Opinion ID: 2452
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Watson's Voluntary Agreement To Serve in the Armed Forces

Text: In 1998, Timothy Watson was enrolled in medical school at George Washington University when he applied to the United States Army for financial assistance with his education. Pursuant to its Health Professions Scholarship program, the Army agreed to pay for Watson's remaining three years of medical school, in return for which Watson promised that, after graduation, he would serve three years of active duty and five years in the reserves. Although the Army kept its side of the bargain, [4] Watson now seeks to avoid his, claiming that he should be excused from even the non-combatant role of an Army doctor because he is a conscientious objector. [5] Indeed, Watson contends that his objection to war would require him to refuse to treat any member of the United States armed forces  whether on active duty or in reserve status, whether in a combat zone or in a veterans' hospital [6]  because to provide such care would be the functional equivalent of weaponizing human beings by making them healthy enough to serve in combat. Application of Timothy Doyle Watson (Watson App.) at 5.