As School Begins, so does Military Recruitment
Do you know that our Pentagon/Military has access to your child’s school records and uses them for recruitment? The propaganda starts even earlier, however. My child is in Elementary School and at both Carl Traeger and Oakwood Elementary, where my child has attended school, there are books entitled, The US Army, The US Marines, The US Navy and the like. These books, written for the Armed Forces, glamorize the the weapons, vehicles and machinery of the armed forces. They show injured soldiers and in small print write "this is just a dramatization" (or something like that). In this age of violent video games where “war seems fun” , these books encourage our children to think about the armed services as cool. They encourage our children to this of others as them and possibly our enemies rather than another person. My child checks out one or two of these books at the beginning of the school year every year. You see, they are on display. I would not suggest censorship or removal of these books from the library, but parents/guardians should be aware.
Our military not only has books in our elementary school libraries, but uses registration from our high schools for targeted recruitment. You can elect out and protect your child from targeted recruitment by filing a form with your child’s high school. You can obtain a generic form at a couple of websites: (probably there are more than these): Leave my Child Alone at www.themmob.com\lmca or T.A.M.E. – Truth and Alternatives to Militarism in Education at www.tamewisconsin.org/Optout.htm Generally, the form is required to be filed at your High School by October. Check with your individual high school to see if they require that the form be filed annually. If they do, complain. Complain to the School, Complain to other parents, Complain to the PTO and complain to the School Board and Superintendent and then write your Congressional Representative.
Only by being aware, can we protect our children.
12 comments:
I guess it is time to do this again. There are entirely too many that sit back and criticize our military for their recruitment techniques. All the while enjoying the freedom that those who have served sacrificed to provide. Why is it wrong for the military to be present in our schools? There are police officers and fire fighters that are there just as often if not more. Are those jobs not dangerous?
I remember when I was in grade school I wanted to be a police officer. We called them cops back then. You know what? I grew up. Once I hit high school I knew that I needed to do something after graduation. My grades were not good enough for college. I really did not want to work in a factory for the rest of my life. So I looked into the military. Initially I tested with the Navy and the whole time the recruiter pushed the Nuclear program. Never once telling me that there is an 80% drop out rate from training. When that happens, they can put you in whatever job that they want for your 6 year commitment. You know what I did? I looked at the Air Force and Army too just to have a comparison. After a great deal of thought I decided to join the Army. I made this decision all on my own. You know what? It was probably the best decision I ever made. Not only did I learn discipline, I managed to get a degree from my service. This fall I will return to school at UWO to complete my Bachlors degree. All paid for through my service to my country. I gave 8 years to the Army and now am employed by the DoD as a civilian. I support our troops no matter what. It is NOT their decision on where they serve or if they get deployed. Quit criticizing them. They are doing a job just like all the rest of us whether they believe in the mission or not. Without them, you would not be enjoying the freedom that you have everyday.
My mother sent me an email that ended with a tag line which I will share here.
"If you are not willing to stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them!"
Have a wonderful and free weekend.
KM
Thanks for sharing this post soccmom. This is valuable information that any parent should want to know.
Thanks for sharing the info.
While military recruiters are appropriate in the high school/career setting, indoctrination in grade school is another.
That doesn't mean we don't support our troops.
I would not consider a book about military vehicles and planes to be "indoctrination." The military does have some cool things and I liken it to Star Wars books. Both, essentially, are about violence to some degree. That is where parenting comes in.
I do encourage parents to look through the books and talk with their kids. Why does Soccmom's kid(s) keep bringing them home? Maybe they like ships. Maybe they like fast planes or helicopters. Ask.
Draw their attention to the humanitarian projects military vehicles are used for. Did you know the largest floating hospital is a Navy Ship? How about the trucks used to bring supplies to needy areas of impoverished countries? What about the helicopters that drop food and medicine around the world? There are two sides to everything.
I do agree with CJ that recruiters are appropriate in high school and have no place below the ninth grade.
If it's fine that recruiters have access, why don't they ask permission first? I'd prefer that they ask before they track my child's ssn, grades, school functions and the like. Why the need for secrecy?
