[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR75.3]

[Page 374]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
              CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
 
PART 75--CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 75.3  Definitions.

    (a) Conscientious objection--General. A firm, fixed and sincere 
objection to participation in war in any form or the bearing of arms, by 
reason of religious training and belief.
    (1) Class 1-O conscientious objector. A member, who, by reason of 
conscientious objection, sincerely objects to participation of any kind 
in war in any form.
    (2) Class 1-A-O conscientious objector. A member who, by reason of 
conscientious objection, sincerely objects to participation as a 
combatant in war in any form, but whose convictions are such as to 
permit military service in a noncombatant status.

Unless otherwise specified, the term ``conscientious objector'' includes 
both 1-O and 1-A-O conscientious objectors.
    (b) Religious training and belief. Belief in an external power or 
being or deeply held moral or ethical belief, to which all else is 
subordinate or upon which all else is ultimately dependent, and which 
has the power or force to affect moral well-being. The external power or 
being need not be of an orthodox deity, but may be a sincere and 
meaningful belief which occupies in the life of its possessor a place 
parallel to that filled by the God of another, or, in the case of deeply 
held moral or ethical beliefs, a belief held with the strength and 
devotion of traditional religious conviction. The term ``religious 
training and belief'' may include solely moral or ethical beliefs even 
though the applicant himself may not characterize these beliefs as 
``religious'' in the traditional sense, or may expressly characterize 
them as not religious. The term ``religious training and belief'' does 
not include a belief which rests solely upon considerations of policy, 
pragmatism, expediency, or political views.
    (c) Noncombatant service or noncombatant duties (1-A-O) (used 
interchangeably herein). (1) Service in any unit of the Armed Forces 
which is unarmed at all times.
    (2) Service in the medical department of any of the Armed Forces, 
wherever performed.
    (3) Any other assignment the primary function of which does not 
require the use of arms in combat provided that such other assignment is 
acceptable to the individual concerned and does not require him to bear 
arms or to be trained in their use.
    (4) Service aboard an armed ship or aircraft or in a combat zone 
shall not be considered to be combatant duty unless the individual 
concerned is personally and directly involved in the operation of 
weapons.
    (d) Noncombatant training. Any training which is not concerned with 
the study, use or handling of arms or weapons.

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