Laws And Regulations Regarding Conscientious Objectors

Members of the military who develop a "firm, fixed, and sincere objection to participation in war in any form or the bearing of arms," based on moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, are entitled to discharge from military service or transfer to non-combatant status. An applicant for conscientious objector status must submit a written application, and be interviewed by a chaplain, military psychiatrist, and investigating officer. The written application must describe:

• The nature of the applicant's beliefs about participation in war;
• How those beliefs changed or developed since entering the military;
• When and why the applicant's beliefs prevented him or her from continuing to serve in the military; and
• How the applicant's daily lifestyle has changed as a result of his or her beliefs.

A conscientious objector must:

• Have a firm, fixed and sincere objection to participation in war;
• Object to participation in war in any form;
• Base the objection in strongly held religious, moral, or ethical beliefs; and
• Base the objection in beliefs that arose or became central to the applicant's life after enlistment.

While the applicant must object to all war -- not solely to a war that might be going on at any given moment -- they need not know what they would do in the future or would have done in the past. A CO does not have to belong to a religious sect, and need not believe in any kind of Supreme Being. If he or she is not religious in the conventional sense, she or he must show that the beliefs that form the basis of their objection are as important in their life as those in the life of a religious CO. The applicant's conscientious objection must have "crystallized," or become definite, after enlistment. It's okay if he or she had strong feelings against war before, but those feelings must have become objections for them to qualify.

Once an applicant demonstrates that their beliefs conform to the accepted definition of conscientious objection, the applicant must demonstrate that their beliefs are sincerely and strongly held. Letters of support are the best evidence of an applicant's sincerity and serve as testimonials to how strongly their beliefs are held.

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