[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 32, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 32CFR75.3]



[Page 436-437]

 

                       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



[[Page 437]]



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.