws would change; but be aware of that
possibility.
Secondly, it is possible for people currently serving in the military
to apply for CO status. Current efforts at counseling COs has focused
on people in the military. However, this information is still useful
in the event that a draft is started in the United States.
Third, it is advised that you consult with a draft counselor if you
should decide to pursue a CO status. I am not a draft counselor, and I
don't pretend to be. In my replies to this note, I will include
addresses and phone numbers for those are interested.
Also, for anyone who is concerned about the possibility of the draft,
it is never too soon to begin establishing documentation of their CO
status. When registering for the draft, for example, while there is no
space on the form for this, you can write in the margin that you are a
conscientious objector; make a copy of this (and if possible, have the
Postal Clerk initial it) before you turn it in. What matters to draft
boards is sincerity; if it appears to them that you have suddenly
become antiwar when you were called up, they are less likely to approve
your application.
Finally, be aware that current draft laws state that 20-year-olds are
the first to be called up. After that they go for ages 21 through 25,
and then 19 and 18. With such a large pool of 20-year-old males in the
United States, (the figure I have heard is 1.8 million) it is unlikely
that those older than 20, and especially those over than 21, would be
called up (although I suppose anything is possible). There are few
deferments this time around. Students can finish their semester, and
seniors can finish their year, but other than that there are no student
deferments that I know of. Current Canadian and U.S. laws also mean
that fleeing to Canada is not really a viable option any more.
More information is included in the following replies. These replies
were posted earlier in another notes conference.
-- Mike
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| Draft Info: Addresses and Phone Numbers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AFSC - The American Friends Service Committee. Founded by
Quakers in 1917 to assist COs. They now provide a wide
variety of services for COs and non-registrants regardless
of faith. Many local Friends meetings around the country
provide active support for COs.
AFSC [Headquarters]
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215/241-7000
AFSC [New England Office]
2161 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
617/661-6130
AFSC [Coloradao]
1535 High Street, 3rd Floor
Denver, CO 80218
CARD - Committee Against Registration and the Draft. A group
opposed to both the draft and draft registration. They had a
Washington office in the past, but the headquarters now appears
to be in the Midwest.
CARD
731 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
608/257-7562
BAARD (Boston Alliance Against Registration and the Draft)
P.O. Box 2406
Cambridge, MA 02238
617/354-0931
CCCO - The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors.
Provides information and counseling. Will keep statements
of conscientious objection on file. Has extensive liter-
ature, including a "CO packet," available for $2.00.
CCCO [Headquarters]
2208 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215/545-4626
CCCO [San Francisco]
P.O. Box 42249
San Francisco, CA 94142
415/474-3002
NISBCO - The National Interreligious Service Board for
Conscientious Objectors. Similar to the CCCO, but focusing
primarily on COs whose objections to war stem from religious
principles.
NISBCO
1601 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20005
[Phone Number Not Listed]
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| How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Draft
Patrick "kitten" Juola
In response to a deluge of requests (primarily from the junk mailing
list), here is the Real Stuff about the draft. For the record, I am
a draft counselor with the American Friends Service Committee, and most
of the material in here is straight out of the NIBSCO Draft Counselors
Manual. But, please, everyone, bear in mind that free legal advice
can be very expensive -- if you want to play mind games with the
Selective Service System, talk to a draft counselor or an attorney
first.
First, how the draft works. Conscription is done by age, based on year.
of birth. As I write, it is 1991. I was born in 1966, so I will turn
25 this year, putting me in the "age 25 selection group". Someone born
in 1971, therefore, is in the "age 20" group. Registrants are called in
the following order :
1) Volunteers (yeah, right!)
2) Previous registrants whose deferments or postponements have
expired. (i.e. if you get a postponement until the end of the semester,
you get called up QUICKLY after that).
3) The age 20 group, followed by age 21, 22,... 25.
N) The age 19 group.
N+1) The age 18 group.
There are approximately 2 million men in each group, so if you were
born in 1970 or earlier, you are *probably* safe -- I doubt that we can
kill off a million people a year.
There are only five deferments available :
4-F (Unfit for Service) is the usual physical check. About half
of the people called (in Vietnam) fell into this category; we are apparently
a society of real couch potatoes. This also includes mental aberrations,
for which an Army Doctor needs to agree on the diagnosis, and homosexuality,
which is (contrary to fact) considered a form of mental illness.
