My 15 year old son got a letter from the Marine Corps today. ..addressed t

[masjenkins]

Sorry if this is inappropriate, but I am spitting mad. The letter says something to the effect of " as you know, the marine corps can contact juniors and seniors in high school, and we want you parents to be proud that we are contacting your son to be part of this elite force". My son is a freshman in high school at a Franciscan (that would be "peace loving catholic school") ,, in NYC. My son also told me today that the recruiters have been in the cafeteria "alot" the past few months. I will be making some calls tomorrow.. but anyone find something WRONG with this picture???

[masjenkins]

1. addressed to "the parents of.. " is what I cut off ....n/t

[FlemingsGhost]

2. This is what America wants, apparently.

Just be glad that fags and dykes can't get married.

:eyes:

[BeHereNow]

3. CONTACT THE SCHOOL ADMIN

Tell them you are officially requesting to opt out
of the No Child Left Behind clause that requires them
to release your son's information to them.
Then, put it in WRITING and cc it up and down your
school administrative email list, ALL the way to your
board of education members.
Do it- right away.
If they continue to contact him, you can go after
school district for failure to comply with your written request.
Document, document, document EVERYTHING.
BHN

[bluestateguy]

4. I agree with this advice

Also, when the recruiter calls do the following:

1) First, get the recruiter's full name (make sure to do that first).

2) Ask that you not be contacted again.

3) Document the time and date of the phone call when you made this request.

[BeHereNow]

6. Yup, Yup, Yup Everthing BlueState said AND

WELCOME TO DU!
BHN

[MADem]

56. Ask which recruiting station he or she is calling from

...Ask if he or she is in CHARGE of that station, and if the answer is no, tell them to advise the person in charge of your request.

[tomkertes]

5. The draft is next

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15893_1.html

Brethren Agree to Revive 'Alternative Service' Draft Programs Leaders of the Church of the Brethren say they will follow through on a request from the Selective Service to have "alternative service" programs in place for conscientious objectors if a draft is reinstated

http://www.thememoryhole.org/mil/draft-boards.htm"

DOD Notice: Serve Your Community and the Nation - Become a Selective Service System Local Board Member The Selective Service System wants to hear from men and women in the community who might be willing to serve as members of a local draft board.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/147483_draft08.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3242923.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1077906,00.html

http://dailydraftdispatch.org

[BeHereNow]

7. Welcome to DU tomkertes

Thanks for all the links!
BHN

[masjenkins]

9. yes.thank you!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. When will the draft begin?

:shrug:

[tomkertes]

28. I think most likey after next terrorist attack

when that will be is not for me to know.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

67. right, I bet Shrub is busy planning the next terrorist attack, so as to

gain more political fodder, and have an excuse for UnPatriot Act III as well as excuse for more perma war. I think he planned 911 for those same reasons, and, if it gets too quiet, or he loses enough popularity, he will conive with his Osama buddy again for another attack. Wasn't it sweet of Osama to make an "Election Eve" message for Shrub? And it was a great help too. Their friendship is a beautiful thing.

[Telly Savalas]

32. Aggressive recruiting more a sign that there won't be a draft.

If a draft is inevitable, why go to so much effort trying to get people to enlist?

[Sterling]

43. Because they don't want to have to pull another 9-11

If they don't have to? It would make sense that they don't want a draft. They would have liked to pull off at least the first few steps of the PNAC plan without one so they are trying everything they can to hold off the inevitable.

I am also sure there were some real geniuses on those RW take over the world think tanks that thought we could do this PNAC without a draft just like some were expecting flowers from the Iraqi's yet we got IED's instead. Many generals told them they were crazy, now those generals are retired.

Anyway you slice it "Aggressive recruiting more a sign that there won't be a draft." is just not true.

[gratuitous]

21. We talked about that contact with the Church of the Brethren

In our teeny tiny little congregation, we talked about that curious contact with On Earth Peace by the folks from Selective Service. Oddly enough, nobody thought it was just a coincidence, or that a government official just happened to drop by to chat about alternative service.

As Nostamj says farther down, it's not too late (and it's NEVER too early) for your draft age sons to start building their conscientious objector resume. Draft boards are willing to consider CO status, but a candidate is far more likely to receive serious consideration if there's a record (letters, diaries and other written materials) that date back some time. Waiting until the recruiters show up or the draft notices start hitting mailboxes can be too late.

