Mom ferrets out truth on Guard duty: Recruiters may have misled students

[rainbow4321]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/13/Columns/Another_try_to_rid_st.shtml

Misner listened with growing worry when Kelsie told her that a Guard recruiter had visited school that day. Kelsie said the recruiter promised not only that the Guard would pay college tuition, but also that she would not have to leave Florida.

But it is absolutely not the case that recruits can be guaranteed to remain in Florida or even the United States. At this moment, 700 to 800 of Florida's almost 10,000 Guard members are serving honorably in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Yet other students at Dunedin High School thought they heard the recruiter say this, too, and some of them signed up. If you are 18 you can sign for yourself, but if you're 17 your folks have to sign too.

"I said to the guy, "Did you honestly tell those kids they would not have to go to Iraq?' " Misner says. She mentioned the articles she had gathered. She says his reply was: "The papers get the National Guard mixed up with the reserves." Then she started quoting items about Guard units being activated and shipped out. "Well," he said, "there are a few that are going ... it happens on rare occasions." At this point, Misner noticed Kelsie's eyes growing wider.


Follow up article: (bottom of link's page)

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/13/Columns/Another_try_to_rid_st.shtml


On Friday, statewide Guard officials visited school principal Mildred Reed and parent Laramie Misner, who had complained about the incident. The Guard also e-mailed a letter of apology to Pinellas School Board members.

"We only seek to enlist those who are fully informed and understand the implications of their decisions," wrote Brig. Gen. Michael P. Fleming, assistant adjutant general of the Florida Army National Guard. "Vague and misleading responses to questions are absolutely unacceptable ...

"I will be meeting with our recruiting force to ensure they are fully aware of their responsibilities. We are extremely proud of the patriotism of Florida's youth and their commitment to serving our state and nation. Again, we offer our deepest regrets."

[merwin]

1. Fact is, recruiters can say anything. If you sign the papers, it doesn't

matter. You're now legally bound to be their subservient bitch for the rest of your natural life, no matter what they originally told you to get you to sign.

[LiberalFighter]

3. There should be a law suit filed against the recruiter and the FNG

And part of it should also include that anyone that is misled should have their signature invalidated unless they sign again.

[TwentyFive]

6. A Jeb Bush appointed judge would toss this lawsuit out in 2 seconds. n/t

[merwin]

7. That would never fly. Gives far too much power to the people.

[bluestateguy]

2. I got a National Guard pamplet in the mail yesterday

For the last year all of a sudden I am getting brochures and e-mails about the Army, Marines and National Guard. I am 28. Old enough to enlist, but hardly prime recruiting age. I haven't received this much stuff from the military since I was a senior in high school.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. The local guard used to call here all the time

bugging my brother. He was out of high school for a good while and kept asking how he was doing with school and all that. They never asked him if he wanted to sign up. I guess they were waiting for him to say he wanted to. My brother isn't a fighting type and he's not an army or military person even though my family is full of military people (my uncle is decorated). I don't see how the Bush administration can keep doing all these wars without a military. Those poor men/women are so strained I'm sure and miss their families and friends. :cry:

[ArchTeryx]

17. That's nothing.

I've been receiving recruitment literature, and I'm 33 years old -- with a disqualifying chronic illness to boot! I'm not even sure if I'm young enough to enlist any more, nevermind my illness, and yet, they pursue me like an undergrad.

[Submariner]

4. Recruiters will lie through their teeth to get the numbers up

to kiss ass for the next promotion. My recruiter promised me nuclear power engineering school for a 4 year enlistment. After I got to boot camp I discovered the recruiter used "type" lifting tape on the contract I signed and all I got was electricians school. Recruiters will screw you in a heartbeat if it helps them look good.

[TwentyFive]

8. Good Christian recruiters will lie to you to get you to join..

Just like they do when they invite you to their church.

[lavenderdiva]

9. I'm not a lawyer, but wouldn't this void the contract?

Seems like it would...

[trogdor]

13. That's why you KEEP YOUR PAPERWORK!

In the old days, you would get a carbon copy of your paperwork. Now you get a Xerox copy, hopefully certified as a true copy of the original. That way, if you find yourself in this sort of predicament, you can at least threaten to bail for breach of contract, cause the recruiter a whole bunch of grief for ripping you off (commanders really do take this sort of thing seriously, even if the noncoms who do the actual recruiting do not), etc.