Frankly, I'd prefer that colleges have access. Wouldn't that be better? Then, scholarships and colleges would seek out my child rather than us searching for scholarship money like a needle in a haystack. Just like the ACT/SAT tests - they ask "would you like us to release your test results to colleges and universities?"
Politeness is just nice.
Here is something else to think about this morning.
Here in the U.S. we live in a democracy. We get to enjoy many freedoms that no other country in the world get to enjoy.
We are also the only nation with a military that is voluntary. I don't know of any other country in the world that can say that. Even Switzerland has a mandatory military term.
Should colleges enjoy the same access that recruiters do? I think so. Perhaps you could bring that to the OASD. It would be their policy that is preventing it now.
But be careful... if you open up that door, you are creating an opening for ANY college to recruit you child. Is that what you really want? There are many colleges out there that have quite a reputation for partying and mayhem. At least with our Armed Forces, you know what you are getting.
My advice to anyone that fears their child enlisting or doesn't care for the mission of our military: Educate your children. If you believe that enlisting will ruin their lives, then take the opportunity before the recruiters talk to them to educate them on your point of view. The military is NOT a bad option for many kids that would not have an opportunity to go to college any other way. Don't dismiss it for many that need that chance just because you don't want your child to have the choice.
Teach your kids at home the beliefs and values you want them to carry through life. School will not do that for you.
KM
Recruiters send literature like colleges. They set up times where they will be available for students to meet with them. They do not and cannot pull kids from the classroom to "indoctrinate" them with "propaganda."
Students voluntarily sign up to speak to recruiters whether they are military or college. I agree with Kent Monte that if you do not want your kid speaking to the military, council your child. ALso call the school's guidance office and let them know that your child does no have your permission to speak to the military.
Circular file the mailings and utilize your caller ID when dealing with military recruitors.
Bottom line is that the individual recruitors are just doing their job. You are the parent, do yours and say no if that is what you believe.
I would only suggest that you explain your position to your teen/child. If not, you may just drive your child to the recruitor, especially since they will be touting money for college that most desperately need.
Be aware that your child may have plans for their life that are in opposition to yours whether it is a military career or a McDonald's Manager. Be prepared and be supportive. They are still your child and deserve unconditional love. Also, it is their life to live, not yours. Give them the tools and hope for the best.
This might be hard for you to fathom, Mr. Monte, but not every parent wants to instill your values in their children. When grade school libraries have books which glorify weaponry, killing, and bloodshed as the means to handle our disputes with other nations, it’s an issue that should be brought to the public’s attention. When a recruiter in Texas is caught on video yelling lies at a potential high school recruit, threatening jail if he doesn’t get his ass to boot camp, it should be front page news. When the military tells half-truths about what it really means to enlist for 8 years and when it fails to disclose that when you are sent to Iraq or some other autonomous nation and get your legs blown off, you will not get your signing bonus and you will have to fight tooth and nail for health care, it’s an American disgrace. When the likelihood that a woman recruit will be raped and/or sexually assaulted sometime in those 8 years is growing every year, it’s anti-woman, anti-American, and anti-humanitarian. When only straight kids are offered the opportunity to join the military unless one doesn’t “tell”, it’s unconstitutional. To my knowledge, no other employer or university with the same lack of regard for, ironically, American civil rights is welcome in schools for recruitment purposes.
I’m over-tired of the little flag-waving, “my country right or wrong” frenzy of folks like you who try to shut down civil debate whip yourselves into, so I’m not even going to defend my or other posters patriotism. I love my country. Period.
We hear all the time about how students are being indoctrinated in liberal values through textbooks and the acceptance of minorities and cultures. “They’re young, defenseless, and easily mislead” is the mindset. Yet, when the discussion turns to military recruitment, it’s all about how kids can make up their own minds and make their own decisions. You just cannot have it both ways.
Perhaps your “facts” come straight from the DoD which would explain the lie, but you really need to look into the fact that many other countries also have a volunteer military. That you would suggest otherwise is either a glaring mistake based on a small world view or a lie that the DoD instructs you to repeat. Even China has been kicking around the idea of a volunteer military. This is only if you accept the argument that our military is voluntary. Ask someone who has been called back to Iraq three or four times or a young kids who realizes in boot camp what a big mistake he or she made how voluntary it is.
