Is being a Buddhist enough to support being a concientious objector?

Question

Will they accpet that as a reason to be discharged on a "General" or another kind of discharge from any branch of the military?

Sorry for the spelling error of "accept"

To the guy who said I was a whiner, I served in in the Army Active Duty 4yrs and went to Iraq , then i joined the Coast Guard Reserve. I found out recently that I am a Buddhist and realized I can't support the Department of Homeland Security (which is Bush's bullshit department)

i still don't agree, personal politics should have everything to do with it. WE as Veterens should have more rights than those who don't serve at all.

Answer 1

From your post it sounds like your real reason is your personal political opinions - not any real conscientious objection.

When you are in uniform you do not have political opinions.

Answer 2

Why would a Buddhist join the military in the first place? Sounds to me like someone trying to find a way out. Doubt they are really Buddhist. A Buddhist would never have joined. If its you, you need to do your job and stop being a whiner. I was in the Army 4 years and was in Iraq too, I didn't like it but it was my job so I did it.

Answer 3

I'm Buddhist, I was born that way and I'm still going to Iraq with my company. There are many Buddhists serving in the Infantry and we've never thought about being a concientious objector. You signed up for it so why complain?

Answer 4

I'm not 100% sure on this one, but I think that the fact that a Buddhist joined the military in the first place would be called into question, especially if this solider wants out right before a deployment. (Smells fishy.) Defense, after all, IS the military's business.

Again, I'm not sure at all, but it's a thought.

Answer 5

Based on the limited information you provided I would not grant you CO status 1-O based on your statements here. You do not seem opposed to ALL wars, you seem opposed to executive policy pertaining to this particular war as well as the creation of a specific department (DHS).

From COMDTINST 1900.8
DEFINITIONS.
a. Conscientious Objection.

(1) General. A firm, fixed and sincere objection, by
reason of religious training and belief, to
participation in war in any form or the bearing of
arms.

(2) Class 1-O Conscientious Objector. A member who, by
reason of conscientious objection, sincerely objects
to participation in any kind of war in any form.

If the Soldier is seeking a 1-0 MCO status and discharge based upon opposition to any behavior that advocates war, including the wearing of military uniforms.

Religion is not always a shoe in for granting CMCO status, even Buddhism. There are various sects of Buddhism, not to mention the fact that Buddhists are not all pacifists.

Regarding the granting of MCO status it is granted or denied based on the following;

Do you feel that all war is wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable carrying a weapon or training for combat? Was there one particular experience that changed the way you look at war? Do these beliefs come from religious conviction or a more personal, philosophical position?

1. The military does not allow for a nuanced position on war and violence. To be granted CO status, you MUST be opposed to ALL wars. If your application to be a CO is based on the wrongness of a particular war, your packet will be rejected. Additionally, you must be personally committed to peace over violence in almost every situation.

2. Your beliefs on war cannot be political in nature to be considered a CO.

3. Assuming that you volunteered to join the military, you must have come to the conclusion that war is wrong AFTER your enlistment. You may have been asked if you were a CO when you joined, and you probably answered "no." To be considered a CO following enlistment, you must prove that your beliefs against war crystallized AFTER enlisting. This is far from uncommon, as many soldiers simply do not realize how they feel about war until they are actually deployed or start to understand the implications of a deployment.

4. The discharge of persons on the grounds that they are conscientious objectors who refuse to perform military duty, wear the uniform, or otherwise comply with lawful orders of competent military authority, will bar all their rights under the laws administered by the Veterans Administration

5. It is possible for you to get an honorable discharge, but that is at the discretion of your commander. Your commander may characterize your discharge as "other than honorable," and in this case you will not be eligible for most VA benefits.

6. Another potential loss to be aware of is your enlistment bonus. If you received a cash bonus upon enlistment, you may be forced to repay a portion of it for not completing your entire commitment.

7. By applying for CO status, you do risk the loss of money and benefits. This possibility for personal loss is a test of your convictions as someone opposed to war, and should be taken into account before making the decision to submit your application.

Answer 6

Hello my friend, a fellow buddhist here, but you just woke up one day and said, hey, im a buddhist? Just trying to get out or something? Oh yeah, im also in the military and did my time in iraq, twice. So, to answer your question, NO. Do your time that you took an oath to complete. Have fun.

Answer 7

No, it isn't. If you're a Buddhist you can still do military jobs, it doesn't have to be combat. But even if you're a Buddhist you can still kill.

Answer 8

Nothing's good enough to be reason to decline military service, from the military's point of view. Find your reason in your heart and stick to it.

Answer 9

There are a few ways to get out of the millitary. Talk to your chaplain. They have confidenciality and will let you talk openly with out it getting back to your unit.