Since the US started blowing up boats to kill alleged drug traffickers and Trump launching a stupid, costly, and deadly war with Iran, the number of service members seeking a formal discharge from the military as conscientious objectors has skyrocketed, according to two groups that help them file their applications.
MS NOW spoke to five service members who want out of the military because what they saw in recent months challenged their moral beliefs. Here is what they stated:
- One service member is concerned the military blew up bridges in Iran that were not military targets, thus violating international law.
- Another thinks Pentagon leaders are not doing enough to prevent civilian deaths during airstrikes inside Iran.
- Another asked questions about how the military knew it was not killing civilians when launching missiles at boats it believed were trafficking drugs.
In order to leave the military as a conscientious objector, an applicant must show they have a “firm, fixed, sincere and deeply held” moral, religious or ethical belief that opposes participation in war under Department of Defense requirements. The applicant must submit a written form, which can include supporting letters and documents. Then, the applicant sits for several rounds of interviews with their chain of command, a chaplain and a mental health evaluator before the decision is made and ultimately signed off on by the secretary of their service branch. The process can sometimes take up to a year.
And in typical Orwellian Speak this (mis)administration is so famous for, DUI Hire, Pete Hegseth, claims recruitment numbers are up but he fails to disclose that an increasing number of service members want out.