For Those Who Have Borne The Battle
Recruiters bother me.
They go after our students, especially students with fewer options, and hardly ever tell the whole story about military service.
One organization dedicated to peace and justice suggests anti-war activists "hand out leaflets to high school students to make sure they know the military recruiters are not telling the truth." Recruiters are in the business of staffing wars that often end in death while those on the other side engage in saving lives.
I suppose we all show support in our own special way.
God bless our veterans. And the United States government for loving them so.
posted by kate @ 5:50 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Kate-I'll stay out of the "alllow/don't allow" recruiting in schools debate as the family business makes it impossible for me to be seen as unbiased.
However, let me say this. The pursuit of college for everyone, and the dismantling of public school vocational programs has turned the military into our nation's largest vocational education institution. I know many say "infantryman is not a useful occupation" but even that involves technical training and general employment skills that they can't get at home. Kids shouldn't have to risk their lives to get job skills and health insurance. I just think it makes more sense to give students more options, than to beat up on recruiters. (Who are not all bad by the way, any more than Debra LaFave was an examplar of most teachers.)
I also think the brochure you linked to which has a link on the ASVAB does a great disservice, particularly to girls. Taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, on a lark to get out of a class in high school,was one of the best things I ever did. It identified technical aptitudes I had never considered-that's how the drama/speech geek became a UH-60 pilot, then a maintenance test pilot. Recruiters called, and I politely said no thank you, until after college when I knocked on their door. The daughter will be taking the ASVAB soon, even though she has no plan to enlist. She's just unsure of what she wants to do in college and the ASVAB does a better job of unearthing untapped potential than over worked, under resourced, school counselors ever could.
Recruiters are dishonest. And when teachers or activists point out the entire story, we are put down for being anti-American.
The ASVAB is another story. However, you point out the positives in taking that test. Thanks for that! :-)
Kate-Both sides on this seem intent on throwing out the baby with the bathwater (not you of course). The prowar folks will paint any restriction on recruiting as anti-American. The anti-everything military, don't see any kind of service in the military as a legitimate option for young adults. In Quakers, and other pacifists opposed to all war who follow this path for a lifetime, this is admirable. In those who only want to stop this war not so much.
Personally, I liked it when colleges kept recruiters out because of prohibitions on the service of gays and lesbians and later "don't ask don't tell." (I still think the announcement of that policy instead of an unambiguous order to fully integrate the services was the darkest day of the Clinton administration.)
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