We're the only country with a vounteer military? Are you EFFING KIDDING ME?
http://www.smso.net/Volunteer_military#List_of_countries_with_a_volunteer_military
Holy crap are you ever stupid!
Wow.... reading some of these posts makes me think that we ought to go to compulsory service. Maybe then there would be less ignorance out there about what the military is, how it works, and how it can benefit you.
It's almost amusing to read some of the rabid drivel posted here.
Sorry Mr. Monte, but parts of your argument on this topic are both generalized and untrue.
"We are also the only nation with a military that is voluntary." -Kent Monte
Actually there are dozens of countries with volunteer militaries. America is not the least bit unique in this way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteer_military
"Here in the U.S. we live in a democracy. We get to enjoy many freedoms that no other country in the world get to enjoy." - Kent Monte
Having lived and traveled for extended amounts of time in other nations(including other democracies), I am forced to ask what freedoms are you referring to? This general statement is lacking any facts or evidence, though it is a typical pro-military argument, a statement without facts is only a weak opinion.
Another Kent Monte comment in referring to colleges now
"But be careful... if you open up that door, you are creating an opening for ANY college to recruit you child. Is that what you really want? There are many colleges out there that have quite a reputation for partying and mayhem. At least with our Armed Forces, you know what you are getting."
The American Armed Services are especially upstanding when it comes to Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Women's Rights and they're overall treatment of Women. According to the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Rape was reported by 28% of women in the military and drug and alcohol abuse played an important factor in a large percent of those. According to the National Institutes of Health, part of the Health & Human Services of the U.S. Government:
Heavy Alcohol Abuse nearly doubles with Military members(32.2 %) vs. Non-military members(17.8%) in specific and general demographics.
Don't take my word, read the facts here:
http://www.npr.org/documents/2007/oct/varapestudy.pdf
AND HERE:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1995/05/12/MN63836.DTL
AND HERE:
http://www.enotalone.com/article/11185.html
-My Truths come complete with Facts™
I have to say, I will eat some of my words but I am afraid that some of your comparisons are not representative.
Funny thing about statistics. You can pretty much make them say whatever you want them to say in order to support an arguement.
I found some interesting stats on a rape prevention website. (http://www2.ucsc.edu/rape-prevention/statistics.html)
Some highlights are...
1 in 4 female college students are raped. That is 25%!
The difference in these statistics is the related confidence level. In the NPR cited study, only 558 veterans were surveyed opposed to 6000 college students. The confidence interval for the military study is 23.9%-30.2% while the ci for the college study was 24.1%-25.9%. Which do you think is more reliable?
Additionally, "6 out of 10 rapes are reported by victims to have occurred in their own home or home of a friend, relative or neighbor. (US Dept. of Justice 1997)". So I guess you don't have to enlist to be raped.
BTW, there are more than just women who enter the military. Men join too. And if drinking is the only reason not to go, then perhaps college isn't the place for them either. In an article published by the American Psychiatric Association, "4 out of 5 college students drink and about half of college student drinkers engage in heavy episodic consumption". Seems to me that college would be a greater risk as they have far more opportunity and free time to drink. In a structured environment like the military, drinking is not as easy as it is portraited. There are many restrictions to how much alchohol (and what types) someone can have at one time. There are also duty personnel (usually an enlisted member along with an NCO and Officer) that monitor quarters during off hours. Dorms don't have the same level of supervision.
As for the "list" of volunteer military that you referenced, I would be careful how much stock you put into wikipedia. Anyone can add to that list without actual data to support the input. I will concede that there are more than I thought when I posted previously.
As for freedom that this country enjoys over others. How about freedom of speech. What other country can you say what you want when you want (in most cases) without reprecussion? Just what country can you protest (peacefully) without worry? What country can you burn a flag in protest without punishment? What country can you own and possess firearms without permit or permission?
The military is not for everyone. But you should not dismiss what you do not know. Even those who have had a bad experience with the military would still recommend it to someone that cannot afford college and would like to better themselves. And that is a fact.
Some facts are not facts after all.
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