U.S. Schools targeted by military recruiters

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=ab083ea6f0dc59ec

The New York Times Thursday 16th June, 2005

With the situation in Iraq deteriorating and the willingness of Americans to serve in the armed forces declining, a little-known Army publication called the "School Recruiting Program Handbook" is becoming increasingly important, and controversial.

The handbook is the recruiter's bible, the essential guide for those who have to go into the nation's high schools and round up warm bodies to fill the embarrassingly skimpy ranks of the Army's basic training units.

The handbook declares forthrightly, "The goal is school ownership that can only lead to a greater number of Army enlistments."

What I was not able to find in the handbook was anything remotely like the startlingly frank comments of a sergeant at Fort Benning, Ga., who was quoted in the May 30 issue of The Army Times. He was addressing troops in the seventh week of basic training, and the paper reported the scene as follows:

" 'Does anybody know what posthumous means?' Staff Sgt. Andre Allen asked the 150 infantrymen-in-training, members of F Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment.

"A few hands went up, but he answered his own question.

" 'It means after death. Some of you are going to get medals that way,' he said matter-of-factly, underscoring the possibility that some of them would be sent to combat and not return."

more...

I urge all mothers and fathers to read this article so you will know these tactics at how they will try to enlist your children!!! Its getting ugly folks!!!

[donco6]

1. Yes, this is true.

My partner is a school counselor, and he has noticed a big rise in effort to recruit kids from HS. They've called him at HOME to get numbers of kids who have moved (he doesn't give them, of course.)

[lovuian]

2. I know Don your not the only one who has told me that!!!

Neighbors have told me they routinely get phone calls and that the recruiters are getting the kids right there at school!!!

[donco6]

3. They promise them the moon.

It's hard to talk a kid down when a recruiter has promised them college and "good Pay" and all that other stuff. Some of these kids have never known a steady home, let alone college. I don't know how to combat it.

[Shallah Kali]

4. A friend of a friend's son was taken by recuriters from school

she beat on the car window yelling they couldn't take him out of school without her permission and they said yes we can and left with her son. I feel so badly for people with teens and the kids themselves right now. Well except for those who support this war but want other's to serve in their place.

[Shallah Kali]

5. LeaveMyChildAlone.org - petition to require that one has to opt in

before being harassed by recruiters instead of having to opt out to avoid it:
http://www.leavemychildalone.org

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. This will only scare away kids. Who wants to die in a war

started by a stupid man like george bush?

[liveoaktx]

7. Counter-recruit at your local high school

Talk to the school board to set up a table to counterbalance the recruiters.