If you know someone who may fall for a recruiters "see the world" line show them this

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5293478,00.html

Fort Carson GI killed in Iraq espoused traveling the world

Army Spc. Collin R. Schockmel may have been only 19 when he died this week in Iraq, but in the last year of his life, he was able to cross paths with a world that few Americans will ever get to see.

Schockmel became good friends with his Iraqi translator.

He was fascinated by the brief friendships he formed with African citizens during a stopover in Europe, said his sister, Emily Schockmel, on Friday.

Her brother shared his experiences with his family during a Christmas leave visit in Arizona.

"He thought it was good for people to travel the world," his sister recalled during a telephone interview from Sierra Vista, Ariz.

[saigon68]

1. Join and Die (graphic)

[HockeyMom]

2. My older daughter was going to enlist

at 17 right after high school graduation. Even back then (10 years ago), the recruiter was promising her the world. Since she was still a Minor and had to have our approval, my husband, a Nam Vet who also enlisted at 17, grilled the recruiter.

To make a long story short, Alli wanted to be guaranteed an MP slot. What it finally came down to, was that the recruiter could not absolutely guarantee her ANYTHING. My husband said he would not sign on the dotted line unless it was put down in WRITING that she would be given that MP spot. My daughter, to her credit, also refused.

Alli enrolled in the Criminal Justice Program at college instead. The recruiter continued to call for a few years on and off. College, and a little more maturity, changed her mind about the military. As she said recently, "Just imagine, I could be in IRAQ today fighting George Bush's illegal, immoral War".

[Vexatious Ape]

3. Great story.

I know the recruiters are doing there jobs, but I won't let one near my son.

[frogcycle]

4. ten years ago was a different world

I get cold sweats every time i recall lobbying my sister to support her then-17-year-old son's desire to join the army. having come from a military family i was touting the (legitimate) benefits of the service for someone at his then station in life. out of high school, not motivated for college, not sure what he wanted to do with his life, but clearly (to me) someone with promise for a leadership/management type career somewhere. I was sure he'd advance quickly, get experience as a leader, mature a bunch, be better equipped for whatever civilian path he'd take afterwards.

All valid.

She talked about all the deaths in VN when we were his age. I said VN was then, this is now. Look at Bosnia. We don't do stupid shit like VN anymore. We don't send kids out to be cannon fodder to feed the egos of megalomaniacs.

He didn't sign up, and I will be eternally grateful. If I had to put his picture on my website, I don't think I could stand it. I can't imagine what the families of these 3033 people are going through. If they objected, they feel they failed by not stopping them. If they were supportive, they feel they were complicit.

I also cannot imagine how a recruiter can live with himself. They are now Jack Lemmon in "Glengary Glen Ross".

[HockeyMom]

6. Then there was my younger daughter under Leave No Child Behind

She turned 18 in 2003 in her senior year in HS. Yes, even back then I was aware of the opt out clause of military contact for a parent. I signed it, but as soon as she turned 18 in the Spring of her senior year, the calls started. She flat out told him NO, but he still called and called. Since she was of legal age then, there wasn't anything I could do. The recruiter would not take NO for an answer. You think telemarketers are bad? Nothing in comparison to this. Endless calls week after week.

Rachael would jump every time the phone rang fearing it was "him". She said she was afraid to come home from school and find him at the door. "I feel like he is stalking me", she told me. I told her to tell HIM that. Tell him to stop calling or she would call the police and charge him with stalking her. Doubt that would have passed legal muster, but appparently it did make him think twice (male recruiter/teenage girl?). He never called again after that.

Yes, our family has had it's share of experience with military recruiters.

[dogday]

5. He paid a freaking high price to "travel the world"

Too high a price if you ask me....