Don't let Uncle Sam get YOU!

My fellow peers, under Bush's 'No Child Left Behind Act,' there is a small section (9528) that requires school districts to release student names, addresses, and phone numbers to military recruiters upon their request. After that, those recruiters call us and pressure us to join the military. Unfortunately, schools often fail to let us know of our right to Opt-Out by requesting that your district not release your private information. A form that requests them to withhold your private information can be found at the link below. -Pat

Military Free Zone

Yeah I thought I was done getting phone calls from those people and just a couple of weeks ago a guy called me and asked me what I wanted to do after college (because I'm graduating in May) and I'm thinking to myself, dude I'm outta high school, give it up. I told him I wasn't interested and that I'm going to go to grad school in the fall.

Yeah, they came to our school during my Government class last year. Some big dumb drill sergent guy with a mind of moronic fluids gave us this rediculous form and tried to covince us the army was the best post high school solution. He asked us to return the forms so they may contact us. He started collecting them but I ripped mine up and threw it into the back of the room. He saw and looked at me very hideously. I grinned.

The Nerve.


The Doc

Good for you Doc! Yeah I remember back in high school (pre 9/11) a guy came in 1 of our criminal justice classes but I think he only said that those kids interested to raise there hands and he would give them stuff to fill out.

Well it's certainly a lesser evil if you don't want to be drafted. At least if people are educated about this hidden provision in No child left behind, they can learn to never ask for more info regarding the Army or Marines. That's usually how they bait recruits.

Hate to break it to you Pat, but this has been going on long before Bush and NCLB. And I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing. A lot of people really benefit from military life, like my sister, for example. She was kind of just meandering through life until she joined the Navy, now she's doign very well for herself.

Although getting volumes of called form all branches of the military in high school did annoy the hell out of me.

Bottom line:

If you want to join a section of the military, it's not hard to do. They DO NOT need to come and inturrupt my class time in order to do so. Whats to stop Coca-Cola from coming in and telling us about new, refreshing Lime Coke then? They gotta advertise too!

Keep it out of schools and personal life. (Including phone calls, though I had a ball pissing off recruitors when they called me)

The Doc

I agree, I don't see the harm in it. We had military guys come into our schools when I was a kid and they offered a different career. It's only right to have all your options infront of you at a young age. The Police also came in for talks, Fire Service, Career advisors, College staff, they all did it.

While I absolutely agree that they should not be interrupting classrooms, I think there's nothing wrong with the military soliciting on campuses and with phone called. Colleges and universities do this, but I see no outcry about this. Why is that?

I think it was UNC that just protested military people that came to their campus. The military can lay off my nuts. All they do is try to pressure us to join.

Care to share? I don't remember who it was but I remember hearing just recently that someone got a call from a military person at their house and they immediately answered the person with "Hello, how are you doing?" and then kept the phone on but just set it down and walked away until they finally got tired and hung up.

"Just say no."

Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. Not everyone who graduates H.S. is going to end up a rocket scientist. Speaking as an "old man," let's face it, some young members of society could flat use being in the military...if, for no other reason, to learn to grow up and abandon (hopefully) their, shall we say, tendency to get into mischief. Maybe they'd learn what words like responsibilty, loyalty, and honor mean, too. And, as a bonus, when they get out of the military, they'll have some college funds available if they want to pursue further education. No, it won't work on everbody, but neither will getting a job, going on to college, or anything else, for that matter. Some folks are just destined for medocrity (no, not really, but it's their choice).

And, if it just ain't your thing, as I said, just say no. It's real easy and only one syllable.
As far as the "right" not to have military spokesmen come speak at a school, what's the big deal? College recruiters visit as well, and college isn't everyone's thing, either. Not to mention countless other professionals from all walks of life who drop by in the hopes of whetting some youngster's appetite for their particular pie. If you're not interested, just enjoy the time off from mundane mathematics, kick back, and catch some Zzzz's. No harm, no foul.

For the record, I myself was going to join the Marines. Then, 2 weeks before the big day, I lost my leg. I am, however, the son of a WWII vet, and proud of it.

Well, I think down here, you really have no choice. I think they have passed a new law about serving in the army. You have to get your military ID as soon as you are 18 and there is a chance you will get recuited to serve 6 months in the army. It all depends on luck and physical condition. If you don't qualify, or maybe if you have some "connected" relatives who could "get you off the hook" then you don't have to serve.

