Military Info: Young People

Information for young people not in the military, between the ages of 16-26, who are exploring their relationship to the military and to war.

Background

Background

First of all, it’s important to know the facts. Currently (as of June 2005), there is no draft. The Selective Service is the official U.S. Government agency on selective service and the draft. Without Congressional support, a draft cannot be reinstated. However, the Selective Service is mandated to will maintain readiness for the draft, as required by law, and to register young men between the ages of 18 and 25. Given the current situation, you have three choices:

Should I register for the draft?

Registration for the military draft is not a neutral action. Draft registration was renewed in 1980 to "send a message to the Soviet Union." This message is that we are as prepared to kill as we believe they are. Registering, therefore, includes an involvement in this message.

Why is it important that you think about this now? As a young man or woman in the U.S., you have decisions to make with regard to military service. Due to a 1980 Presidential proclamation, all males age 18 through 26 must register with the Selective Service System. Though women are not currently required to register, Congress has the power to include women in the draft. Plans for a draft of health care workers include women, and women already make-up 10% of the military. When you turn 20, you become a member of the first group to be drafted in case of war.

Reasons for not registering:

In this next section, we’ll go through each of your three choices:

1. Register within 30 days of your 18th birthday.

If you decide to register, but are opposed to participation in war, write that on the registration form and make a copy for your own records. Contact The Center on Conscience & War for more information on documenting your conscientious objection; this will be necessary should the draft be initiated. More information on this is included in Section 3 below.

If you decide to register, you should begin thinking about the following questions.

Should I serve in the military?

If you are considering service in the military, don't enlist before carefully checking out the reality of military life. Remember that the job of military recruiters is to sell the military. And it's serious business: this recruitment effort costs the Pentagon over $2 billion a year! It can be easy to forget that the purpose of the military is to fight wars, not to provide civilian job training or college financial aid. As human beings and citizens, we are called to careful and prayerful decision-making.

Two Common Misconceptions

Should you consider registering or taking the next step of enlisting in the U.S military, you should be aware of two common misperceptions. Two promises typically made by military recruiters are job training and money for college. If these are your incentives, please check out the websites for any of the agencies listed in the links below for more information on the many ways these commitments may not be met. You may also want to consider alternatives to military service, such as those listed below.

It is important to understand that your enlistment agreement will say that your status, pay, benefits, and responsibilities in the military can change without warning and regardless of any promises in your agreement.

The Delayed Entry Program
Once someone is enlisted in the active military or the regular reserves, the standard for seeking discharge is strict. However, this is NOT the case if you have enlisted to serve in the military through the Delayed Entry Program (DEP).

Many recruiters will tell you that you cannot get out of DEP. There are actually a variety of DEP discharges available, including enrollment in college, finding a long-term job, and family hardship.

The process for DEP members seeking discharge is relatively simple and informal. You are NOT legally required to show up on a given date for active duty. There are many categories that can be used for discharge including a category called "Other" which can be almost any reason at all. Their reason can simply be a "refusal to enlist" or "not reporting on the date scheduled." That is enough to be discharged as a DEP member.

DEP members are advised to write a letter, not to your recruiter, but to your commanding officer. Even if you don't write a letter, just not showing up is reason enough to be discharged. Click here for more detailed information about getting out of the DEP is available from the CCCO website.

Regardless of the military program you might be considering, consult one of the groups listed in the links below for more information and advice on talking with recruiters. Because theirs is a sales job, it is important to be prepared and knowledgeable.

2. Don’t register – but know the consequences.

If you decide not to register, you should be aware of the consequences of breaking the law. There's a slight chance you might be prosecuted for non-registration. It's almost certain that you will be denied federal assistance for higher education and job training, as well as employment with the federal government. Some states have similar penalties, including barring conscientious objectors of the draft from state universities and denying them driver's licenses.

The Center on Conscience & War and CCCO both provide free counseling services by phone and mail, and publish aids to help you think through what you believe and what you should do.

