This is a big one.
First, your Investigating Officer (IO) should remain impartial and interview those people who know you the best. Questioning is rarely objective though. Note the nature of leading questions because it may support your rebuttal or a claim that your IO acted in a stongly adversarial or unprofessional manner.
Record the hearing.** Furnish a copy to the IO immediately. Your recording insures accuracy of the who-said-what transcript. Otherwise, the IO gives his/her own summary of what was said.
**NOTE: If your case goes that far, the Federal courts will review your audio recording when considering whether to overturn Department of Army's decision. Think ahead. Show your them you're prepared even for the long term.
Undoubtedly, your IO will ask you about the level of force you would use. Common questioning is, "What would you do if you (or someone in your family) were attacked...?" Rememeber, this is a hypothetical question and there will be more if you answer any of them. After that, the IO will lead you to agreeing with war by asking something like, "How or would you have fought against the Holocaust and Hitler or the Japanese in WW2?"
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS. And you definitely shouldn't! Instead, memorize this unbeatable answer:
"SIR, THAT IS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION; BUT, MY OPPOSITION TO WAR IS REAL. THE TRUTH IS, MY CONVICTIONS ARE THE RESULT OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. I CANNOT ANSWER HOW I WOULD ACT IN ANY FICTITIOUS SCENARIOS OR IF I HAD HAD DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT AS THE PERSON I HAVE BECOME, I OPPOSE WAR, SIR."
Question all witnesses (this is a link to Questions)--those called by your Investigating Officer and the ones you call. Anticipate the answers. Don't ask open questions that you don't know answers to. |
