Frequently Asked Questions about Conscientious Objection (CO)

Q:  Who is required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS)?
Men are required to register on their 18^th birthday, but women are currently not required or able to register.

Q:  How long do I have before, and after my 18^th birthday to register?
You are required to register with the SSS within 30 days before your 18^th birthday or 29 days after.

Q:  Where can I register?
Forms are available at post offices, or you can register online at the Selective Service website (www.sss.gov).  You may also be able to register at your high school.

Q: What are my options when considering whether I register or not?
Check out your options for registering with the Selective Service System at the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors website.

Q:  What happens if I don’t register?
Not registering with the SSS is a federal crime. While no one has been prosecuted since the mid 80s, people have gone to jail for it as well as paid fines up to 250,000 dollars. Not registering also prevents you from receiving federal loans or grants for higher education, federal job training or civil service employment (such as the Post Office or Park Service).

Q: What is a Conscientious Objector?
A Conscientious Objector (CO) is a person who objects to war in any form and whose belief is based on an ethical, moral or religious training or belief system.

Q:  What if I am a Conscientious Objector? How do I tell the military?
To apply for CO status you must write, “I am a Conscientious Objector. I am opposed to all wars.” There is no check off box to write down any reason why you should not serve, so write it down on the bottom of the form, and any other free space. This might mean that you have written that you are a CO several times. Then make 2 photocopies: keep one and mail the other to yourself, but do not open it once it arrives. It is also a good idea to notarize your letter before mailing it. Making these copies is very important because the documents sent to the government will be destroyed, but at least now you will have a copy that has been post-marked with the same date.

Q:  What should I do after I submit my registration form? How do I establish a CO file?
After you submit your form, it is a very good idea to start a "CO file" to document that your life reflects your believes. The file may contain letters from friends, teachers, employers or others stating why they believe you are opposed to all wars. These letters will help you later if you ever need to build a case for yourself. In addition to this, write papers in school or letters to the local newspaper regarding your anti-war beliefs. If these letters get published, cut them out, and save them.  They will improve your case for not being a good soldier. If you receive military recruiting flyers, write on them that you are a Conscientious Objector, make a photocopy, and send them back. And finally, write a statement of your beliefs regarding your opposition to all wars. This draft can be one page or thirty; it doesn’t really matter, so long as it clearly outlines your stance on war. For more information: Learn more about how to establish a CO file.

For more questions on CO status visit the Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO) website or visit the Peace & Justice Center resource library at 21 Church St. in Burlington.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Draft

Q: How likely is a draft?
There is no way to know for certain, the as the politics of a draft are always changing. But it never hurts to be prepared especially with such high stakes. And the earlier you state that you are a CO, the easier it is to prove that you have had these beliefs for a long time.

Q:  What actions should I take if I am drafted?
If you were drafted, you would receive in the mail some forms to fill out and a date on which you must report to your nearest recruitment office. On the forms you must check the box that states that you request a deferment from duty. Send this form in, and the SSS will then send you more forms on which you must fill out the reasons you should be exempt from the draft.

Q:  What are the possible reasons I could be exempt from the draft?
In the past, people who fall under any of the following categories have been exempt; however, it is important to realize that these can change with the enactment of a new draft.

• a minister or divinity student
• the sole surviving son of a family whose father, mother or siblings have died as a result of military action
• the sole financial or other support to family members who are dependent, elderly, disabled and/or ill
• physically or mentally incapable of being in the military
• lesbian, gay or bisexual
• A conscientious objector.

Q: What happens after I have filed my claim?
The government will postpone your induction date while they review your application. If they conclude that your argument is valid, congratulations - you’re home free. If not, then you will receive a new induction date. It would then be wise to contact the CCCO or AFSC and they will help you find a lawyer, and further assist you in what could be a lengthy trial.

Read the CCCO's FAQ on the Draft and "Do you Feel a Draft?" by Chris Lombardi, CCCO Communications Coordinator

For information on efforts to end Draft Registration go to: http://www.objector.org/conscription/end-registration.html
 

Want to Talk? Find and talk to a CO Counselor

Call the Peace & Justice Center 802-863-2345 x3 to find a CO counselor in your part of Vermont!

Become a CO Counselor
Call Wendy at the PJC to sign up to counsel young people in your area of Vermont on military enlistment, CO status, and alternatives to the military! 863-2345 x3