Hear an audio clip of Camilo speaking.

In May 2004, Iraq combat veteran Camilo Mejia was sentenced to a year in prison for refusing to return to the war in Iraq. "By putting my weapon down, I chose to reassert myself as a human being," he said.

He is the first Iraq war veteran to file for discharge from the army as a conscientious objector. He was released in February 2005, and has been speaking out with help of organizations like Global Exchange, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), and Military Families Speak Out (MFSO).

Topics covered

• Counter-military recruitment