Specialist Jeremy Hinzman, formerly of the 82d Airborne, has lost the first step of his attempt to seek asylum in Canada. Hinzman had claimed the war in Iraq was illegal, and that any act he might commit while there would be the equivalent of an atrocity. For the record, Hinzman also was sent to Afghanistan, albeit in a non-combatant role, when he tried to seek conscientious objector status.
The Adjudicator for Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board said in part:
“Hinzman has brought forward no evidence to support his allegation that he would not be accorded the full protection of the law pursuant to the court-martial process.”
“The U.S. has in place military regulations that allow for both exemption from military service and for alternative, non-combatant service for persons who can invoke genuine reasons of conscience.”
Hinzman enlisted in November 2000 on a 4-year enlistment. If he didn’t want to serve in a combat role, he probably shouldn’t have joined the infantry, or gone through Airborne School, and should have tried to get into a unit other than the 82 ABN.
Gonna be hard to get into college with a dishonorable discharge for desertion.
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