It would do some good, though, if a good friend of mine could crack my back with a baseball bat or hit my legs with a hammer. But, fortunately, I have two uncles who work at the air force and are somewhat connected (I think one of them is a colonel) so I could be spared. But, many other "cholos" are not as lucky as I am and they will have to spend 6 months of their lives living in some filthy barracks with their fellow "cholos".

According to my father, he said that years ago, that they would sick recruiters after the kids they felt wouldn't go to college or make it in the business world. They figured those kids were easy picking to fill their ranks.

Ever see Fahrenheit 9/11 with those 2 Navy recruiters combing, I believe it was a mall in Flint, Michigan?

Well said Snake.


yeah that is something to be proud of. My dad is not a WW2 vet, but he is a vietnam veteran and I'm proud of him for that.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes in this remark, but upon watching the Rambo movies last week, don't you guys think it was in poor taste for our troops who served in Vietnam to be treated the way that they were upon coming back home? I mean, whatever a person's stance on the war was, these brave soldiers still gave their lives regardless. I may or may not be for the war today in the Middle East, but I still support our brave men & women because it's them who are busting their a$$es over their to help protect our way of life. I just think it's really a slap in the face and truly disrespectful for what the Vietnam vets had to go through. It's like an act of treason and something to which I don't know if I would ever be able to get over as a vet Just my opinion though

(Thanks, Ice! )

Irishman, on that we definitely agree. I don't care if you're a Democrat, Republican, Catholic, Baptist, Black, White, Dog or Cat: All vets deserve our support for the sacrifices they
make. What a lot of the touchy-feely, red-eyed flower children of that generation failed to take into account when they thus treated those returning vets, was that there was a draft going on then, and many of those grunts didn't want to be over there any more than the flower children wanted them to. Perhaps the hippies rationalized their mistreatment with the argument, "Well, they could've burned their draft cards." Yeah, well, maybe those drafted preferred Charlie to some fat, hairy, horny hillbilly named Bubba in a prison jail cell. And I can't say that I'd blame 'em.

Care to share? [/b][/quote]Oh man, Some of those calls were great. here's a little background information on me. I'm one of those guys who does not care about what people think of me, whether it be a Navy Recuitor or John Denver, I just plum don't care. I answer the phone in unusal ways anyhow, but when I know its a telemarketer or shmuck like Sergent Assface, it's the best.

One of the best calls was when a guy called and I started naming off how I had relatives fight and die in "every...single....American War", like in Forrest Gump. He started to commend me. I was using the dumbest names ever. Like my elder father, Alexander Bufard Rockenstien, and Sir Tit Funhower. He believed me. After a while I grew tired of the schtick and hung up in mid-sentance on him. That was probably the best call.

By the way Snake, that would be a good theory, to "Just say no".....

IF.....They only called or came to school once. I was bothered a number of times. Food for thought.

The Doc

If it was by the same branch then that is wrong but there are 4 different branches of the military.

If it was by the same branch then that is wrong but there are 4 different branches of the military. [/quote]One representative for the U.S. Military would have been more than what was needed. A phone call is pushing the line in my opinion. But when they come into a school, NUMEROUS TIMES, they should at least give us weapons so we can have a shoot-out with the chump. Keep it out of schools. If you want to enter the military, you'll know what to do. How about just mail pamphlets? And I mean ONE of them. You get it, see it, don't wanna do it? Then throw it away. Simple, does not force you into speaking to a person being hassled.

The Doc

If it was by the same branch then that is wrong but there are 4 different branches of the military. [/quote]One representative for the U.S. Military would have been more than what was needed. A phone call is pushing the line in my opinion. But when they come into a school, NUMEROUS TIMES, they should at least give us weapons so we can have a shoot-out with the chump. Keep it out of schools. If you want to enter the military, you'll know what to do. How about just mail pamphlets? And I mean ONE of them. You get it, see it, don't wanna do it? Then throw it away. Simple, does not force you into speaking to a person being hassled.

The Doc [/b][/quote]Don there is no 1 representative from the U.S. military they are all seperate.

