by Damian Niolet, North Florida Veterans for Peace Vice President
It’s time we talk about military service members who join with good intentions but are forced into impossible moral situations. Too often, we expect our service members to blindly follow commands without acknowledging many of these orders are, in fact, unlawful.
What constitutes an unlawful order is not up for debate — if not expressly forbidden in US law, then there’s always our collective moral compass to guide our actions. The real question is: how do we, as a society, support those who are caught in the middle of this mess?
Let’s be clear: most service members join for practical reasons, like a steady paycheck, benefits, and/or education, rather than out of a sense of duty. While the motivations for joining may vary, zero percent sign up because they want to be criminals, but that’s exactly what many are asked to become.
Whether it’s infringing on the rights of fellow citizens or committing war crimes against those in another nation, or both with the help of ICE, the line between lawful duty and outright immorality is being crossed more-and-more often under the current “regime.”
However, fighting that regime directly is not the solution. It is too far gone, and our rage only empowers them. Instead, we need to temper our anger and turn our focus on those who are considering joining or already on active duty, emphasizing it is everyone’s duty to disobey unlawful orders.
Through one-on-one conversations with those who are at a moral crossroad, we have a better chance of diverting those at the front lines toward the more honorable path, no matter how far our leaders have strayed from theirs.
But let’s not romanticize it — military culture doesn’t exactly reward dissent. Disobeying an order comes with consequences — career-ending consequences, often without proper support or protection, so it’s no surprise when push comes to shove, many choose to follow orders, even when those orders tear at the very fabric of their conscience. They’re stuck, caught between their will to survive/provide for their families/duty to their country and their own self-efficacy as morally conscious human beings.
We can bridge that gap for them.
How do we do that when the system in place actively discourages dissent? We start by making sure they know they have the legal right to disobey unlawful orders and that they won’t be abandoned if they do. But it’s not enough to tell service members they’re free to disobey unlawful orders — we need to provide real support for them when they do. We need to show them there’s life after the military, full of better-paying jobs, opportunities for education, and support networks that actually have their backs.
If we don’t stand behind these brave few, then we are telling all those who come after them that they have no choice but to obey every order they are given, no matter the consequences. No more empty words about supporting the troops. If we really want to honor their service, we need to stand with them when they make the hardest decision of their lives — the decision to say “no” to unlawful orders. Let’s give them the tools, the resources, and the community support they need to make the right choice and show them they’re not alone when they do.
Veterans for Peace of North Central Florida, led by President Scott Camil and me, is doing its part in this regard. Most notably, every year VFP holds a Peace Poetry Contest, inviting Alachua County’s K-12 students to submit entries — winning entrants receiving gift cards. They also award annual Peace Scholarships to anyone pursuing a peace and/or social justice career. They can do this thanks to the community’s generous donations at their yearly Winter Solstice Peace Concert. Follow VFPNCF on their socials to see for yourself.
Web: vfpgainesville.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VFPchapter14/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vfpncfl/
After serving 10+ years as a Russian Cryptologic Linguist/Intelligence Analyst, Damian Niolet became a devout pacifist, driven by a need to create, rather than destroy. Disrupting outmoded thinking in the worlds of empowerment, entrepreneurship, and entertainment is now his primary mission.