Afghanistan has no coastline. Clearly he would not be directly involved in combat there, but treating potential casualties who had been airlifted to his ship.

If he was only expected to treat casualties (which from my understanding he was prepared to do, as long as it was a non-combatant role) then why did the navy insist he needed rifle training? You don't treat many casualties with an M16 do you? The guy had every right to refuse the order to pick up a rifle because it's not part of his job (medics are only expected to know how to use a hand gun for self-defence).
So yes, he is a conscientious objector. Stop trying to make him sound like a coward for standing up for his beliefs.

well if you're theory is right, why were they giving him arms training then?
He refused and that led to charges for which he his now doing time.
U.S. naval personel were killed on the ground in firefights in Iraq

US/UK forces like to kill nice and safe from a distance
..so even though Afghanistan is landlocked
a lot of the US/UK death dealing is done from aircraft carriers

Looks like he had a specific conscientious objection to this useless corrupt war on Afghanistan
A lot of young people join the military to defend Britain...then they get sent on errands by the U.S. who really call the shots...Britain has no independent foreign policy, it's military is under the direction of the U.S. His reading of the WikiLeaks evidence made this clear to him

British Navy medics are used on the ground in Afghanistan

Approx a dozen folks have confirmed for this vigil including activists from Colchester area, Colchester Stop the War, At Ease, Giuseppe Conlon CW House, Catholic Worker Farm, Pay Day.

We were unable to secure a van for this month's Colchester vigil. We have car load (5) going from Giuseppe Conlon House on Sat.

If you can offer to take folks in your car, leaving Giuseppe Conlon Houe, Harringay Sat 12.30 pm...we can approach more folks in the Harringay/ London area with the offer of transport etc.

If you can help out on this front contact Ciaron ASAP
Ph. 079 392 90576