Corps approves fewer conscientious objectors
By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
About one-third of Marine applicants are discharged | ∞
NORTH COUNTY -- The Marine Corps granted conscientious objector status to only a third of the nearly 100 active-duty troop and reservists who applied for that designation in the last four years, a rate far lower than that of the other major services, according to a report released Monday.
The report, prepared for Congress, said Marines accounted for 93 of the 425 U.S. troops who sought to leave the military as conscientious objectors between 2002 and 2006.
Conscientious objectors must show convincing evidence they oppose war on religious, ethical or moral beliefs and that those convictions are sincere and deeply held. Opposing a specific conflict, such as the war in Iraq, won't earn someone a conscientious objector discharge or a reassignment.
While the Marine Corps and Coast Guard had the lowest approval rates at the 33 percent figure, Army officials approved conscientious objector applications in 55 percent of the cases. The Air Force approval rate stood at 62 percent.
The rate was lower than the average 54 percent approval recorded in all the branches of the military combined, and far lower than the 84 percent approval rate in the Navy, according to the report from the Government Accounting Office.
The Marine Corps often looks to reassign troops who've filed for conscientious objector status to non-combat roles, according to a spokeswoman in Washington.
Capt. Amy Malugani said a review of a conscientious objector application begins immediately upon receipt with one of the first tests being whether the troop can be reassigned.
"There are many factors ... such as the service members' ability to serve in the military and the ability for them to continue to serve at another location to reach their enlistment obligation," she said.
The overall approval rate throughout the military shows the applications are from troops able to convincingly demonstrate sincere opposition to war and not because they are afraid of war, said Eugene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice in Washington.
"It shows the system is generally working and that these cases cannot simply be dismissed as someone trying to get out of combat," Fidell said. "People who leap to that conclusion are often wrong."
Officials at Camp Pendleton could not immediately say if any of the applications came from Marines stationed at that base.
The vast majority of Marines who filed conscientious objector applications between 2002-06 had been in the service four years or less, the report said. Fifty-three had served in Afghanistan, Iraq or on U.S. soil as part of the military's guarding of airports and other facilities following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Most of the 425 applications from throughout the military came from enlisted ranks. Just 33 officers sought conscientious objector status, according to the study.
After submitting an application, a military chaplain or psychiatrist conducts interviews and the applicant's commanding officer appoints a hearing officer. That officer oversees the application, submitting a recommendation based on the hearing and interviews. A final decision rests with the applicant's commanding officer and can be appealed if denied.
The 425 applications from the 2.3 million service members during the study period represents an application rate of far less than 1 percent.
Seeking conscientious objector status was much more prevalent when there was a draft during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The policies in place today recognize that even though today's military is all-volunteer and recruits are asked if they oppose war, religious, moral or ethical beliefs can change after entering the service.
While most applications are handled administratively, some reach the courts.
Last year, Fidell represented a Marine lance corporal who was sent to Iraq after his petition for conscientious objector was administratively denied, a decision subsequently upheld by a federal court.
But in another case in San Jose earlier this year, a federal judge order the Marine Corps to discharge Lance Cpl. Robert Zabala from the reserves. Zabala first applied for conscientious objector status in 2004.
-- Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
Reason wrote on Oct 2, 2007 6:27 AM:The reason that the Marine Corps doesn't allow too many C.O.'s is probably because the Marine recruiting specifically markets warriors. I don't know of too many warriors who objected to the concept of war. Every Marine signing up knows that they are going to war. There have been some in the military who said that they didn't know they were going to be trained to kill people. The only ones who can say that they didn't join the military to take a life are chaplains. Short piece of advice, if you are against warfare, then don't join the military.-
I would. wrote on Oct 2, 2007 7:47 AM:Say "warriors" equates to "killers". It's all a matter of detachment, you see.-
Francis wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:07 AM:When you are "conscientiously challenged" yourself it is hard to recognize "conscience" when it occurs in others.-
Scott wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:39 AM:The Marines are trained to kill. They are warriors. They don't get past the recruitment stage without knowing that. I commend the Corps for calling these objectors out. If you don't want to be a warrior, then go join the Navy. They use plastic guns in basic training. Fight for your country and your fellow soldiers or go fold laundry on a boat.-
What? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:42 AM:Francis, that sounds like I am right and if you disagree you are wrong. On the content of the story it seems pretty simple to me. Every branch of the military is in the buisness of waging war. If you don't want to fight in a war for what ever reason you shouldn't sign up. When a service member files for CO they should get a dishonerable discharge and a fine to recover the cost of their training.-
Francis to What? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 9:24 AM:It is possible to be motivated by the best of intentions and to sign up, and then to have a conversion experience that is life altering. Saint Paul had a conversion on the road to Damascus. In retrospect we don't think he deserved a dishonorable discharge and a fine.-
C.O. Status??? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 10:51 AM:This was meant for draftees in the 60's and 70's not those who VOLUNTEERED after 9/11 what did they think they were signing up for? ANYONE who enlists or re-enlists should be prohibited from seeking this status. Just seems to me that they join for the benefits and forget that they truly are BENEFITS but sometime you actually have to go to work! And our business in the Military is WAR!
navy 1 star wrote on Oct 2, 2007 11:40 AM:scott!!!!! you sure dont know about the seals, udt swift boats or about the navy...
Navy Vet wrote on Oct 2, 2007 11:59 AM:The boy, Scotty, seems to have been brainwashed into believing that war, killing, and fighting for one's country is reserved exclusively for the Marine Corps. I served in three conflicts and saw first-hand many of my shipmates sacrifice their lives. Not all were folding laundry.
to Squid 1 wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:25 PM:OK so about .02% of sailers are riflemen, but 100% of Marines are riflemen.
What? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:32 PM:Francis, you got mouse in your pocket? I certainly think Paul deserved a dishonerable and a fine. If you find god that's ok, but if it interferes with previous obligations then you need to take care of those obligations. There are plenty of christians in all branches of the service, are they all bad christians because they wage war for a living? Careful, without them you might not be able to worship your god of choice.
What? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:39 PM:Navy 1 Star, Navy Vet, forgive scott, he must be a Marine.
What? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 1:40 PM:to Squid 1, hmmm, itty bitty M16 or 16 inch gun? I know why don't you SWIM to your next deployment. Serously, inter service rivalries are fun but every branch deserves respect for putting their lives on the line for our freedom. Thanks.
navy 1 star wrote on Oct 2, 2007 1:50 PM:1 tour in korea, 6 in nam, when your good at what you do they keep you doing it. and 100% of all marines are mot rifelmen and of those that are 50% are losey shots!!!!!
to: What? wrote on Oct 2, 2007 1:55 PM:How many Marines do you know of made it through basic without firing a real rifle? None! And how many sailors made it through basic without firing a real rifle? More than most could count. See the difference? I rest my case.
John E wrote on Oct 2, 2007 2:12 PM:The solution is simple: anyone who has already volunteered to be in the U.S. military but who no longer wants to kill should be assigned to a noncombatant support role, of which there are many.
Francis to What wrote on Oct 5, 2007 5:02 PM:Far be it from me to judge whether they are good Christians. The Prince of Peace may have an oppinion but I withhold mine.
A decade and counting wrote on Jan 3, 2008 12:49 PM:I've served over a decade in the Army and still counting. Most of my service has been joint service special assignments, ussually with Navy and Air Force volunteers out numbering Army and Marine folks, and trust me, we weren't folding laundry. All services produce good troops.
The OC status was developed to identify OC's before enlistment or to allow people who undergo a significant moral conversion during service to either transition to a non-combatant role or leave service honorably.
I am sorry to say that of the four cases of OC I have seen in my career, only one was truly a conversion. That one was transitioned to non-combatant roles and completed his term of service honorably. The other three were all attempting to use OC status to avoid deployment. Those three who abused the system all received appropriate disciplinary actions for said abuse.
Simply put, OC status is there for a positive reason, but it is often abused. These cases of abuse are the ones that get turned down and result in disciplinary action.
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Today's Stories
Advertisement