Created: Tuesday, December 17, 1996
Last Updated: September 5, 1998

Conscientious Objector Application

John R. Goldthwaite
29MAY96 to 12APR97

In May of 1996, after almost 12 years of service in the military (most of that in the Navy Reserves), I decided to apply for separation from the military on grounds that I was a conscientious objector. Having read up on the requirements, I knew that I would have to be interviewed by a chaplain, a medical doctor and an investigating officer and that I would have to submit a statement answering a number of questions pertaining to my conscientious objector beliefs.

To begin the process, rather than submitting a form 4187 to my chain of command, I made an appointment with the battalion chaplain. After a two or three hour interview, the chaplain called my company commander and the next morning my Top Secret security access was suspended and I was barred from approaching the helicopters around which I worked. This was, in my opinion, an overreaction. My platoon sergeant and platoon leader were a bit perturbed that I did not discuss my intentions with them first, but I believe they understood my reasons for going directly to the chaplain.

The following is a chronology of the events with some commentary. The process is now complete. I was granted Conscientious Objector Status (1-0) and an honorable discharge. I no longer feel the need to keep this record on the internet for my own benefit, but for the benefit of anyone else who finds himself or herself in a similar situation I will leave it here updating it occasionally by changing the formatting and adding comments.

20 MAY 96: Monday Made a verbal request for an appointment with the battalion chaplain.: Made a verbal request for an appointment with the battalion chaplain.

21 MAY 96: Tuesday Informed that an appointment was set for that Thursday afternoon.: Informed that an appointment was set for that Thursday afternoon.

23 MAY 97: Thursday Afternoon Two or three hour discussion (it could have been longer) with the battalion chaplain, CPT Kilgore, lasting until well after business hours. That evening after reviewing his notes, the chaplain made a phone call to my company commander who called my platoon leader who called my platoon sergeant waking everyone up at about 2300 hours to tell them I wanted to be discharged from the Army as a conscientious objector.: Two or three hour discussion (it could have been longer) with the battalion chaplain, CPT Kilgore, lasting until well after business hours. That evening after reviewing his notes, the chaplain made a phone call to my company commander who called my platoon leader who called my platoon sergeant waking everyone up at about 2300 hours to tell them I wanted to be discharged from the Army as a conscientious objector.

24 MAY 97: Friday Called into the office to be interrogated by my platoon leader and platoon sergeant. Questioned about why I hadn't come to them first and what exactly was the nature of my beliefs that I would want to be discharged from the military. Told them that I had recently "converted" to atheism and my beliefs were not religious but moral and ethical. Specifically, I objected to the enforcement of laws, immigration control and drug interdiction, which were in my opinion immoral and unethical. I could not enforce those laws personally and I refused to give aid and support to anyone who did enforce those laws. My platoon sergeant, a "born again" Christian patriot, considered this subversive and said that if it were up to him, I would go to Leavenworth for treason, but that it was out of his hands at this point. Talked briefly with the company commander who also seem puzzled and a bit perturbed at the inconvenience of being awakened late at night with this sort of news, there not being a war or anything that anyone would want to object to. Also talked briefly again with the battalion chaplain. Set an appointment for another interview for the following Wednesday and asked to submit something in writing to clarify my position.: Called into the office to be interrogated by my platoon leader and platoon sergeant. Questioned about why I hadn't come to them first and what exactly was the nature of my beliefs that I would want to be discharged from the military. Told them that I had recently "converted" to atheism and my beliefs were not religious but moral and ethical. Specifically, I objected to the enforcement of laws, immigration control and drug interdiction, which were in my opinion immoral and unethical. I could not enforce those laws personally and I refused to give aid and support to anyone who did enforce those laws. My platoon sergeant, a "born again" Christian patriot, considered this subversive and said that if it were up to him, I would go to Leavenworth for treason, but that it was out of his hands at this point.; Talked briefly with the company commander who also seem puzzled and a bit perturbed at the inconvenience of being awakened late at night with this sort of news, there not being a war or anything that anyone would want to object to. Also talked briefly again with the battalion chaplain. Set an appointment for another interview for the following Wednesday and asked to submit something in writing to clarify my position.

29 MAY 96: Interview with the battalion chaplain, CPT Kilgore. Three point Outline submitted shortly afterwards.: Interview with the battalion chaplain, CPT Kilgore.; Three point Outline submitted shortly afterwards.

18 JUN 96: Interview with company commander, CPT Alexander. Enclosure #1 submitted.: Interview with company commander, CPT Alexander.; Enclosure #1 submitted.

24 JUN 96: "Official" interview with battalion chaplain. Chaplain's report: "Official" interview with battalion chaplain.; Chaplain's report

25 JUL 96: Interview with MAJ Powell, D. O., at Community Mental Health Service. This interview was little different from any of the other interviews I had had up to this point except for an occasional unrelated question such as "Who is the president of the United States?" and "Have you ever heard 'voices?'" I paused at the 'voices' question thinking, "without voices this interview would be a bit more difficult, wouldn't it?" but since I knew what the doctor was trying to determine, I decided not to make light of any of his off the wall questions. Medical Officer's report: Interview with MAJ Powell, D. O., at Community Mental Health Service. This interview was little different from any of the other interviews I had had up to this point except for an occasional unrelated question such as "Who is the president of the United States?" and "Have you ever heard 'voices?'" I paused at the 'voices' question thinking, "without voices this interview would be a bit more difficult, wouldn't it?" but since I knew what the doctor was trying to determine, I decided not to make light of any of his off the wall questions.; Medical Officer's report

26 AUG 96: Investigating officer's interview with the CPT Kilgore, Chaplain.: Investigating officer's interview with the CPT Kilgore, Chaplain.

