It makes me really sad to have to do this.
REGISTERING AS A CONCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
(adapted from http://www.oz.net/~vvawai/general/co-info.html)
Here's how to register as a conscientious objector, for those in the age range to be concerned.
IMPORTANT! Where it says "moral, ethical and/or religious beliefs" below, do NOT include the and/or, just use the subset of those reasons that match your own. For example, if you are not religious, write "moral and ethical beliefs," if you are religious, use "moral, ethical, and religious".
Please pass it on and repost - I'm going to be only available for occasional drive-by posts:
1 - LETTER TO SENATORS and REPRESENTATIVES
Send a certified letter to your congressional delegation (based on your U.S. address), declaring yourself to be a "conscientious objector to war
based on deeply held moral, ethical, and/or religious beliefs".
MAKE A COPY of this letter and any response he receives. It will be needed for an affadavit.
2 - WRITE TO OFFICIALS
IF YOU'RE CURRENTLY ON ACTIVE DUTY
He must write to his commanding officer and declare yourself to be a "conscientious objector to war based on deeply held moral, ethical and/or
religious beliefs." This will prompt a change in subsequent orders, security clearance and initiate an investigation of the objector. At any time the active duty objector has the right to request reassignment to noncombatant duties or alternative service.
IF YOUR ARE NOT YET REGISTERED WITH SELECTIVE SERVICES SYSTEM
Write a letter to the SSS and declare yourself to be a "conscientious objector to war....".
At the time you register (which you must if you are in the right age range), you must write on the registration form, " I am a conscientious objector to war..."
MAKE COPIES OF THE LETTER, the REGISTRATION FORM and the REGISTRATION RECEIPT for use in the affadavit.
IF YOU ARE REGISTERED ALREADY with the SSS
If you are registered with the SSS but have not sought CO status, write the letter of CO declaration to your congressional delegation and notify the SSS of a change in status. Every time you change address you need to notify the SSS within 10 days and at the same time REPEAT
the declaration that you are a "conscientious objector to war..."
The persistent repetition is very important and will help to solidify your claim.
Once again KEEP COPIES of anything sent or received.
3 - WRITE an AFFADAVIT
Prepare an Affidavit, which is sworn before a Notary Public and witnessed by two (2) registered voters who are not related to the objector.
ATTACH the letter of declaration to the your congressional delegation, and the notification to the SSS (or commanding officer), as well as any other written communications as supporting documents, with the statement:
"I am a conscientious objector to war based on deeply held moral, ethical and/or religious beliefs and have informed my congressional delegation and the Selective Service System (or commanding officer) accordingly as proven by the
attached documents."
5 - FILE the AFFADAVIT
File it in federal district court or in any civilian or military proceeding related to the objector's claim.
6 - DISTRIBUTE COPIES of the AFFADAVIT
Give copies of the Affidavit to your parents, teachers, boss, coworkers, religious leaders, and legal counsel, because these individuals may be contacted by Selective Service or military investigators and asked to confirm your claim.
7 - TELL FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES ABOUT BEING A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR TO WAR.
During the First Gulf War there were over 2500 active duty personnel who applied for CO status but only 10% of these applications were approved because the objectors could not prove they had told anybody about their beliefs.
8 - GET LETTERS from FRIENDS, FAMILY, ETC.
Get some of these people to write letters in support of the CO application and keep these letters as part of a permanent file in addition to the documents described above.