ChatGPT said:
Here is a list of credible organizations where U.S. military personnel can seek confidential legal advice or counseling, including regarding potentially illegal orders or conscientious objection:
🔹 GI Rights Hotline
Phone: 877-447-4487
Website: https://girightshotline.org
Description:
-
Offers free, confidential, and non-directive counseling to military service members.
-
Specializes in rights, discharge options, and resisting illegal or immoral orders.
-
Staffed by trained counselors (not attorneys) with legal referral access.
🔹 Military Law Task Force (MLTF) – National Lawyers Guild
Phone: 619-463-2369
Website: https://nlgmltf.org
Description:
-
Provides legal resources and referrals for military personnel.
-
Helps with discharges, conscientious objection, and challenges to unlawful orders.
-
Offers legal defense strategies and publishes legal guides.
🔹 Center on Conscience & War (CCW)
Phone: 202-483-2220
Website: https://centeronconscience.org
Description:
-
Assists those seeking conscientious objector (CO) status.
-
Offers guidance for military personnel troubled by orders that conflict with conscience or law.
-
Helps navigate the process of CO application and separation from the military.
🔹 Civilian Medical Resources Network
Email contact preferred via website
Website: https://civilianmedicalresources.net
Description:
-
Network of civilian medical professionals offering evaluations and assistance.
-
Supports conscientious objectors, those seeking mental health discharges, and others refusing orders due to medical or ethical concerns.
🔹 Veterans for Peace
Phone: 314-725-6005
Website: https://www.veteransforpeace.org
Description:
-
A veteran-led organization that offers peer support and advocacy.
-
While not a legal resource per se, they connect service members with others who have resisted illegal or immoral orders.
Important Notes:
-
Disobeying an order can carry serious consequences unless the order is clearly illegal (e.g., violates the UCMJ, international law, or the Constitution).
-
Service members are legally obligated to disobey unlawful orders (per the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 92).
-
Consulting with a military defense attorney (JAG) is also a right and may be advisable in tandem with outside resources.