Alternative Service Program: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|US program for conscientious objectors}}

{{refimprove|date=August 2015}}

TheIn the [[United States]], the '''Alternative Service Program''' is a form of [[alternative service]] for [[conscientious objector]]s in the [[United States]] within its [[Selective Service System]]. As there is currently no [[conscription]] in the United States and has not been for over four decades, the Program's current status can only be regarded as something which would become operative if conscription were ever to resume.

The Alternative Service Program is intended to encourage those called under Selective Service the option of working to improve national well-being as an alternative to bearing arms. Typical period of service is meant to mirror the duration of conscription, usually 24 months.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Alternative Service Program |url=https://www.sss.gov/register/alternative-service/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Selective Service System |language=en}}</ref>

==Official definition==

The Selective Service System defines the purpose and scope of the Alternative Service as follows.<ref>The official description is taken from the United States government [http://www.sss.gov/FactSheets/FSaltsvc.pdf fact sheet] (dated February 19, 2004), which is in [[public ___domain]]</ref>

== References ==

The Alternative Service Program affects those persons whose conscientious objection encompasses both combatant and noncombatant military training and service. The program allows men who have been [[Selective Service System#Classifications|classified 1-O]] by their local Selective Service boards to fulfill their service obligation in a [[civilian]] capacity contributing to the maintenance of the national health, safety or interest.

The Alternative Service Program is to be administered locally by the Alternative Service Offices which will be located in 48 major cities in the U.S. There is also to be a Civilian Review Board associated with each office which is composed of no less than three civilian volunteers. It is their responsibility to review certain appeals of job assignments by the Alternative Service Workers.

A major part of the contingency planning for Alternative Service is to identify agencies and associations which could assist the Selective Service System in placing conscientious objectors in suitable alternative service jobs. Examples of alternative service work are conservation, caring for the very young and the very old, [[education]]al projects and [[health care]].

Conscientious objectors who are to be placed in the Alternative Service Program will be asked to describe their skills, aptitudes and interest in order to facilitate their placement. An attempt will be made to match the objector’s skills and aptitudes to an eligible job, while at the same time ensuring that his service makes a meaningful contribution to the national interest. All assignments will be made within 30 days of reclassification to conscientious objector status.

Employers will be asked to describe their job openings and the qualifications of persons required to fill them. The employer may interview conscientious objectors before deciding to hire them, or he may leave the placement decision in the hands of the Alternative Service Office. In all cases, the employer and the Selective Service System must execute an agreement for the employment of conscientious objectors before any work assignments are made. All assignments will be made within 30 days of reclassification to conscientious objector status.

==References==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

[[Category:Conscientious objection]]

[[Category:Conscription in the United States]]

[[Category:United States military law]]

* [https://www.sss.gov/register/alternative-service/ Alternative Service Program page on the Selective Service website]

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