Fund for Education and Training (FEAT)

The Fund for Education and Training (FEAT) assists young men who for reasons of conscience do not comply with laws requiring registration for the draft. Nonregistrants are ineligible for enrollment in federally funded job training programs and for federal and some state financial aid programs for higher education. In an effort to alleviate the effects of these penalties, FEAT provides low interest loans to nonregistrants of conscience.

The Penalties for Not Registering

The organizers of the fund believe that the measures to enforce draft registration are contrary to American traditions of justice and support for conscience. The amendments violate the First Amendment guarantees of free exercise of religion. Federal law declares that nonregistrants are ineligible for federal grants and loans for higher education, assistance in pursuing professional education such as law and medicine, and enrollment in federally funded job training programs. (Some states have their own penalties for nonregistrants.) These penalties are enacted without due process and are automatic. The rights of conscience are denied. Those who oppose war and injustice are punished by being deprived of opportunities. An additional loss to society as a whole also occurs as individual talents and personal convictions are not nurtured.

Many Have No Alternative

In our society, people with economic resources can more easily afford the cost of refusing to be a part of war. It is the economically disadvantaged individuals who bear the brunt of these punitive measures. For those without alternative resources, registration provides the only access to civilian job training or higher education. Economic conditions deny them the possibility of taking a stand against war. FEAT seeks to provide opportunity for rights of conscience by relieving this economic pressure. Many nonregistrants are enrolled in colleges that do not offer them financial assistance and are not members of those few religious communities that provide support. FEAT is determined to help these young people of conscience.

“A weapon in the U.S. arsenal”

President Carter responded to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980 by urging draft registration “to send a signal to the Russians.” President Reagan reaffirmed the process a year later to show resolve to the USSR over the crisis in Poland. In 1994 President Clinton cut short an attempt by congress to end registration, saying its termination “could send the wrong signal to our potential enemies.” Selective Service officials have said draft registration is a deterrent and “a weapon in the U.S. arsenal like bombers and missiles.” In our age of gunboat diplomacy, registration for the draft is not only support for the threat of violence, but an integral part of the violence of threats. There is no provision in the Selective Service System for registrants to make known their conscientious objection to war. In fact, at the time of registration, no possible exemption or deferment claims can be made, as had been the case for conscientious objectors. Every registrant is placed in the pool of potential draftees. For the individual conscientiously opposed to participating in even the preparation for war, nonregistration is a necessary response.

Education

FEAT administers supplementary loans to individual applicants. Priority is given to those who have no other sources of aid, either in the financial aid program of their school, from other agencies, or from their family. A modest list of alternative sources of aid for nonregistrants is included on this page. The loan program is a revolving fund. No interest accrues while the nonregistrant is in school. Upon graduation or termination of studies, a six-month interest-free grace period ensues, after which the loan begins to accrue interest at a rate comparable to federal guaranteed student loans. Money repaid to FEAT by past loan recipients is lent out again to new applicants. As of 2008, FEAT had lent out approximately $100,000 since its formation in 1986. More than forty individuals have benefited from the program. FEAT continues to be a small program with limited resources. The funds available cannot be expected to fully make up for the support that would have been available using taxpayers’ money.

Training

FEAT stands ready to help persons denied job training under the Job Training Partnership Act and other employment programs funded by the federal government under Title IV. Since these programs vary from state to state and some of the funding goes to the employers, support has to be tailored to the particular situation.

Administration of FEAT

Loans are made after careful consideration by the Review Committee. Every safeguard is exercised to preserve the confidentiality of the process and the fairness of the awards. To be responsible to the fund’s donors, applicants are asked to explain why they refuse to register for the draft and prepare for war. Local contact persons who provide confidentiality and support can be intermediaries if needed. Loan recipients are asked to sign a promissory note, and the agreement is considered legally binding. All donations are used directly for the making of loans; all administrative costs are provided by CCW and the other sponsoring organizations.

Contact the Center on Conscience & War for more information about applying for a low-interest FEAT loan.