27 AUG 96: Investigating officer's interview with LT O'Donnel, Platoon Leader: Investigating officer's interview with LT O'Donnel, Platoon Leader

28 AUG 96: Investigating officer's interview with SPC Hopkins: Investigating officer's interview with SPC Hopkins

05 SEP 96: Investigating officer's interview with SPC Mellon: Investigating officer's interview with SPC Mellon

06 SEP 96: Conscientious Objector Hearing Enclosure #2 submitted.: Conscientious Objector Hearing; Enclosure #2 submitted.

11 SEP 96: Follow-up on Hearing Investigating officer's conclusions Exhibit C submitted by Investigating officer.: Follow-up on Hearing; Investigating officer's; conclusions; Exhibit C submitted by Investigating officer.

16 SEP 96: Rebuttal submitted.: Rebuttal submitted.

06 DEC 96: The Department of the Army issued a memorandum approving my application for Conscientious Objector Status (1-0). Other documents containing the comments of approving authorities accompanied the memorandum but they have not yet been shown to me.: The Department of the Army issued a memorandum approving my application for Conscientious Objector Status (1-0). Other documents containing the comments of approving authorities accompanied the memorandum but they have not yet been shown to me.

10 JAN 97: The memorandum was forwarded and received by Division or Brigade elements at Ft. Drum.: The memorandum was forwarded and received by Division or Brigade elements at Ft. Drum.

13 FEB 97: I was informed that though my status as a Conscientious Objector (1-0) had been approved by the Department of the Army, my separation from the Army was an entirely separate process also requiring approval from the Department of the Army. The paperwork for this process was initiated on this date.: I was informed that though my status as a Conscientious Objector (1-0) had been approved by the Department of the Army, my separation from the Army was an entirely separate process also requiring approval from the Department of the Army. The paperwork for this process was initiated on this date.

01 APR 97: Separation packet was forwarded to the Department of the Army from the 10th Mountain Division: Separation packet was forwarded to the Department of the Army from the 10th Mountain Division

02 APR 97: I was mistakenly informed that my separation packet had returned to the 10th Mountain Division raising my hopes that the separation process would take less time to process than the approval of my conscientious objector status which cleared me for separation. In reality, the packet had been at division for two weeks and had only the day before been sent to the Department of the Army for approval.: I was mistakenly informed that my separation packet had returned to the 10th Mountain Division raising my hopes that the separation process would take less time to process than the approval of my conscientious objector status which cleared me for separation. In reality, the packet had been at division for two weeks and had only the day before been sent to the Department of the Army for approval.

11 APR 97: Today I was informed correctly that my separation packet had been forwarded to the Department of the Army on the 1st of the month. If this separation process is as lengthy as the conscientious objector status request, I am going to be very depressed for a long time. On this day I decided to write an e-mail message to my congressman, Senator McCain.: Today I was informed correctly that my separation packet had been forwarded to the Department of the Army on the 1st of the month. If this separation process is as lengthy as the conscientious objector status request, I am going to be very depressed for a long time. On this day I decided to write an e-mail message to my congressman, Senator McCain.

14 APR 97: I contacted Senator McCain's Washington office and sent the above mentioned message in a fax.: I contacted Senator McCain's Washington office and sent the above mentioned message in a fax.

18 APR 97: I contacted the Washington office to see whether anything had been done but was informed that my fax had been forwarded by regular mail to the Arizona office.: I contacted the Washington office to see whether anything had been done but was informed that my fax had been forwarded by regular mail to the Arizona office.

21 APR 97: I contacted Senator McCain's Arizona office and sent the above mentioned message in another fax.: I contacted Senator McCain's Arizona office and sent the above mentioned message in another fax.

24 APR 97: The Department of the Army returned my paperwork to 10th Mountain Division, Ft Drum approving my separation.: The Department of the Army returned my paperwork to 10th Mountain Division, Ft Drum approving my separation.

02 MAY 97: After end of business today my first sergeant knocked on my door and gave me my separation orders. I would have four days and a wake up to clear the post and be out of the Army.: After end of business today my first sergeant knocked on my door and gave me my separation orders. I would have four days and a wake up to clear the post and be out of the Army.

05 MAY 97 through 08 MAY 97: Out-processing: Out-processing

09 MAY 97: Discharged from the Army. Character of discharge, honorable.: Discharged from the Army. Character of discharge, honorable.

10 MAY 97: I left New York this morning and arrived in AZ just after 2:00 PM. It was exceptionally hot and dry, and the saguaros were in bloom.: I left New York this morning and arrived in AZ just after 2:00 PM. It was exceptionally hot and dry, and the saguaros were in bloom.

NOTE:

The text written by the investigating officer, CPT Martinez, contained a number of spelling and grammatical irregularities which I have attempted to correct preserving, as much as was possible, the original. I felt a rebuttal was necessary partly because of these irregularities in the text of the various interviews and conclusions. Appearing to be a verbatim accounts, these documents were actually reconstructed by the investigating officer from his notes. A number of my answers were not, in my opinion, reconstructed accurately and I wanted to address these statements and a few other points made in the course of my interviews which may have been misunderstood. Similarly, statements made by my colleagues may have been inaccurately reconstructed, unfortunately, I have no way of knowing what they would rather have expressed.

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