Part of the problem with having the strongest military in the world is making sure they don't work together and become too powerful for the government. i.e. Rome's army was kept outside the city limits.

Pamphlets would be fine, but you would get 4 (army, navy, airforce, marines) That's all I'm trying to say. There will never be one person representing the U.S. Military, I personally never received a phonecall but I got a bunch of mailings. I was all prepared to go in the marines so I threw the pamphlets out that didn't concern me.

Could someone explain, though, why the military shouldn't be allowed to come into schools and recruit, but businesses and colleges should? I just don't understand the arguement.

That's great man. "I don't want to be another statistic" would have been good also there, but that's awesome man. Bravo!

Not one college has pressured me into joining. These recruiters bug my ass at lunch until I tell them to screw off. If you don't join the military, you're called unpatriotic and un-American. If you don't go to a college, than you don't go to that college. The recruiters can kiss my ass and lay low. -Pat

I was pressured (and still am for grad schools) by many colleges. However, if a recruiter calles you unpatriotic and/or unamerican, that recruiter is an asshole and shouldn't be recruiting.

But I just can't agree with the idea that joining the military is such a bad thing. I know a lot of people it did a lot of good for.

I think half the comments about recruiters are pretty lame. Like Snake said, How hard is it to say no? Does it really make you feel cool to be rude to recruiters calling your house? These guys are only doing their job, probably trying to pay for their own education. You can tell yourself you respect soldiers blah blah blah, but then you treat recruiters like assholes. Real mature.

There is nothing wrong.
Just people getting their frustrations out.


I think I would be more worried if some of the people that posted here, were in charge of some of the military's weapons.

In fact I think it scares the crap out of me just thinking about it, to be honest with you.

I do not get this whole thing. As someone who was opposed to the invasion of Iraq, I still do not understand the carping of people about military recruiting and about the "poor troops" who get sent there. Being in the military, whether its regular or reserves is a great gig in peacetime. You get three squares a day, medical treatment, you learn a trade and when you get out you can get schooling on the GI Bill, GI Loans, and even VA benefits later on. But HELLOOOOOO it is the MILITARY, we are talking about, and the job of the military is to go into battles when they are called to do so. Its part of the deal. When you sign up, you have to take into account the worst case scenario. As for recruiting on campuses, I dont know what the military should be any different than IBM or whoever else resruits.

Excellent remark! Politics shouldn't even come into the treatment of military personnel - whether they've been in conflict or not.

Ferro - Very funny, I too am annoyed with anyone calling my house or my personal mobile. Usually I like to answer "Fastcabs" or "Dominos Pizza" and that throws them. The simple fact is, anyone could be ringing me, I will not give personal information over the phone.

I still don't find any problem with the military trying to recruit from schools. Maybe the way they go about it could be relaxed a little.

They do this over here. They phoned me when i was back at school asking did i want to join the army which I declined as it is not for I. but it can benefit people and can be a good thing. They aren't forcing you to join and why not ask? people that never thought of joining the army or whatever do join and it could be the right move for them. I do agree they shouldn't be interupting people's education and should either send you a letter or phone when you aren't studying

Well said FS

I would like to know how exactly this is presented to all these kids. I don't see it's a wrong thing. It is a very honorable and respected choice to enter the armed forces.

However, has anyone here actually gone through this whole presentation? I would certainly hope that it is presented to these kids in an honest manner, not only listing the benefits and pride that comes from entering the armed services, but also all the many negative aspects, especially in cases like now, a war. Let's not forget in these cases, they are dealing with mere children who are easily swayed.

I am not for being hounded to join or buy anything, but don't see any harm in giving young men/women the option, as long as it isn't sugar coated and done in a fair manner. In other words, I would hope they don't act like a car salesman trying to make a quota.

Has anyone here sat through the entire presentation/process?

TIS

TIS I can see where you're coming from. But by the same token the young adults the recruiters visit, shouldn't have to have the negative aspects explained to them cause they should already know. The young adults should already know that by signing up there is a good chance they could find themselves in a war time situation. When I was a senior I was called and I recieved mailings in the mail.

And while I'm not exactly a genuis I knew full well that by joining the military there was a chance I could actually find myself in a war. Common sense told me that, it should tell every young adult that. And if it doesn't then I don't really want them in the military in the first place.