The draft won't re-start tomorrow or the day after that; the machinery is too bulky and cumbersome to kick on at a moment's notice. But by the time it does crank up, it will be too late to start making your record. Start now.

[tomkertes]

27. Info on starting CO file

http://draftfreedom.org/case.html

[flordehinojos]

8. i would do all of the above ..but i would have a serious talk with my son

about how bush is taking the country in the direction of a fascist military dictatorship, how he is using the military for his own gain and NOT for the good and defense of the country, and how this is THE WRONG TIME to join the army becuase the time is more appropriate for all good patriots to stand up and say NO to Bush.

[masjenkins]

10. oh my son already knows all that. he is pissed too.

but serious.. we already had that talk with him and he is already fighting it. he proudly wears his "not my president" t shirt.

[flordehinojos]

15. BEAUTIFUL !!!! or, is, KOOL ! the more hip thing to say?

Either way, BRAVO for your son!

[NVMojo]

11. they will stop at nothing to feed the Bush killing machines

[bowens43]

12. The bastard recruiters here in NC told my son

that college was a waste of time and that only fools went that route.

A marine recruiter called here for him the other day and I told him that my son had no interest in participating in the slaughter of innocent Iraqis.

[HockeyMom]

13. Know your RIGHTS, Parents

Your school is not informing you that if your son or daughter is UNDER 18, you can sign a DO NOT CALL form. Your kids are MINORS and you as a parent have the RIGHT to keep the Military from calling your underage kids.

A group of NYC parents filed a lawsuit a few years ago and this was the outcome of that case.

[AngryOldDem]

31. You were more polite than I would have been n/t

[Neanderthal]

33. Participating in the slaughter of innocent Iraqis

sounds so supportive of our troops.

[txindy]

38. And so very true

As I'm sure you agree, hmmm?

[Behind the Aegis]

40. Collateral Damage

Would it have been better for her to say she didn't want her son participating in the "collateral damage?" Would that have been more supportive of the troops? Do not mistake lack of support for the war as lack of support for the troops, that is a common right-wing mistake! Sometimes, the truth hurts!

[Neanderthal]

42. All I ask

is that you put yourself in the position of a young man or woman in Iraq reading your post before you submit them.

Right Wing my ass! It's called showing respect. Where would you like for us to be in '08?

[txindy]

44. The troops know exactly what's going on

They have no delusions. And I seriously doubt they're reading these messages considering they're busy trying to stay alive. Probably scrounging for scrap metal right now. It's not as if this administration will protect them.

[leftchick]

46. my fresh out of basic Marine Nephew told me this past summer

He could not wait to go to Iraq and kill ragheads! He did not talk like that before he was recruited his senior year in High School. After his brainwashing was completed by the Marines he is now a fine tuned killing machine. Certainly not all Military personel think this way but many like my Nephew do. The bush* administration has put them in an awful position in Iraq. Killing for no good reason.

Support the troops! Bring them Home!

[Neecy]

60. yep, they really train killers...

My cousin's son, after his first deployment to Iraq, told me that he hopes that we 'bomb the country into glass'. His hatred of Muslims was really shocking - and now he's back there again, a war crime waiting to happen.

Bomb a country into glass that never attacked us, never threatened us...nice. It's like the world is upside down.

[doodadem]

70. And speaking of brainwashing.....

Young people in the military are also brainwashed--my country right or wrong, the president is omnipotent, just an honor to be here, and all kinds of rah rah horseshit that adds up to VOTE REPUBLICAN. The military votes are always overwhelmingly republican. Amazingly, even parents of kids killed in Iraq will still vote Rep.

[leftchick]

71. I agree doodadem....

and welcome to DU! :)

[TankLV]

75. In the america I knew until 5 years ago! That would be a nice start.

Certainly not Hilter's wannabe showcase that it has become now, don't you agree!

And I only support the troops who serve with honor and dignity.

Not the gastapo yahoos who seem to becomming an ever larger percentage!

[Southpaw Bookworm]

55. Timothy McVeigh's favorite term

Used in reference to all those children who died. Where did he learn it? Yep, the U.S. military.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

66. good for you! every parent should tell them the same! n/t

[OhioChick]

14. I Got the Same

Damn thing yesterday from the Marine Corps. Called the school and talked to the principal. The school is looking into it, as my kid is NOT a junior or senior. Unfortunately, if you take your kid's name off of the list, you also take them off of a list for college contacts in the future. Talked to a few of my kid's friends from school yesterday, as well. They're NOT juniors or seniors.....either. They've already gotten visits to the home!

