Protecting Your Rights

You have the right to possess a single copy of this book, or any other piece of literature. However, if you have in your possession more than one copy of any literature the command does not approve of you can face disciplinary action for intent to distribute prohibited literature.

The military is a bureaucracy. In fact, it's probably the most rigid bureaucracy you'll ever experience. If you don't know your rights and don't protect them, military officials usually won't help you very much. They won't tell you what you can do; often they won't even know. Throughout this book, you'll find discussions of your rights under military law. You can make sure your rights are respected--by the courts if not by the military--if you follow a few rules of thumb.

• Speak to a counselor. To reach a civilian counselor in your area who knows about military law and can guide you through the discharge process call the GI Rights Hotline at (800) 394-9544. To apply for CO status, you won't need a lawyer. But if you do need a lawyer later on, you can help your case by following the rest of the rules in this section. A GI Rights Hotline civilian counselor will help you at no charge.
• Make all requests in writing. Even though you may not think it necessary at the time, write out every request, complaint, etc., that you have to make. That's the only way you'll have a record of what happened in your case.
• Request written replies to your requests and complaints. You may not always have a right to a written reply, but if you don't ask for one, you probably won't get one. And a written reply from your superiors can be an important part of your case record.
• Keep all records in a safe place. Make copies of everything you send to the military and everything you receive from them. Keep one copy in your own file, and send the others to someone you trust off base. The military is famous for losing letters and other records, so you must be more careful than they are.
• Know your rights. Talk with your counselor about what you are getting into, what is likely to happen, and what you can do if the military denies your requests. Read this book and the regulations on CO discharge. If you're applying for another discharge, review the chapter Other Discharges, read the regulations on it, and talk with your counselor about it.
• Meet deadlines. Even though you may think a deadline is unfair or illegal, try to get your material (for example, your CO claim) to the military on time. If you can't, make a written request for an extension and explain why you can't meet the deadline.

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