Most likely outcome, you will get your school, but you may have to wait until the next class starts, so you get to sit at the training installation for an extended period of time doing whatever crap detail needs to be done. If the slot exists, they'd rather have you happy and in boots than have to send you home unhappy.

Next most likely outcome, they just give you the option of getting out of your contract, and you either go home, or you accept the school you were scheduled for. If you can prove fraud, you are entitled to these options.

[Submariner]

24. I got my carbon copy alright

and then I was told to STFU. I found out later my only realistic recourse was to complain to my state Senator (Ted Kennedy at the time). I was also told that if I followed through getting political influence (PI) to right the wrong, that a "PI" would be placed on my service jacket folder and I would get the worst assignments available for the next 4 years.

I went along for the ride and eventually became a oceanographer, so now I'm glad I didn't get the nuke school training anyway.

[FreedomAngel82]

15. I remember watching

the Michael Moore movie "Bowling for Columbine" and they followed around two recruiters in his town. They purposely went to the poorer side in town because more of them would be willing to sign up to make their lives better because they don't have the money to go to college like other people do (even a community school can be very pricy, mine is). I thought that was disgusting. No politician kid(s) ever goes. :grr:

[AnneD]

18. I think you are remembering Fahrenheit 911...

Right now the courts are backing down from siding with the soldiers....they know that if they did, all these Reservists and Guards would head to the nearest exits. The guy in news recently signed up for the 'Try One' and fully expected to serve 1 year. Well, he sued because they held him over in Iraq for 4 mos... It states on his enlistment he is in 'till 2031. He lost his case. I preach till I am blue in the face (as ex Reservist that has seen the puppet show) once you sign that contract, your ass is theirs. Even AFTER the contract is up... if you have a skill they want, they can get you. Bush Co and the military have been doing all they can to get more fodder without doing a draft(which would really upset the nation). Bush went to Congress and got all of the declarations he needed just after 911. I was expecting the stop loss (it is now here) and have been expecting the draft very soon (they have done reviews of staffing needs and skills like Nurses and Doc were deemed desirable-they are already getting 'truck drivers' and helicopter drivers). My crystal ball tells me that we will experience either a rigged or real attack and in a peak of paranoia and irrational fear-Bush will jump at the chance to get the draft going again.

[whistle]

5. U.S. military recruiting is taking on the the characteristics of the....

...French Foreign Legion.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. The lower their recruitment percentages,

the more lies they will tell. They are bound to get a certain percentage of recruits or face consequences. The more pressure they are under, the more dishonest they will become. The scary part is that it will get much, much worse. :(

[Historic NY]

11. Bait & switch tactic.....once we got you well.........your ours....n/t

[dsc]

12. They have been lying at my school too

I have had several of my students come up to me and tell me that the recruiters have told them they wouldn't have to go to Iraq if they signed up. I told them in no uncertain terms that they can't promise you anything in regards to where your service will be (they can promise benefits). Sadly, they always lie but now more than usual given the difficulty recruiting.

[lonestarnot]

16. This not new... It is their job to mislead people! I swear by every

breath I have left, if they mislead my kid because I am at work! I will start world war three! Bears got nothin' on me where my youngin is concerned! And I don't plan on havin' him wasted by the likes of a bushitler!

[earth mom]

19. Both links are the same. Is there a news story link? nt

[rainbow4321]

20. Here it is...

I have no clue what happened..it worked when I first posted it


http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/10/Columns/Mom_ferrets_out_truth.shtml

[earth mom]

22. Thank you! :) eom

[LiberalinNC]

21. They don't lie, they just don't admit the truth!

They tell the "kids" what they want or "need" to hear, especially if the kid is poor, or unable to attend college and/or better him/herself. The recruiters are trained to exploit!!!

Are you really surprised by this lying? I'm not, the entire Bushie Admin. has been lying for the past 5 years, why should they stop lying now?

[Maguzzi]

23. draft young republicans

they seem like the only ones smart enought to say out