Military personnel - Where do you draw the line?

Question

Under the assumption that the orders being given are technically legal, is there a point at which you question and/or refuse to execute an order? Based on moral grounds for example? or perhaps based on the expressed will of the people (vs. the will of the government)? or any other basis you can think of?

Answer 1

If you know the order to be illegal, then you do not follow it. Just b/c you don't agree with it, morally or otherwise, is no reason to disobey an order.  

Answer 2

You draw the line BEFORE you enlist, when you read the second page of the enlistment contract.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive...

9. FOR ALL ENLISTEES OR REENLISTEES: Many laws,

regulations, and military customs will govern my conduct

and require me to do things a civilian does not have to

do. The following statements are not promises or

guarantees of any kind. They explain some of the

present laws affecting the Armed Forces which I cannot

change but which Congress can change at any time.

a. My enlistment is more than an employment

agreement. As a member of the Armed Forces of the

United States, I will be:

(1) Required to obey all lawful orders and perform all

assigned duties.

(2) Subject to separation during or at the end of my

enlistment. If my behavior fails to meet acceptable

military standards, I may be discharged and given a

certificate for less than honorable service, which may

hurt my future job opportunities and my claim for

veteran's benefits.

(3) Subject to the military justice system, which

means, among other things, that I may be tried by

military courts-martial.

(4) Required upon order to serve in combat or other

hazardous situations.

(5) Entitled to receive pay, allowances, and other

benefits as provided by law and regulation.

b. Laws and regulataions that govern military

personnel may change without notice to me. Such

changes may affect my status, pay, allowances,

benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed

Forces REGARDLESS of the provisions of this

enlistment/reenlistment document.

c. In the event of war, my enlistment in the Armed

Forces continues until six (6) months after the war ends,

unless my enlistment is ended sooner by the President of

the United States.

10. MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR ALL

MEMBERS OF THE ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS,

INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD.

a. FOR ALL ENLISTEES: If this is my initial enlistment,

I must serve a total of eight (8) years. Any part

of that service not served on active duty must be served

in a Reserve Component unless I am sooner discharged.

b. If I am a member of a Reserve Component of an

Armed Force at the beginning of a period of war or

national emergency declared by Congress, or if I become

a member during that period, my military service may be

extended without my consent until six (6) months after

the end of that period of war.

c. As a member of a Reserve Component, in time of

war or national emergency declared by the Congress, I

may be required to serve on active duty (other than for

training) for the entire period of the war or emergency

and for six (6) months after its end.

d. As a member of the Ready Reserve I may be

required to perform active duty or active duty for

training without my consent (other than as provided in

item 8 of this document) as follows:

(1) in time of national emergency declared by the

President of the United States, I may be ordered to

active duty (other than for training) for not more than

24 consecutive months.

(2) I may be ordered to active duty for 24

months, and my enlistment may be extended so I can

complete 24 months of active duty, if:

(a) I am not assigned to, or participating satisfactorily

in, a unit of the Ready Reserve; and

(b) I have not met my Reserve obligation; and

(c) I have not served on active duty for a total of

24 months.

(3) I may be ordered to perform additional active

duty training for not more than 45 days if I have not

fulfilled my military service obligation and fail in any

year to perform the required training duty satisfactorily.

If the failure occurs during the last year of

my required membership in the Ready Reserve, my

enlistment may be extended until I perform that

additional duty, but not for more than six months.

(4) When determined by the President that it is

necessary to support any operational mission, I may be

ordered to active duty as prescribed by law, if I am a

member of the Selected Reserve.

11. FOR ENLISTEES/REENLISTEES IN THE NAVY,

MARINE CORPS, OR COAST GUARD: I understand

that if I am serving on a naval vessel in foreign

waters, and my enlistment expires, I will be returned

to the United States for discharge as soon as possible

consistent with my desires. However, if essential to

the public interest, I understand that I may be retained

on active duty until the vessel returns to the United

States. If I am retained under these circumstances, I

understand I will be discharged not later than 30 days

after my return to the United States; and, that except

in time of war, I will be entitled to an increase in basic

pay of 25 percent from the date my enlistment expires

to the date of my discharge.

12. FOR ALL MALE APPLICANTS: Completion of this

form constitutes registration with the Selective

Service System in accordance with the Military

Selective Service Act. Incident thereto the

Department of Defense may transmit my name,

permanent address, military address, Social Security

Number, and birthdate to the Selective Service System

for recording as evidence of the registration.

Answer 3

The will of the government and the will of the people, don't mean spit.  The Uniform Code of Military Justice is in play here, and if you violate it's rules you are subject to court marshall !

You are not in violation of maintaining moral standards provided they don't  conflict with the UCMJ, at that point it is recommended that you defer to the UCMJ.  That is, unless you have no objection to spending time in a federal penitentiary !

Answer 4

You always have a choice and must make a determination based upon your character. Disobeying a lawful order can subject you UCMJ actions.

Answer 5

In the military, you're not allowed to question someone that is of higher rank than you are.

Answer 6

As long as it's a legal order I'd follow it and I'd have made d**n sure my Marines did as well.  

I see no difference in the "will of the people vs. the will of the government.  We live in a republic where the citizens choose by voting who will guide the country.  If some people don't like it...tough ****, if they didn't vote...tough ****.  

The military does not dictate policy, we just carry out it out.

Answer 7

Not if the order is legal. I signed a contract stating that I would, under penalty of military justice, obey the officers and NCOs placed over me and obey all legal orders from my chain of command.  

Answer 8

I drew the line when it was an illegal order.  Otherwise, it must be followed.