Protecting Yourself

The Gulf War was a very bad time for COs (and for other military people, like those with family hardships, who needed discharges). As this is written, in 1993, it is too early to tell what they long-term effects of the War will be on COs. And what happened in the Gulf War doesn't predict what will happen in the next war or mobilization. Things may be better or worse in the future; we just don't know.

What you can learn from the Gulf War is to be especially careful if you find yourself applying for CO status during a war or mobilization. Be sure to follow the steps outlined in Protecting Yourself. You should do this whenever you apply. You should also take extra precautions. Here are some suggestions:

• Before you take any steps, contact the GI Rights Hotline at (800) 394-9544. We will try to help you find a counselor or give you counseling over the phone, by mail, by email, or by fax. Keep in mind, however, that during war or mobilization, we receive literally hundreds of phone calls per week (or even per day in some cases). If you can't get through, keep trying.
• If you discuss a possible CO claim with your supervisor or commanding officer, make a written record of the conversation. If you're told that CO claims have been abolished or suspended or that the command won't accept a claim, this record may be the only written evidence that you were turned away before you had a chance to apply.
• Make sure your personal records of your case are in a safe place. This is standard procedure when you apply for CO status, but it's doubly important in wartime. Send copies of your CO papers, including records of conversations with supervisors, to your civilian counselor and members of your family.
• Use your Congressmember throughout the processing of your claim. Send copies of all your papers to him or her, along with a letter explaining what you are doing. Intervention from your Congressmember will be more useful if his or her office has full records of your case.
• Consider filing complaints under Article 138. If your command refuses to process your CO claim, harasses you because of your beliefs, or is uncooperative in any other way, you may have grounds for a complaint. If you file a complaint or a series of complaints, you put the military on notice that you know your rights and will not stand by when they are violated. Article 138 can be a very powerful weapon. There may, however, be situations where filing a complaint will do more harm than good. Before you decide, talk with your counselor.
• Consider going public with your case--but with caution. Some COs during the Gulf War found that the publicity given their cases caused them additional trouble with the military. On the other hand, publicity can often force the military to back down or compromise in a difficult case. In general, it's best to try every available remedy--such as Congressional intervention and Article 138 complaints--before going public. If you've tried everything and the military still won't process your claim or is still treating you unfairly, you will look better and the military will look worse when you do go public.

The previous paragraph talked about going public as a tactic , not as an essential part of your stand. If going public is an essential part of your stand, don't be deterred from doing so by tactical considerations. But do think carefully about when you should go public, how best to do it, and what is likely to happen if you do. Then you'll have some idea what you are getting into, whatever decision you make, and you'll help to increase the effectiveness of your stand when you do take it.

Publicity can be a very powerful force, but it can also hurt you if not used well. Before you go public, talk with your counselor, your family, and others whose opinions you respect. And keep in mind that you decide when and whether to go public. If you don't want to do so, you don't have to. It's your life and your conscience that are at stake--no one else's.

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