GI resistance against war is anything that gives service members and veterans a voice and makes it harder for the military to function like a well-oiled machine. It ranges from reading anti-war literature to refusing an order to refusing deployment to a war zone.

 GI resistance is not dishonorable, and it will not put the lives of your buddies in jeopardy. Rather, it is a concrete way to end war and bring the troops home. GI resistance played a central role in ending the war in Vietnam. Having a fighting force that was difficult to control was a key factor in forcing the U.S. government to pull out.

Here are some things U.S. troops have done to stand up against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:
• Reading alternative analyses of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Talking with friends and/or fellow military service people about your doubts about the wars.
• Learning about how thousands have already resisted by checking out couragetoresist.org
• Starting a blog.
• Educating yourself about your rights as a GI.
• Getting in touch with organizations in the peace and anti-war movement.
• Signing the Letter for Redress, an act that is Constitutionally protected.
• Joining Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), an act that is also protected, even among active members of the military.
• Wearing your IVAW shirt on base and reaching out to fellow servicemembers.
• Speaking out about crimes and atrocities being perpetrated.
• Starting a chapter of IVAW.
• Filing for a medical discharge, refusing to allow the military to use you up and destroy your mind and body.
• Refusing illegal or immoral orders on base.
• Refusing illegal or immoral orders in a war zone.
• Applying for Conscientious Objector status.
• Refusing to be detained in the military past your end of service date by the policy of Stop Loss.
• Going AWOL.
• Relocating to Canada or other countries.
• Refusing activation from the Individual Ready Reserves. couragetoresist.org/irr

Wherever you are on the spectrum, there is something you can do. Each action contributes, and there are possibilities for resistance no matter what your comfort level.