4-F also includes the people who (as popularized by Arlo Guthrie)
"may not be moral enough to burn women, children, houses, and villages."
This is usually a felony conviction or a LOT of misdemeanor convictions, and
the Army may be willing to waive this, so it's not a guaranteed out.
1-O are Conscientious Objectors; they are required to serve two
years in an alternative service (usually changing bedpans in hospitals).
It's actually not quite as difficult to get as some people believe -- during
'Nam, over 95% of the people who appealed their denial of a CO claim won
it on appeal. But you need a good counselor or a good lawyer to pull this
one off.
4-G (Surviving Son) is what most people think of as the "only son"
deferment. In short, if you have had a father, mother, or blood sibling
killed in action or in the line of duty, killed by wounds received (in the
line of duty), or declared MIA, you are eligible for a deferment. *This is
not available, unfortunately, if Congress declares a war or a national
emergency.* There is no "only son" deferment.
3-A (Hardship) deferments are available to people whose absence
would cause serious problems for their dependents and who have no one else
who can take over the responsibilities.
2-D (Ministry Student) and 4-D (Minister) are self-explanatory.
And probably useless for most people. But, if you join a seminary, you can
get out of going to the war.
Thoses are all the available *deferments* -- i.e., as long as those conditions
persist, you will not be drafted. There are also a few postponements
available, which will keep you out of the war for a few months.
High school students can finish their degrees (up to age 20, and
even beyond if they are in their final year). College students can finish
the current semester, and college seniors can finish their year. The 4-S
deferment no longer exists, unfortunately.
ROTC scholarship students can stay in school forever.
There are also minor deferments for things like being scheduled
for a professional examination (like medical boards or bar exams) or
medical emergencies. Again, mostly useless.
That's basically the lot. Some notable things that are *not* included
are : only son deferment, student deferment, and protected industry
deferments. Although, Colorado and Massachusetts residents might like to
know that working for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
is apparently, legally, the equivalent of serving in the Armed Forces.
I don't, however, know that loophole well enough to recommend it.
Finally, if you are interested in pursuing a CO claim or have any questions,
I'm available at juola@boulder.colorado.edu. The real professionals are
the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors,
(NIBSCO), at 1601 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste. 750, Washington DC. In the
Denver area, the folks who trained me are American Friends Service Committee,
at 1535 High St., 3rd Floor, Denver, CO 80218. Any of us can probably
help answer further questions.
Peace,
- kitten
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| The Importance of being Earnest
Patrick "kitten" Juola
Once again, my mailbox is flooded; this time with people saying
"I read your article on the draft and I want to know how to
become a Conscientious Objector." So, here is the Real Stuff about
CO's. Again, for the record, I am a draft counselor for AFSC out
of Denver, also working with the Rocky Mountain Peace Center, and
I'll cite further sources as I use them.
First, a quote from *The Handbook for Conscientious Objectors*, published
by the CCCO, one of the most important and reliable sources of information
and support for CO's.
"No [paper] is a substitute for good draft counseling.
If you're confused about anything -- the draft law or
your own beliefs, for instance -- you need to talk to
someone who knows about conscientious objection and
the law."
Free legal advice should always be viewed with suspicion, and never
trust *anything* you see over USENET.
The legal definition of a CO is "a person... who by virtue of religious
training and belief is conscientiously opposed to participation to war
in any form." There are actually two kinds of CO's -- 1-O deferments
are given to people who will not serve in the Armed forces at all, while
1-A-O are given to people who will serve, but only as noncombatants. Most
of the following paper applies to both.
To prove yourself a CO, you need to convince a draft board of three things :
i) that you are "religious", ii) that you are opposed to "war in any form",
and iii) that you are sincere.
"Religious", as used by the SSS, is an easy one to show. Under court rulings,
you don't have to be in a church, to believe in God, or even to call your
decisions religious. The law merely excludes "political, sociological, or
philosophical" positions, or a "merely personal moral code." Admittedly,
this is a fine line, but it gives you an idea of what you are up against.
The CCCO or draft counselors can give you more ideas about what this
means.
"War in any form" is a harder one. The SSS does not recognize "selective
objectors" -- people who would fight in some wars, but not others. For
example, saying that "I would fight if the United States were under attack,
but not in the Persian Gulf" is an easy way to *not* get the 1-O. On
the other hand, CCCO doctrine is for all selective objectors to apply
as well. First, there is always the chance that the board may make
an administrative error that will give you a COship on appeal. Second,
the more selective objectors apply, the more likely Congress is to
recognize this as an objection to war.
