SO YOU WANT TO BE A CO?
Making the decision to be a conscientious objector is hardly an easy one. There are a number of different factors that may influence you, but let's start with the most important:
YOUR BELIEFS
Do you feel that war is wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable carrying a weapon or training for combat? Was there one particular experience that changed the way you look at war? Do these beliefs come from religious conviction or a more personal, philosophical position?
Here are the important things to remember about your beliefs in regards to CO application:
1. The military does not allow for a nuanced position on war and violence. To be granted CO status, you MUST be opposed to ALL wars. If your application to be a CO is based on the wrongness of a particular war, your packet will be rejected. Additionally, you must be personally committed to peace over violence in almost every situation.
2. Your beliefs on war cannot be political in nature to be considered a CO.
3. Assuming that you volunteered to join the military, you must have come to the conclusion that war is wrong AFTER your enlistment. You may have been asked if you were a CO when you joined, and you probably answered "no." To be considered a CO following enlistment, you must prove that your beliefs against war crystallized AFTER enlisting. This is far from uncommon, as many soldiers simply do not realize how they feel about war until they are actually deployed or start to understand the implications of a deployment.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Everyone around you will have an opinion on the subject of conscientious objection, and it is likely that not all of them will be supportive towards your feelings about war. Though the people around you are clearly important, you have to remember that this is a deeply personal decision, and no one can make it for you. If you truly feel that war is fundamentally unethical way to solve problems, then you may need to seek CO status regardless of what those around you think. Once you make the decision to say "no" to war, you can hope that friends and family have the maturity to recognize your conviction.
OTHER SOLDIERS
Some soldiers in your unit may not be supportive of your decision to seek CO status, but others may understand what you are doing and feel similar. It is likely that someone will give you a hard time, accusing you of being a coward or saying that you are just trying to get out. Remember, the most courageous thing a person can do is to stand up for what they believe in. Other soldiers may believe that war is good, so they are acting on their ethics by remaining in the military. Why should you be denied the same right? You will be following a perfectly legal process recognized by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and if they don't agree with the process, they should take it up with the Pentagon.
As for your NCO's and Chain of Command, they may give you a hard time because many of them are lifers and believe in the ethical application of war. However, if you are firm in your convictions and make sure to be clear that you are not judging or putting down your fellow soldiers for supporting war, they may respect your decision. Ultimately, most leaders would prefer not to have CO's in their units. Who wants to risk deploying someone who might think twice in the face of the enemy?
YOUR BENEFITS
You may be concerned about your benefits if your CO application is accepted. In terms of benefits, you may or may not receive full benefits following discharge as a CO, depending on the characterization of your discharge. Some people mistakenly believe that all CO's lose their VA benefits. They are probably referring to this passage:
"the discharge of persons on the grounds that they are conscientious objectors who refuse to perform military duty, wear the uniform, or otherwise comply with lawful orders of competent military authority, will bar all their rights under the laws administered by the Veterans Administration (VA)."
All this is saying is that if you refuse orders while still in the service, you may get a dishonorable discharge and thus lose all VA benefits. It is possible for you to get an honorable discharge, but that is at the discretion of your commander. Your commander may characterize your discharge as "other than honorable," and in this case you will not be eligible for most VA benefits.
Another potential loss to be aware of is your enlistment bonus. If you received a cash bonus upon enlistment, you may be forced to repay a portion of it for not completing your entire commitment.
By applying for CO status, you do risk the loss of money and benefits. This possibility for personal loss is a test of your convictions as someone opposed to war, and should be taken into account before making the decision to submit your application.
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