[Bozita]

34. "a list for college contacts in the future" --- pure bullshit

You want those college recruiting packets? Why not order your own ... from schools in which he expresses an interest? They're free and no military recruiters will call.

Just curious, but is that a blue or white collar area?

[OhioChick]

61. I'd say that this area

is a mix......(blue/white collar)

[barackmyworld]

41. I think your kid will still get college stuff

I got a lot of college mail because when I took the SAT, ACT, or some other test, I checked a box that allowed them to release my info to colleges. You REALLY don't need that. Your kid can find all the info he/she needs online, and let them keep their pounds and pounds of brochures.

[burn the bush]

16. my sons counselor suggested that he talk to the recriters as a choice for

his future. I'll bet his own daughters weren't directed towards the military for their career choice.

[Bozita]

36. I know counselors who got rides on nuclear subs and fighter jets

Little perks for their efforts.

That's TWO public high school counselors in a blue collar school district.

[Ernesto]

17. My 16 yr old pretty much enjoys the whole deal

He thinks the recruiters are fools and gets a kick out of them pursuing him. As the kid in "Home Alone" said to Marv & Harry: "Hey ya idiots, I'm over here!"

[masjenkins]

29. same here

yes, my son and his friend were approached by some recruiters in the mall a while back and they both said.. "i like my life.. thanks but no thanks"

[spanone]

18. Mail it back and tell them to stick it up their asses.

Several years ago when my son was in high school, we came home to find an army recruiter IN OUR HOUSE trying to recruit my son. She was immediately shown the door with a few choice words. This was pre-9/11. I can only imagine their desperation now.

[nostamj]

19. your son is young enough

to begin establishing a CO status. (much more difficult, if not impossible, to do once he is of draft age)

I had a site bookmarked, but not on this machine. but a little googling should get you the info.

I can't imagine WHY they'd need to DRAFT when they have a majority of the country giving * a MANDATE for his little war. /sarcasm

[soup]

23. Is this it?

There's quite a few out there, so this may not be the one you're refering to. It was recently posted here and I bookmarked it because it outlines steps to take and has links to forms.

My youngest is 17. He's been opted out of any release of information. He's also chosen not to take the ASVAB, which has been offered a few times at his high school. The test is mandatory at some schools, optional at others.

I also have a 21 year old son. Very frightened - not only for both of them, but every mother's son.

---

The Christian C.O. is a site dedicated to providing to C.O. advisors and military age Americans the latest information from the Selective Service System on the requirements of the US Armed Forces, and procedures for enlistment, exemption, and release. Updates will be issued regularly.

MANUAL OF PROCEDURES FOR ADVISORS OF RELIGIOUS AND CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS TO WAR AND MILITARY SERVICE
http://www.peacehost.net/christianCO/

---

Here's a thread with a link to download the opt-out form:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2676708

---

There was an article I'm trying to find about a peace group trying to get access to schools. It's a good read.

ah, finally found it:

Published on Monday, June 28, 2004 by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Peace Activists Plan to Counter Recruiting by Military in Palm Beach Schools
by Prashant Gopal


Recruiters pitching military service to high school students tout job training, college scholarships, foreign travel and lifelong friendships.

A Palm Beach County peace group offers a different view: Enlisting in the armed forces isn't like signing with a job placement agency. War can kill you.

That's why peace activists say students who hear from recruiters in school should also expect to hear from them.

"We want to be there to balance that perspective," said Javier del Sol, an activist and professional storyteller with a gray ponytail and a bandana knotted around his head. "The military has money and personnel. But a few people can make a difference."

For now, the ideological battle will play out first in Lake Worth High School, which claims one of the largest JROTC programs in the world, in a town that is a center for counterculture activism.

Through a pilot program this fall, students at Lake Worth High could see peace recruiters in the cafeteria, career fairs, assemblies, classrooms and JROTC classes -- all the places on campus they now see uniformed military representatives. In time, Palm Beach Area Draft Counseling, a Quaker-sponsored anti-war group, says it will seek equal access to all Palm Beach County schools. And they'd like their campaign to spread to Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Peace_actvisits_plan_062804.htm

[nostamj]

25. i think it was the vets for peace site

that I had. thanks for posting.

