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[quote]
A pacifist West Point graduate who sued the Army while serving in Iraq has been granted conscientious objector status and given an honorable discharge.</p>
<p>Capt. Peter Brown, a 2004 graduate and member of the 10th Mountain Division, said his religious convictions prevented him from carrying a loaded weapon or ordering his men to use lethal force.</p>
<p>Im relieved the Army recognized that my religious beliefs made it impossible for me to serve as a soldier, Brown said in a statement issued Tuesday through the American Civil Liberties Union, which had intervened and filed a lawsuit on his behalf in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C....
<p>To me, it sounds like he didnt really pick up this religion because he truly believes it, he picked it up because he lost sight of Duty, Honor, and Country and needed something to "hide" behind. No disrespect, but what if all of our nation's Officers had chose this religion? Would America be here today without those valiant defenders of Freedom? I support freedom of religion, but I really support those who are willing to defend that freedom with their lives when provoked to.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Luigi--on the surface of it I would think there are a lot of duties he could perform to fulfill his service obligation which would not contradict his status as a conscientious objector. The nation spent a lot of money to educate and train this officer. He does have some obligation that appears to not be fulfilled.</p>
<p>Sorry, I don't understand how an alumnus of USMA or USNA could ever be given CO status. This officer didn't just show up at a recruiting station, get conned into signing up, and then find himself on the front lines two months later. He made it through BEAST, and he had the opportunity to resign without penalty for his first two years at WP. At that point, he should certainly have understood what his career choice entailed.</p>
<p>I agree that there are many non-combat roles in which he could have served the remainder of his obligation. I wonder how much, if any, the "one bad apple" concept had to do with his being given his discharge.</p>
<p>Reading the linked article, I expect that the pacifist beliefs of Mr. Brown would likely make it unacceptable from his perspective to actively support our military in pretty much any capacity, including the medical corp.</p>
<p>That said, I believe some form of financial restitution from Mr. Brown would be appropriate.</p>
<p>I agree that his religious beliefs seem to be a matter of convenience. Personally, without any proof, it seems to me that he liked the idea of a West Point education. He had no problem with serving as long as he wasn't going to be at risk. The moment he realized he was at risk, he started looking for a way out.</p>
<p>Had he gotten to the academy, and didn't know what he was getting into, he had 2 years to drop out and leave without any comittment to the army. The 3rd and 4th years you have a comittment. Before that, you are free to just quit. </p>
<p>No, this sounds like he knew what he was doing. Prior to me retiring, a woman i worked with converted to becoming a Jehovah Witness and became a conciencious objector. The reason we knew that she was sincere, was because when she told the military that she could no longer be in the military and wanted out, she did it with 18 years in the military. There was no chance that she would have had to go back to the gulf. Not with only 2 years left. She could have had her retirement and everything. The military was even willing to let her retract and just sit tight for 2 years and let her retire. She insisted that she couldn't be in the military any longer. I DEFINITELY RESPECT HER for this decision. That shows a comittment to one's beliefs and religion. She gave up a $1500-$2000 a month reitrement check and all the medical and other benefits. This guy is different. He knew what he was getting into. It is possible that his life had some revelation, but I doubt it.</p>