Reply #66: Good thing to do [View All]

[salin]

locally several years ago the Quakers had some meetings with folks from the Vietnam era who went the CO route, and others who tried but failed, and others - inspite of the nonviolence (and accepted view by the govt per Quakers) who decided to go. The lessons from during the draft in the Vietnam War:

Some draft boards never accepted CO status.

Those draft boards that did required a long record (documentation) that demonstrated religious beliefs against killing and being able to act in combat positions. Letters from pastors, writings, things that are dated and show that it isn't just a sudden bout - the moment before getting a draft notice.

Folks need to remember that CO status often requires some kind of service, just not involved in combat. Sometimes it was service stateside in state institutions (mental health and other) - and other times it was in the military - but in ancilary positions not involved nor directly supporting combat.

Good for young people to get this information long in advance - so if they fall into this category, they can begin to create the documentation paper trail that might lead to their securing CO status.