Of the 425 applications for  conscientious objector status the components reported that they  processed during this period, 224, or about 53 percent, were approved;  188, or about 44 percent, were denied; and 13, or about 3 percent, were  pending, withdrawn, closed, or no information was provided. Conscientious Objector Application Process Is Consistent Across Components

All components of the Armed Forces follow the same basic steps to  administer their conscientious objector application processes. As shown in the process flowchart, the components attempt to reassign an  applicant to noncombatant duties while an application is pending. Officials  responsible for the conscientious objector process for each component  said that the commanding officer reassigns the applicant. Officials from the active and reserve components of the Air Force  and the Marine Corps stated that, in the event that an applicant’s unit is  deployed while the application is pending, the applicant will not be  deployed. On  the basis of data provided by the components for calendar years 2002  through 2006, the military services took an average of about 7 months to  process an application—this includes the time allowed for applicants to  submit their rebuttals. According to the components, the commanding officer typically informs  an applicant if he or she has or has not met the burden of proof necessary  to establish the claim. In  accordance with VA guidance, conscientious objector status generally is  not considered when determining eligibility for any of the benefits VA  offers; the primary determinant for these benefits is the characterization  of discharge. In addition to the characterization of discharge, a  servicemember may have to meet other eligibility requirements—including  years of service, period of service (e.g., during a period of war), or an  injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated during military activity— to receive certain VA benefits. If the board upholds the decision to deny benefits, the veteran  can appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which is an  independent court and not part of the VA.
Of the 224 servicemembers who were approved for conscientious objector  status during calendar years 2002 through 2006, 207 (92 percent) were  granted honorable discharges; 14 (6 percent) were granted under  honorable conditions (general) discharges; and no information on the  discharges of the remaining 3 (1 percent) was available (see table 5). The Defense Manpower Data Center  (DMDC) does not maintain separate data on the numbers of applications  for conscientious objector status; however, it does maintain data on  personnel, including demographics and reasons for separation, dating  back to the early 1970s. We reviewed component-provided data  to determine the characterization of discharge (e.g., honorable) received  by the servicemembers separated as conscientious objectors. 3). These numbers are very small, given the size  of the total force—approximately 2.3 million servicemembers.
Why GAO Did This Study

Section 587 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 required GAO to address (1) the trends in the number of conscientious objector applications for the active and reserve components during calendar years 2002 through 2006; (2) how each component administers its process for evaluating conscientious objector applications; and (3) whether, upon discharge, conscientious objectors are eligible for the same benefits as other former servicemembers. GAO's review included the Coast Guard components. GAO compiled numbers of applications based on data provided by the Armed Forces. However, these numbers do not include the numbers of applications that are not formally reported to the components' headquarters. Also, the Defense Manpower Data Center does not maintain separate data on numbers of applications for conscientious objector status; it does maintain data on reasons for separation. GAO used these data to help assess the reasonableness of the component-provided data and to compile demographic data.

What GAO Found

During calendar years 2002 through 2006, the active and reserve components reported processing 425 applications for conscientious objector status. This number is small relative to the Armed Forces' total force of approximately 2.3 million servicemembers. Of the 425 applications the components reported processing, 224 (53 percent) were approved; 188 (44 percent) were denied; and 13 (3 percent) were pending, withdrawn, closed, or no information was provided. Each component considers applications from servicemembers who wish to be classified as conscientious objectors. Each component's process is essentially the same, taking an average of about 7 months to process an application. After the servicemember submits an application, arrangements are made for a military chaplain and a psychiatrist to interview the applicant. An investigating officer holds a hearing and prepares a report. An authorized official or board makes the final decision and informs the commanding officer, who informs the applicant that he or she has or has not met the burden of proof necessary to establish the claim. Officials from all the components stated that they attempt to temporarily reassign applicants to noncombatant duties while their applications are pending. Conscientious objector status is not considered when determining eligibility for benefits; the primary determinant is the type of discharge--honorable or under honorable conditions (general). Of those 224 servicemembers whose applications were approved for conscientious objector status, 207 received honorable discharges, 14 received general discharges, and information on the remaining 3 was not available. In addition to the characterization of discharge, a servicemember may have to meet other eligibility requirements--including years of service--to receive certain Veterans Affairs benefits.