Re: Marine Reservist Refuses Service, Conscientious Objeject
BumbleBeeBoogie wrote:Marine Reservist Refuses to Serve, Declares as Conscientious Objector
By Kim Curtis Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 1, 2003
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - With his sister carrying his duffel bag and his mother holding his hand, a 20-year-old Marine reservist surrendered to the military Tuesday and declared himself a conscientious objector.
Wearing camouflage fatigues, Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk turned himself in at the locked gates of the Marine Corps reserve center where he was assigned, weeks after refusing to report when called up to active duty.
"Ultimately, it's my fault for joining in the first place," said Funk, who didn't show up when his unit was deployed to Camp Pendleton. "It wasn't as well thought out as it should've been. It was about me being depressed and wanting direction in life."
Funk said he's attended every major San Francisco Bay area anti-war rally since finishing his military training last fall. He insisted his decision had nothing to do with the war in Iraq.
Those applying for a conscientious discharge must submit a detailed letter explaining how their feelings have changed since joining the military. Then there are interviews with a military chaplain, a psychiatrist and an investigating officer. The final decision is made by top military commanders.
Applications for conscientious discharges always increase during wartime. There were 111 granted during the 1991 Gulf War. Only 28 were granted last year, military officials said.
"The Marine Corps understands there are service members opposed to the war," said Capt. Patrick O'Rourke, spokesman for Funk's unit, adding that he hadn't received Funk's application yet. "He'll be treated fairly."
Funk, who grew up in Washington state, enlisted when he was 19 and living on his own for the first time. He said he caved in to pressure from a recruiter who capitalized on his vulnerability.
"They don't really advertise that they kill people," Funk said. "I didn't really realize the full implications of what I was doing and what it really meant to be in the service as a reservist."
Funk said he began doubting his fitness for military service during basic training last spring when he felt uncomfortable singing cadence calls that described violence and screaming "Kill, kill, kill."
Funk's father, Robert Funk, enlisted in the Navy reserves and was called up to active duty in 1970 to serve in Vietnam. He said he wishes his son hadn't joined in the first place.
"I don't think he realized how close we were to getting involved in this conflict," Robert Funk said from his home in Everson, Wash. "I thought his views didn't line up with military service and he should wait and really look at it."
as a former marine corps recruiter, i can tell you that we don't drag these guy's in off the street and force them to enlist. they come in on their own and take the asvab, physical, sign on the dotted line and take the oath on their own.
of course the marine corps doesn't advertise that they kill people, who does? but you have to have been living under a rock to not understand what the military may be called to do, especially the marine corps.
i read elsewhere on the net that this individual went to mcrd san diego for basic. i went to san diego as well for basic, and at least when i was there we didn't go around screaming "kill, kill, kill"
i had also read that this individual was using the military to further his education. using is the operative word, because when the rubber hit the road, this individual suddenly didn't have any use for the corps.
the troops over in iraq, afghanistan, and elsewhere in the world are doing their duty. most of them are faceless and nameless except to their families, friends, and members of their respective units. it's a shame that this individual garners this attention because of a lack of intestinal fortitude.
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