"Free" Speech in the Military

You have the right to discuss your beliefs with your co-workers. Talking about your beliefs can have several beneficial effects. If the people you talk with believe you are sincere, they may be good witnesses at your Investigating Officer hearing. You might even get other people thinking about becoming COs themselves. Your talking might encourage the military to process your claim quickly--especially if they think you're infecting others with the "CO bug." However, there is a real chance that you will be harassed for talking about your beliefs. A superior officer or NCO might take it upon him or herself to try to pin as many infractions on you as possible in hopes of building a case for some other type of discharge or punishment.

You also have the right to possess any printed material (this book, for instance). Even possession of unauthorized printed material cannot be prohibited. The military can take away unauthorized material only if they think you are going to distribute it. But they can't do this just because the material you're going to distribute criticizes government policy. At one time, anti-war "underground" newspapers were common on US military bases. These papers were published by enlisted people and even some officers. Publication of such papers is not prohibited, but you must work on them off hours and off base. You may not use government property (such as government pens) to write or produce the paper. Unless you are stationed overseas, it is legal for you to participate in demonstrations. You must be off duty and out of uniform when you do so, and the demonstration must be nonviolent and legal. If you're stationed overseas, the regulations do not allow you to participate in demonstrations.

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