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Communiques'
Number Three
For
19 and 20 year-olds, Parents and Elders.
Warning. If you have
the current version of CCW/NISBCO's Basic Draft Information, don't
use it. It is not accurate.
What Happens When a Draft Begins
Selective Service has two
different draft procedures: Registrant Information and Management
System (RIMS) and Registrant Intergraded Processing System (RIPS).
At this point, Selective Service is undecided which procedure it
will use. A brief overview of each follows. Don't worry about
remembering them. Your committee stands ready to guide you through
each step when a draft begins. The actions and words will be
yours.
RIMS
Beginning 3 days after the
draft is initiated, 20 year-olds with lowest lottery numbers will
receive a 1-A classification and a notice to report for induction
within ten days. They will be inducted into the military in ten
days unless they initiate an appeal with SSS Form 9. The
registrant should immediately acquire Form 9 at the post office
and check off all the classifications he qualifies for, such as,
Conscientious Objector, student, hardship, etc. Mail Form 9
registered mail, return receipt requested, to the Area Office
shown on your induction notice.
Within ten days report for
your physical examination at MEPS. If you have already processed
Form 9, you cannot be inducted after you pass the physical. We
will instruct you how to prove you have processed Form 9 even if
you have not received the return receipt requested. Then you will
shortly receive SSS Form 22, the Conscientious Objector
questionnaire. You will only have 9 days to return Form 22,
registered mail, return receipt requested.
Next will follow a Local
Claim Board hearing. If turned down, the Conscientious Objector
can appeal to the Appeal Board, and if the Appeal Board does not
unanimously deny his Conscientious Objector classification, he can
appeal to the Presidential Appeal Board.
If the registrant accepts a
1-AO classification, he will be inducted into non-combatant
service. If he receives a 1-O classification, he can negotiate
with Selective Service for civilian work.
RIPS
With the RIPS procedure you
do not immediately receive an induction notice. By mailgram, 20
year-olds will receive a 1-A classification with a notice to
report for a physical examination. If you pass the physical,
Selective Service will notify you that you are liable to be
inducted in the near future, but you can place a claim for a
Conscientious Objector and other classifications.
Immediately secure SSS Form 8
(not Form 9). Fill out Form 8 and mail it to the Area Office by
registered mail, return receipt requested. You will shortly
receive SSS Form 22, the Conscientious Objector questionnaire. You
will have 9 days to return Form 22, registered mail, return
receipt requested. The balance of the RIPS procedure is the same
as the RIMS procedure, which is outlined above.
Selective Service does not
know which procedure they will use in the event of a draft. With
both RIMS and RIPS procedures, you have only a short time, 9 days,
between receiving a 1-A classification and completing Form 22, the
Conscientious Objector Questionnaire.
A MUST FOR 19 AND 20 YEAR-OLDS
Also, there is the matter of
acquiring sincerity letters from Elders and others,
especially non-Bible Students, in time to return them with the SSS
Form 22. Do this now before a draft.
In previous drafts we have
found one of the most effective methods of proving one's sincerity
was obtaining five letters from Elders in different parts of the
country that know you and will vouch for your sincerity. These
five elders should consist of one from your class, but the others
from classes as great a distance away as possible. This
distance is important. It correctly gives the impression that
you are active with Bible Students on a much wider level than your
home area.
We suggest you consider the possible
problem of sending to Selective Service letters from more than
two Elders in your own class. In the world, some think mega church
(over 1,000 members) when they hear of 3-5 ministers serving one
congregation. If they learn there are only 10, 20 or 50 people in
your class, it might send wrong signals.
Questions on CO Questionnaire
Take time now to
carefully think out and write down answers to the following three
questions, which are the most important features on Form 22. This
way you will be fully prepared to dispatch Form 22 in the nine-day
time frame when you receive it.
1. Describe your beliefs,
which are the reasons for your claiming Conscientious Objection to
combatant military training and service or to all military
training and service.
2. Describe how and when you
acquired these beliefs.
3. Explain what most clearly
shows that your beliefs are deeply held. You may wish to include a
description of how your beliefs affect your way of life.
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