Finally, you need to prove to the board that you are sincere. More
accurately, the burden of proof is on the board to find you insincere,
and they will try hard. "How have these beliefs you claim affected your
life?" "What will you do if your application is denied?" "How can you
*prove* that you are a CO?"
The procedures are deceptively simple. There is *no* way to apply to
become a CO until you are actually ordered to report for induction.
Once you receive this notice, though, you will have less then ten days,
so you should start preparing your application materials well before this.
The first step is simply a check-off form, requesting a 1-O or 1-A-O
deferment as applicable. This must be sent in before you actually
report for induction. You will then be sent a copy of the SSS Form 22,
which is the application for a CO claim. You are asked, on this form,
to the answer the following three questions :
1) Describe your beliefs which are the reasons for your claiming
conscientious objection to combatant military training or to all military
training and service.
2) Describe how and when you acquired these beliefs. Your answer
may include such information as the influence of family members or other
persons; training, if applicable; your person experiences; membership in
organizations; books and readings which influenced you.
3) Explain what most clearly shows that your beliefs are deeply
held. You may wish to include a description of how your beliefs affect
the way you live.
Clearly, these are not questions to be answered in an hour at the typewriter
with a Coke in your hand. For example, during 'Nam, many applicants answered
these with philosophy theses, and your application will take as much work
as any term paper you ever wrote/write in college. It can be helpful to
have several people read versions of this and comment on them. Ideally,
you can convince these people, at least, of your sincerity, which brings
us to....
Letters of support are another very helpful thing. A letter from your
clergyman or teacher attesting to your beliefs, can carry a lot of weight
with the local draft board. Ask for them to let you see the letters
beforehand, so that you can make sure that they aren't accidentally
weakening your claim. With the letters, you can also submit press clippings,
published papers, arrest records, and anything that can prove your sincerity.
The important thing to remember is that you need to prove yourself *sincere*,
not prove yourself *right.* You will never convince the draft board that
war is wrong, but you shouldn't have to.
The next (and hopefully final) step is a hearing in front of the draft
board, where you talk to the board and they to you, trying to prove you
insincere. They can ask lots of hard questions here : some samples follow
at the end of this paper.
Hopefully, at the end of this procedure, the board grants you your desired
classification. If not, there are appeals procedures, but you should
talk to a draft counselor or attorney about them. The important thing to
do now, before the draft starts, is to start thinking about what you
really believe and start gathering evidence. Write letters to the papers
describing your beliefs. Talk to people. And listen to what your
conscience tells you about war. That's what "conscientious objection"
really means.
- kitten
Patrick Juola // juola@eclipse.colorado.edu // kitten@ai.mit.edu
p.s. Here are some sample questions taken from the CCCO. For a copy
of the Handbook for CO's, write to CCCO, 2208 South St., Philadelphia,
PA. 19146 or call 215-545-4626. Cost is about $3, I think.
I am, of course, still available for questions at juola@cs.colorado.edu.
Questions on the nature of beliefs :
How can you say your belief is religious?
Is your objection to killing, or being killed?
How do you explain all the wars in the Old Testament?
What about the Christian doctrine of approval for just wars?
Can no war be just or necessary regardless of the situation?
Questions about "Why not a 1-A-O" :
Can you say that a medic helping a dying soldier is an immoral act and
can never be an expression of God's love?
If you don't believe in killing, why let a wounded soldier die?
Questions about the use of force :
Do you honestly think the Armed Forces should be abolished?
How would you resist evil?
Can't non-physical force, such as strikes and boycotts, be just
as destructive as physical force?
Would you use force to stop a maniac from killing an innocent person?
... from killing your mother? And wasn't Hitler a maniac?
Questions about sincerity :
How can you *prove* you're a CO?
What will you do if your application is denied?
(One of the test readers suggested that I include that "answers" to these
questions can be found in the literature. The works of Gandhi, King, Tolstoy,
and others, will frequently provide a theoretical justification for their
form of non-violence. Here again, though, be careful. It's more important
to be sincere in what you believe than just to parrot back a half-understood
version of Gandhi. The travel is as important as the destination, at
least here.)
More questions, and much more information, are available from the CCCO
or a draft counselor. -k.
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