the military & high school

[H2O Man]

My 17-year old son has gotten mail from several branches of the military in the past week. And there are recruiters at the school at lunch times. I'm not concerned because I'm "anti-military," as I'm not. But I do think that it is extremely important that the "anti-war" crowd have just as clear of a profile for young men and women. My son is able to discuss the current administration's policies, and knows the lurking danger of the draft, but I find most of his friends are only vaguely aware of current events. Do others on DU have similar concerns?

[havocmom]

1. I fear many parents are unaware that schools ARE REQUIRED to give

personal contact info for all juniors and seniors to military recruiters unless parents inform the school beforehand that they do not want their minor children's information released.

The Leave No Child Behind Act requires this of all public (don't know about private ones) schools. Now you know what no child will be left behind from - constant barrage of propaganda from recruiters at a time in their development when many are likely to do stuff just to piss off their parents and show they are 'independent'.

And since the US military is being used by and for private corporations, one could assume more than just money in the stock market is now being invested and subject to the tender mercies of men like the ones who pull Cheney's strings.

[goddess40]

8. I tried to keep my son off the list

unless parents inform the school beforehand that they do not want their minor children's information released - I went to school and told them I didn't want the info released and they told me they didn't know what I was talking about.

[SEpatriot]

2. They will recruit hard for a while yet

Not only because of the NCLBA, but Selective Service - once he registers (still required). Wait 'til the recruiters start calling your house - yes, they will do that. I don't know if they still have the military come to public schools or not with an aptitude test that they are able to get kids to take -they did it in my day, and then they would pursue you if you had a high score. Then, even if you are in college - the recruiters will call you when you are at home (Christmas break, etc.) and offer assistance w/college.

Educate. You can still intervene while he's 17 and try and stop the mailings, etc. But they will be persistent.

Somewhat funny story - my wife (who finished college) started receiving Navy recruitment materials a couple of years ago for unknown reasons - so you do not know who is selling your information to whom.

[pstokely]

6. haven't gotten any since I graduated last year

but I did get a few calls weeks before I graduated

[SharonAnn]

7. I always took those test in high school and got really high results

but they never pursued me, because I'm female. That's probably changed.

I remember the Air Force recruiter, he looked at my results and sighed. Then he said something like "we could really use you in aviation or electronics program. But we only recruit males for those jobs."

My loss, I guess. BTW, that was 1963.

[spanone]

3. My son is 24 now, but when he was in high school...

we came home and found a recruiter at our home trying to sign him up. We showed her the door. Evidently she sensed my son might be open to enlistment and being the good salesperson, she was following up. Needless to say we were pissed. Watch your children when they are vulnerable. The military makes it look like a video game.

[pezcore64]

4. when i was in high school

which was only 4 years ago...
they had colleges and universities also come at lunch time...
so as long as they both get equal time and its not JUST the military that gets to do that...

[goddess40]

5. Gym class

At my son's high school marines came in with the blessing of school administrators and conducted gym classes for a day. They did it just like boot camp with all the hollering, getting in the kids faces and making them do push ups for punishment. They had set up an obstacle course for the kids. My son and some of the other kids ended up with big rope burns from sliding down ropes. The kids were allowed to sign their own permission slips for this class. One funny episode: after one of the marines got in a kids face with his yelling the kid said, "You need a mint."