Intriguing numbers on conscientious objectors

by on October 1, 2007 at 8:06 pm in Data Source | Permalink

The GAO reports only 425 applications for conscientious objector status from 2002-2006, compared with 2.3 million servicemembers (including Reserves).  Just over half were approved.  Read more here.

Hat Tip, Zubin Jelveh, who also notes:

 For reference, the Vietnam war had about 200,000 such applications.

(Of course, Vietnam did have a draft.)

10 comments

Ray G October 1, 2007 at 9:36 pm

The presence of the Vietnam era draft, I would think, makes a huge difference.

Pretty good argument, or at least part of a good arguement, against conscription.

Zubin October 1, 2007 at 10:40 pm

Hi Justin,
Thanks very much for the pointer. I hope you make this a regular (or at least semi-regular) gig.

On the objector numbers, I wanted to add that — based on some crude calculations — that when you compare the number of men who were eligible to be drafted during the Vietnam War with the current size of the armed forces, the relative number of conscientious observers is about 50 to 100 times greater during the Vietnam era than now. I’d be interested to know if the draft, or lack of one, accounts for all of this difference. What role do financial incentives like the ones outlined here play?

Kyle October 2, 2007 at 12:03 am

I would say the lack of a draft at this time shows plenty of cause for why the number of conscientious objector is so much smaller now. I think there is a pretty good chance the idea of a draft will come up in the debates for the presidential election. I would say that if the public were better educated on what it takes to list yourself as a conscientious objector, the numbers would increase during the upcoming elections.

Lucas wiman October 2, 2007 at 12:29 am

Speaking as a draft-age male who was raised Mennonite, the lack of draft is the entire reason that I am not a conscientious objector.

dsquared October 2, 2007 at 3:13 am

Presumably they did collect figures for conscientious objections by enlisted soldiers (which is of course the comparable number here – the figure of 200,000 is so misleading it should not even have been presented) – does anyone know what they were?

JWR October 2, 2007 at 9:07 am

If they tried to send me to fight in this “war,” I would object quite conscientiously.

And you wouldn’t get CO status. CO status is based on a conscientious objection to all war, per se, not to this or that particular war.

Also, it helps a lot — in terms of the govt’s willingness to credit your claim — if you are part of a religious community (like the Mennonites) that has traditionally held that view.

Mike Giberson October 2, 2007 at 10:40 am

“Why would you become a conscientious objector after signing up voluntarily? Am I missing something?”

In principle, I can imagine someone enlisting to become a defender of the U.S. against invasion, but becoming a conscientious objector when “defense” turns into wars of aggression against foreign governments.

Of course, anyone enlisting in the past few years should be on notice that they would be at the disposal of the foreign policy objectives of the U.S. president rather the defenders of freedom and liberty at home.

Anthony October 2, 2007 at 4:18 pm

Even if there were a draft, I think the social stigma against homosexuality has declined significantly enough since the late 1960s that the favored method of dodging the draft would be do declare that one has engaged in homosexual activity, and thus be ineligible for military service (under the current rules, anyway).

鑽石 April 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm

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