[Cleita]

22. If it's a Franciscan school, contact the Abbot of the order

at their headquarters. Tell them you do not appreciate recruiters anywhere near your son, especially in school when you can't be there to protect him from them.

[ohio_liberal]

24. My son is getting letters too....

He's a sophomore in a public high school. I don't understand why they have a JROTC NCO as the teacher in all the study hall classes. He hounds the kids incessantly (and he gets paid more than most of the real teachers)

[Bozita]

39. JROTC instructors in study halls may be "permanent subs" ...

... filling in their workday. None of them are making more than the teachers ... unless they left with the rank of captain or greater.

Your employee pay scales are available through your local school district.

[suziedemocrat]

26. You act like you don't want your child to die for no reason? n/t

[AngryOldDem]

30. I find A LOT wrong with this

Get on the phone and ask the Franciscans why they are allowing Marines to recruit in the school.

I don't know who is worse...the Marines for recruiting 15-year-olds or the Franciscans for letting them do it.

[porkrind]

35. I would be pissed as hell if the war machine

was trying to pull my child under it's iron wheels. This is absolutely outrageous!

[Sugarbleus]

37. Thanks for posting this info. It's good to know what's taking

place in other families across the nation. I have a grandson in an alternative school setting. So far, no notices. BUT I'm on the lookout for one.

I'll be like other posters here, if contacted, in that I'll write on the letter: "Get Bent" and send it back.

Whew, I'm glad I'm in the company of people who possess a sense of outrage over these types of things. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only angry American out here.

[shesemsmom]

45. You are right to be peed off

I have told my daughter that she is not to talk to recuters AT ALL!!! and her counsilor has been told the same thing and I mean it!!!

[bdot]

47. It's been happening for years

Back when I got out of high school in '91 and while I was in college, the recruiters were always calling me to join the military. I had no interest in it but they always called. I think I got more calls from recruiters back then than I have total from telemarkers over the years.

[txindy]

48. That makes sense

Let's see...1991... That would be during Senior's one and only term in the WH. He needed bodies for his Gulf War and Somalia campaigns.

[hfojvt]

49. same here and I graduated in 1980

My school made all its students take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test) so I think they targeted people who had scores that they liked.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

68. that's terrible! did you spit it out? did you tell 'em in no uncertain `

terms that you were not fresh meat for them to carve? did they persist after having been told to stop harrassing you? they are hard to get rid of aren't they!

[superconnected]

50. is this draft most likely to be young men, or will it include women too?

I need to know because my nieces would need to start their co trail, along with my nephews. I'm very close to them and they're all against bush and the iraq war.

[Sgent]

51. Technically

The reserve of the US is made up of all males between 15-45. Selective service requires registration at age 18 for males, and these would be the subject of any draft.

Women are not part of the reserve, and would not be subject to a draft, UNLESS the law was changed.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

54. yes, start substantiating the case for consciencious objector now

on feb 11, 2003 the pentagon received the plan for the draft, only waiting until after the coronation. It calls for the draft of all americans, both men and women, under the age of 35. Don't go. Don't let your neices, nephews, sons or daughters go. Hide them in the attic, or visit them in Canada, or write to them in jail, but don't let them go kill, torture and die for Halliburton bucks.

[regnaD kciN]

74. Probably men only...

...otherwise, Chimpy would feel the brunt of a swift backlash from the fundies.

After all, fighting is not one of the God-ordained "womanly" virtues, and including women in combat roles would be the goal of a liberal feminist secular humanist plot to undermine and break down the natural gender roles that are part of the divine plan for mankind.

Besides, allow our daughters to serve in combat platoons alongside manly warriors, and who knows what temptations to sexual sin they would be exposed to? Yes, all God-fearing Americans must unite to protect our girls from fornication in foxholes!

:eyes:

[Greybnk48]

52. The school can ban them from campus

If someone wants to put this in legalese feel free. Schools and College campuses can ban recruiters from their campuses without losing government funding because of a ruling regarding the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America are now legally permitted to discriminate against homosexuals. However, the same ruling stated that (at least public schools) could in turn deny them the right to operate on campus based on this discrimination without fear of losing government funding. Anyone remember this or have a link? I think I read this here on DU.

So first, throw them off your campus!!! The military discriminates against homosexuals and therefore may be banned from recruiting on campuses.

