As United States foreign policy increasingly conflicts with the ethical and moral frameworks of its population, enlisted personnel in the military forces find themselves in personal conflicts with their service to the country. The divide between stated military ethical codes and the reality of training indoctrination and armed conflict situations is causing more psychological than physical injuries as PTSD is on the increase and suicide in the military now exceeds battlefield casualty statistics.
More enlisted personnel in the military are starting to speak out against what they feel are unjust wars that their country is involved in as they experience first hand the atrocities of U.S. military adventures in many theaters of conflict in the world. Some who have participated in what they now see as war crimes and civilian atrocities have used their voices to campaign against the recruitment of youth as they speak in school gatherings about the realities of war.
Many veterans have organized into groups opposing U.S. foreign policy and wars over the years including those most famous such as Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Iraqi Veterans Against the War, Afghanistan Veterans Against the War, and Veterans for Peace. These groups have been active in seeking redress with their government and the American People on such issues as veteran disabilities, military recruitment, and government policies.
If you are an enlisted person that seeks to find information on how to leave your service due to illness, or a conscience objection claim or are a veteran that seeks union with like minded veterans opposed to U.S. foreign policy, check with these groups for guidance. You will find more resources to inform and to guide your quest below.
Links:
- Sir! No Sir! is a 2005 documentary about the anti-war movement within the ranks of the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War.
- We Are Not Your Soldiers - a project of World Can't Wait
Existing content:
- Delayed Entry Program/Future Soldier Program
- GI Resistance
- Delayed Entry Program/Future Soldiers Training Program Fact Sheet
Getting Help (Links To Assistance For AWOLs, Services For Vets Etc)
- Chicago Veteran's Group Assists AWOL Soldier
- The National Veterans Organization of America (Archived Site)
- GI Resistance Resources and Info - Washington Peace Center
- Punished by Army AWOL- A Crime? Or a Soldier Quitting a Job?
- AWOL or UA - GI Rights Network Conscientious Objection Conscientious Objection Discharge
- GI Rights Network Conscientious Objectors
- Department of Defense PREPARATION & PROCESSING OF CO CLAIMS (PDF)
- AWOL in the Army: A guide for attorneys and GI Rights counselors / Military Law Task Force (PDF)
- National Lawyers Guild
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). on Conscientious Objection
- U.S. Conscientious Objectors in World War II | Friends Journal Who is a Military Conscientious Objector?
- Find a Group
Books and Literature:
- Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War
- GI Revolts - The Breakdown of the U.S. Army in Vietnam
- Unmaking War, Remaking Men: How Empathy Can Reshape Our Politics, Ours Soldiers and Ourselves
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Revised 10-21-2019
