Parents, you only have three more days to opt out

[proud2BlibKansan]

Opt Out!

Opt out of the Pentagon's illegal database and your school's military recruitment lists.

By completing the steps on these pages, you can create letters that will opt your child out of BOTH your high school recruitment list and the Pentagon database.

For background information about the Pentagon database, click here. For background information on No Child Left Behind's high school military recruiting provision click here.

To opt your own child out, you must submit Opt Out letters by *postal mail* to your School District Superintendent and to the Pentagon. If students are over 18, they may opt themselves out from school and/or Pentagon lists. If the person you want off the list is out of high school but under 25, go through the steps, print and then recycle your School Superintendent Opt Out letter and mail the Pentagon letter to the address indicated. It's easy! You'll need a printer, two envelopes and two stamps. Just follow these 4 steps:

Step 1. Find your School District Superintendent

Step 2. Automatically generate two Opt Out Letters

Step 3. Sign, stamp and mail your Opt Out Letters - one goes to your local Superintendent, one goes to the Pentagon.

Step 4. Follow-up with your district to make sure they have opted your child out!

Each high school receiving federal funding is REQUIRED to turn over student information (name, address, phone number) to local military recruiters unless parents opt out in writing. Follow the steps on this page to find your local school superintendent, and you will generate a letter to send in to opt out your child. If you'd like more information on No Child Left Behind and School Opt-Outs, click here.

At the same time, you'll also print a letter to the Pentagon to opt out of their database. The Pentagon has developed a database of 30 million 16-25-year-olds, including name, address, email addresses, cell phone numbers, ethnicity, social security numbers and areas of study. This database is updated daily and distributed monthly to the Armed Services for recruitment purposes. You may "opt out" of this list by sending in the form generated through Leave My Child Alone, and your child's information will be moved to a "suppression file." The Pentagon retains the information, but does not release it. If you'd like more information on this database, click here.

http://leavemychildalone.org/index.cfm?event=showContent&contentid=63?mktcode=09265

[Richard D]

1. What if . . .

. . . the kids are still in primary school? Does this mean that when they reach high school age that they will no be able to opt out?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I don't think so

But if my kids were still in school, I would fill out this form no matter how young they were. The law says 'secondary school' kids. And in many districts, middle school is considered secondary school. In my district, 6th graders are in middle school.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

2. Dude, if some

fucker comes 'round trying to recruit ME, I'll knock his damn teeth out.

"Get the hell away from my school and me!"

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I like your attitude

:yourock:

[put out]

4. Thank you for reminding the absentminded, dear.

I just printed them. They go out tomorrow. My child is young, perhaps influenced by wannabe heroes; men he wants to look up to. He's got his father and four grandfathers who are as good as they get, and that's pretty goddam good. I am giving my child what I can, encouragement to think straight and to decide how he feels about himself in the world, but until he is able to take care of himself and until he can make some mature decisions, until he has the brain he needs to discern bullshit from the truth, I remain his mother.

And nobody plays around with my child's future, behind my back.

Fuck that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Have the recruiters started calling your house yet?

We live in the same school district. They started calling my kids when they were 14.

Not that you need help, but I would be more than happy to come over and answer your phone when they call. I LOVE giving them shit. hee hee

[cynatnite]

5. The opt-out form was included in the handbook

I filled it out at the beginning of the school year.

I didn't realize there was a deadline on this.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. That's great that your school sent the form home

without being asked.

[cynatnite]

11. I think I know how it got included this year...

The commander of my daughter's Jr. Navy ROTC unit is a very smart man and hates bush with a passion. He might have had something to do with it. :)

[titoresque]

7. Thank you sooo much!

I've been meaning to do this, but I didn't know that there
was a deadline! And someone else asked my question about whether age matters.
I will do this tomorrow and let my all my family know too...for their kids.

Thanks! :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. No problemo

Information is the best thing about DU. :hi:

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. Why is there a deadline? Is this a YEARLY deadline, per school year?

I opted my son out last year and was planning on sending out the Pentagon letter, but didn't realize there was a deadline. :scared: If it's post marked by the deadline, are we OK? Man, I have to get these out to my friends with kids.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I don't know why there is a deadline

But I think I would send the form in every year.

[Pobeka]

13. We were shocked to discover our middle school (6-8th grade) was included.

The school sent us a notice this year about it. I had previously thought it only applied to high schools.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!