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Just Think First
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South Bay
Mobilization

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Conscientious Objector Training Corp (COTC)

If you have not yet heard, there are draft bills waiting in Congress for the right moment to be introduced (a terrorist attack, opening up a new front in the "war on terrorism," etc.). The both are titled the National Universal Service Act of 2003. And they've been introduced by Democrats, so getting them passed when the time comes should just be a formality.

Most people do not realize that there is already "involuntary conscription" taking place RIGTH NOW. Basically, the military has been forced to "draft" military personnel who have already served their tours already because because they are not bringing enough new recruits. On 7/22/04, The New York Times reported that new recruits are having to report 4 months early to meet the military's goals. So, the draft of "civilians cannot be far behind.

During the first year of the Think First! project, we focused most of our energy on military recruiters on high school campuses. During our presentations, we noticed that many more students were concerned about the draft than they were about what the military recruiters were saying. So, we decided to shift our focus a bit to deal more effectively with the pending draft and how students can start preparing NOW to apply as a Conscientious Objector (CO) if Congress votes to restart the draft.

Students have a much better chance of qualifying for CO status if they start preparing their CO file BEFORE there is a draft. And they will have even a better chance if they are actively involved, in one way or another, in working against war and specifically against the current war in Iraq.

So, we set up the Conscientious Objector Training Corp (COTC, as opposed to ROTC!) to:

1. raise the issue of the pending draft in our community: at PTA meetings, at back-to-school nights, at public hearings and in our congregations and neighborhoods
2. provide workshops for youth on how to start building their CO file
3. support youth in organizing on their school campuses and in their neighborhoods about the draft and war (which helps them build even stronger CO claims)
4. hold mock draft boards, where youth can practice their presentations supporting their CO claim.
   Schedule

Conscientious Objector workshops (10am-2pm, first Saturday of every month, starting in October)
October 2nd, November 6th, December 4th, January 8th, February 5th, March 5th, April 2nd, May 7th, June 4th

Mock Draft Board hearings (10am-2pm, third Saturday of every other month, starting in November)
November 20th, January 22nd, March 19th, May 21st