If you choose to conscientious object from registration or service in the military, read on in the next section for information about organizations that can support you in your decision.

3. Prepare for a possible draft by beginning a file to document your conscientious objector beliefs.

Whether or not you register, if you think you may at some point apply for CO status, now is the time to start compiling a file to support your application.

Here’s the official description of Conscientious Objection from the Selective Service along with their information on the application process. Because this information is sparse, it is usually better to contact one of the organizations below to get a more thorough understanding of what is entailed in starting such a file and going through the process.

Here is some very helpful information from the The Center on Conscience & War:

What should I do if I am a conscientious objector?

Prepare now. More information is available in CCW's publication, "Basic Draft and Registration Information".

If you think you are a conscientious objector, answer the questions on the this worksheet as clearly and completely as possible. Make a separate copy and mail it to the Center on Conscience & War (CCW) and/or your own religious body or counseling agency [if you are a practicing Buddhist, please contact us and we will begin a file for you here at BPF’s Central Office in Berkeley, California].

CCW will be happy to receive your statement whether or not your objection is based on traditional religious grounds. Keep a copy for your own records.

If you send a copy of your statement to CCW, a counselor will review it and send any recommendations that might help in the presentation of a future conscientious objector claim.

We also recommend that you gather letters of support.

What are letters of support?

Letters of support are letters written by people who know you well and will attest to the sincerity of your conscientious objector claim. These letters can be very important. It is not necessary that the writers agree with your beliefs. The best letters are often written by persons who disagree with the conscientious objector but believe in his or her sincerity. Two or three good letters are advisable. The letters, as well as your statement, can be revised if and when you have to apply for CO status. (You will be allowed witnesses at your draft hearing, and the writers might appear on your behalf.) See more about letters of support in the Letters of Support section of CCW’s guide.

For More Information about Conscientious Objection and the Draft:

Center on Conscience & War
http://www.nisbco.org
1830 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-5732
phone: (202) 483-2220, fax: -1246
e-mail: nisbco@igc.apc.org

Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO)
http://www.objector.org
info@objector.org

American Friends Service Committee

Youth and Militarism Program

http://afsc.org/youthmil/default.htm
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
phone: (215) 241-7176
e-mail: youthmil@afsc.org

War Resisters League
http://www.warresisters.org/
339 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
phone: (212) 228-0450
fax (212) 228-6193
e-mail: wrl@warresisters.org

The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund
http://www.peacetaxfund.org
2121 Decatur Place NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 483-3751
Toll-free: (888) PEACETAX
Fax: (202) 986-0667
e mail: info@peacetaxfund.org
An organization devoted to supporting and instituting legislation that allows people to withhold part of their taxes as a form of conscientious objection.

Alternatives to Military Service

Civil Service
Call Americorps, 1-800-942-2677, for information on federally-funded national service programs through which you can do community work and earn tuition money for college. www.cns.gov

Finacial Aid Alternatives to the GI Bill
Use your high school guidance office or library to explore scholarship and loan options. Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center, www.studentservices.com or 1-800-4-FEDAID, to receive information on federal grant and loan programs. Search the internet for information on more than 180,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans. For those who decide not to register for the draft, contact The Center on Conscience & War for more information on alternatives to federal financial aid.

Non-Military Work
Finding a full-time job with which to support yourself is hard work. The better prepared you are, the greater your chance of success. Think about what you'd like to do and talk with people who have that type of job; ask them how they got their first job. Use your library and your school guidance office as resources for your job search, resume preparation, and interviewing skills.

Volunteer Training
There are many volunteer programs which provide you with room, board, and a small stipend in return for full-time work as a volunteer. Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) has opportunities for you to give a year of full-time urban service, while also offering a supportive community living situation. Contact LVC at 1333 North St. NW, Washington DC 20005. (202) 387-3222. In the future, BPF will list Buddhist-related volunteer sites on this website as they become available.