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Center for Draft Information and Counseling
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-3- believe, only what you [italics] do [/italics] believe. By emphasizing what you don't believe you are only taking the chance of antagonizing a board member who may strongly believe what you are attacking. State your convictions in a simple, forthright, and personal way. If you are uncertain about any aspects of your beliefs, don't bring these things up. This is not the time to confess doubts or unanswered questions in your mind, but to emphasize what you do believe. Further, you should avoid mention of beliefs or attitudes which you have that are unrelated to your [italics] religious [/italics] or [italics] moral [/italics] opposition to war. For example, you may have very strong feelings about your country's political or military policies, but these should not be emphasized in your claim. The board member might be led to believe that your objection is merely "political" or "sociological." Question 2. [italics] "Will your beliefs permits you to serve in a position in the armed forces where the use of weapons is not required? If not, why?" [/italics] The purpose of this questions, of course, is to determine whether you should be given the 1-A-0 or 1-0 classification. If you checked the statement on the back of the Form 150 claiming 1-A-0 status as a noncombatant in the armed forces, you need only to answer this question "yes." But if you claimed exemption from all training and service in the armed forces (Class 1-0), your answer to this questions should explain why you feel that any participation in the armed forces is wrong, even though you would not have to bear arms or kill. You should specify what it is about noncombatant service in the armed forces which would violate your conscience. Relate your reasons to the beliefs which you explained in the answer to Question 1. Question 3. [italics] "Explain how you acquired the beliefs which are the basis of your claim. Your answer may include such information as the influence of family members or other persons; religious training, if applicable; experiences at school; membership in organizations; books and readings which influenced you. You may wish to provide any other information which will help in explaining why you believe as you do." [/italics] This question deals with how you came to your position. Your answer should be more than just a list of things asked for in a question. For example, if you list a book that influenced you, tell [italics] how [/italics] he influenced you. You do not have to show that you have received any formal training as a conscientious objector, but you should be able to point out the religious and moral influences in your life which helped to shape your thinking about war. There is no need to shy away from negative experiences (such as ROTC, or newspaper or TV accounts of war) if these experiences have made your beliefs stronger. Your answer should demonstrate that your beliefs are the result of strong influences in your life which have stimulated you to think seriously about participating in war. If you became a conscientious objector after you registered, you should be especially careful to trace the development of your beliefs up to your more recent decision to claim conscientious objector status. What were the most important influences which caused you to change your mind about participation in war since you registered? Question 4. [italics] "Explain what most clearly shows that your beliefs are deeply held." [/italics] This question, along with the following two questions, is asking you basically to demonstrate that you are seriously committed to the position which you claim. You may wish to answer these three questions together with one essay. Use this opportunity to relate to the local board any public expressions you have made against participation in war show that you have taken a public stand for your beliefs.
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-3- believe, only what you [italics] do [/italics] believe. By emphasizing what you don't believe you are only taking the chance of antagonizing a board member who may strongly believe what you are attacking. State your convictions in a simple, forthright, and personal way. If you are uncertain about any aspects of your beliefs, don't bring these things up. This is not the time to confess doubts or unanswered questions in your mind, but to emphasize what you do believe. Further, you should avoid mention of beliefs or attitudes which you have that are unrelated to your [italics] religious [/italics] or [italics] moral [/italics] opposition to war. For example, you may have very strong feelings about your country's political or military policies, but these should not be emphasized in your claim. The board member might be led to believe that your objection is merely "political" or "sociological." Question 2. [italics] "Will your beliefs permits you to serve in a position in the armed forces where the use of weapons is not required? If not, why?" [/italics] The purpose of this questions, of course, is to determine whether you should be given the 1-A-0 or 1-0 classification. If you checked the statement on the back of the Form 150 claiming 1-A-0 status as a noncombatant in the armed forces, you need only to answer this question "yes." But if you claimed exemption from all training and service in the armed forces (Class 1-0), your answer to this questions should explain why you feel that any participation in the armed forces is wrong, even though you would not have to bear arms or kill. You should specify what it is about noncombatant service in the armed forces which would violate your conscience. Relate your reasons to the beliefs which you explained in the answer to Question 1. Question 3. [italics] "Explain how you acquired the beliefs which are the basis of your claim. Your answer may include such information as the influence of family members or other persons; religious training, if applicable; experiences at school; membership in organizations; books and readings which influenced you. You may wish to provide any other information which will help in explaining why you believe as you do." [/italics] This question deals with how you came to your position. Your answer should be more than just a list of things asked for in a question. For example, if you list a book that influenced you, tell [italics] how [/italics] he influenced you. You do not have to show that you have received any formal training as a conscientious objector, but you should be able to point out the religious and moral influences in your life which helped to shape your thinking about war. There is no need to shy away from negative experiences (such as ROTC, or newspaper or TV accounts of war) if these experiences have made your beliefs stronger. Your answer should demonstrate that your beliefs are the result of strong influences in your life which have stimulated you to think seriously about participating in war. If you became a conscientious objector after you registered, you should be especially careful to trace the development of your beliefs up to your more recent decision to claim conscientious objector status. What were the most important influences which caused you to change your mind about participation in war since you registered? Question 4. [italics] "Explain what most clearly shows that your beliefs are deeply held." [/italics] This question, along with the following two questions, is asking you basically to demonstrate that you are seriously committed to the position which you claim. You may wish to answer these three questions together with one essay. Use this opportunity to relate to the local board any public expressions you have made against participation in war show that you have taken a public stand for your beliefs.
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