What I told the recruiters when they began calling here for my son two years ago was that my son was openly gay--loved men. I told all of them to write it next to his name to save themselves time. After a short time they quit calling.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

53. yes, they have hounded my daughter too, even though I keep telling them to

stop calling here. They have no right hounding these kids at school, but they do it, and I hope you will complain to the school board about it. If they haven't started hounding your son by phone at home yet, just wait a year. They have been hounding my kids for the last 3 years. They call repeatedly, and I always tell them I do not pay phone bills for their convenience and if they want to talk to my kids they better start practicing telepathy. I have also told them that my children will not be going to fight any immoral illegal oil perma-wars for war profiteers, at least they won't be going until The Drunken Shrub Twins go. After having said this to one marine recruiter on the phone, he proceeded to phone my neighbors, telling them I was "UnAmerican". I live in a very small town, so, I heard about that pretty quick, within the hour. My 22 year old has just received her BA, without a dime of financial aid from the military. The recruiters have been calling and trying to suck her in ever since she graduated from high school. She has lived in fear, all this time, that at any moment they will announce the draft and tell her she must go "repatriate" Iraqi's by probing their anuses with fluorescent light bulbs. Now that she has received her BA, she finds there are still virtually no jobs available except McJobs. That is the plan for the back door draft. Make sure the kids can't get through college without the military, and if they somehow do, make sure they can't find any other jobs except the military. But my children feel a more forward, direct draft coming momentarily. This oldest daughter is now pregnant. Every now and again she says plaintively..."They won't draft me before I have the baby, will they?"
Her little sister is in her first year of college. She also has no intention of going anywhere to harm any innocent Iraqi's. Not of her own free will, anyway. I would estimate the military recruiters have called her at home no less than 2 dozen times, despite my very candid remarks, and my directions not to call again. I have told these recruiters time and again that everybody in the family would rather do without some necessities and pay our own college bills than sell one of our kids to the military. Try telling these bastards to get lost, and you will see what I mean. They do not take no for an answer, they do not give up, and they even call your neighbors to talk shit about you.

[callous taoboy]

58. That is really amazing.

I guess it's no surprise though after seeing the recruiters in F/911 stalking the young black men at the local mal-wart.

[callous taoboy]

57. I saw a worrisome sight-

I went to my favorite spot to hike and I pull into the lot to find it has been transformed into a mini marine camp with all of these boys ages 10 to 17 decked out in marine fatigues with "Young Marines" patches above the shirt pocket. It was strange. They were all very serious. No horsing around. More than a few looked like they didn't want to be there. I don't remember the Young Marines when I was a kid.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

59. Yowza. Just like the "Young Nazis" n/t

[LiberalUprising]

72. Young Marines Website

http://www.theyoungmarines.org/

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts.

I've never heard of them either, until now.

[bpj1962]

62. Draft

According to a provision in the No Child Left Behind Act, any high school that refuses to allow military recuiters on it's campus will lose their federal funding. I can only assume that this would apply to the entire school district and not just to the one school. You must remember that recuiters are just like car salesman they get a bonus not only for how many recuits they get but they also get bonuses for getting the smarter ones to volunteer.

[txindy]

65. Any PUBLIC high school will lose their funding

The original post is about a private school. They shouldn't allow them on campus. Not without demanding commensurate federal funding, anyway. :evilgrin:

[secedeeconomically]

63. Soon they will be recruiting in the womb lol.

And their moto will be “Be all you can be, eventually that is” lol

[bobbieinok]

64. = why abortion MUST be illegal.../sacasm

[doodadem]

69. Here's what's wrong with that picture!

Most people don't realize it, but this was a provision of the "No Child Left Behind Act". The names and addresses of ALL high school seniors, and I believe juniors also, are furnished to military recruiters.
Apparently "No Child Left Behind", also means, "No Child left Unrecruited". It is sick, sick sick. Tell your congressmen.

[Sydnie]

73. You can opt your kid out by sending them a letter

and telling them that they can not release their information without your permission. Once your child is 18, if they are still in school, they can opt themselves out.

[WMliberal]

76. do what I did.

Tell the marines he's gay. They immediately stopped contacting me when I said that at age 17. I'm 22 and haven't received a letter since then. }(

[Raster]

77. your son is cannon fodder waiting to happen. In a war-based economy,

which we are, kids are raw materials.

"War is a great business, invest a child"

[Langley85]

78. Children's Crusade

Those manipulative recruiting bastards were in our cafeteria ALL THE TIME during my junior and senior year.