Conscientious
Objection and the Draft
What exactly
is the draft?
The U.S. government has the legal authority to draft
people into the military. Currently, there is no draft,
although all men, at age 18, are required by law to
register for the draft (through the Selective Service
System). Draft registration was reinstated in 1980
as a political threat to the Soviet Union. It exists
in order to mobilize troops quickly in the event of
a major war. In the case of a national emergency,
Congress would have to authorize the President to
begin induction in order to restart the draft.
The consequences of this system are not the same for
everyone. Although only men have to register, in the
future Congress could also require women to register.
The draft has historically placed a greater burden
on people of color and people who are poor.
What are my
choices?
Can I register as a conscientious objector (CO) if
I feel participation in war would violate my conscience?
In reality, you have only two choices: either you
register or you don’t. The draft registration
form contains no box to check for "conscientious
objector." Registration simply collects names
and addresses; it does not make classifications about
whether a man could serve in the military and in what
capacity.
Some people choose to register but to make clear their
stance from the beginning: they write messages stating
"I am a conscientious objector" on the margins
of their form. These messages do not necessarily have
any legal significance, but they begin a record of
objection. Since these forms are processed and then
discarded, make a copy of the form and mail it to
yourself so that you have a record.
If you register for the draft and are called up after
a draft is reinstated, you could try to obtain a "deferment"
(postponement of military service) or an "exemption"
(release from military service). However, you would
have only a very short time from the day you were
notified by mail that you were drafted until the time
you would have to appear before a draft board and
defend your CO or other type of claim.
To be declared a CO, you "must establish to the
satisfaction of the [draft] board that you are conscientiously
opposed to participation in military training and
service in any war, based on deeply held moral, ethical
or religious beliefs."
You can also choose not to register. Some young men
make this decision because they feel they cannot be
a part of the military machine in any way or because
the draft is coercive. They may view registration
itself as a weapon, since it exists to serve as a
deterrent to war and is a part of overall military
readiness.
The consequences of not registering can include monetary
fines and prison time, although the government has
not given these punishments since the mid-1980s. Instead,
coercive federal and state laws deny benefits, such
as financial aid for college (federal and in some
places also state) and certain types of job training,
to young men who have not registered. Over half of
the U.S. states have provisions to coerce registration
or to punish non-registrants, such as linking drivers’
licenses to draft registration.
What can I
do now?
If you know you are a conscientious objector or think
you might be, it is important that you take time to
think about the questions and prepare now. While registering
for the draft may seem like filling out just another
piece of paper, it has potentially deadly consequences
– for you and for unknown numbers of people
around
the world.
Ask yourself questions to help clarify your beliefs
and thinking: What are the ultimate values in life?
Are you willing to kill another human being? When
is it right, if ever, to use military force? What
do you think about war? How did you come to feel this
way? Are there ways you can serve your community besides
the military?
How can we build a world where everyone can live in
peace and security, with access to water, food, shelter,
education, and health care? What type of world would
you like to see and how do we get there?
If you come to the realization that war is not morally
acceptable and that it goes against your beliefs,
you are not alone. Talk over this decision with others.
Pray about it. Read about other conscientious objectors.
Answer the questions Selective Service would ask you
if you were drafted:
Describe your beliefs which are the
reasons for your claiming conscientious objection
to combatant military training and service or to
all military training and service. (What beliefs
guide your life? How are they in contradiction with
war?)
Describe how and when your acquired these beliefs.
(Mention what people, books, movies, classes, etc.
influenced you. Have you participated in vigils
or demonstrations? Visited a war-torn country?)
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. (Have
your beliefs affected your lifestyle choices, the
type of work you do or plan to do, your goals in
life?)
Begin a file documenting your beliefs (answers to
the above questions, letters from others testifying
to your beliefs, letters from Selective Service, etc.);
such documentation will help to establish your sincerity.
Send any correspondence or mail to Selective Service
certified mail, return receipt requested.
Sign and date all materials. Ask your parish if it
will keep a copy of your file or file your objection
with Pax Christi USA or one of the national organizations
listed in the
resource section. |