Originally posted by drwizardphd
I think military recruiters should not be allowed on high school campuses, simply because the vast majority of high school students are minors, and they shouldn't be exposed to such coercion before they are mature enough to make such decisions for themselves. College night (or a similar event) is one thing, but when military recruiters are there every day (like at my high school), or they take over part of the school itself, there is a conflict of interest.

Recruiters came to my school, but only the 16+ kids were contacted.

Originally posted by drwizardphd
To give an example of how far military recruiting has gone down here in Florida, when my little brother was in middle school they had a career day. He came home from it with a bunch of Navy pamphlets, a hat and a poster. I asked him if he was interested in going into the navy and he said 'No, but they gave these to everyone'. In middle school! These kids are 12-15 years old, and they are already targets for recruiters.

Actually, they give them to the kids, they bring them home, and maybe an older brother or sister will read them and contact a recruiter. Last I checked, 12 year old kids weren't in the military.

Originally posted by drwizardphd
In my highschool, quite a few years ago the recruiters would drive this big H2 onto campus (it was just when those models were introduced, and they were the 'hip thing'). They had spinners on it, and would blast rap music out the back of it all day long while they sat at recruitment tables. Not only was it annoying as hell, but a completely lame attempt at luring kids into signing their lives away to the military.

Sounds like a good idea. The Army developed a video game to pitch their branch of the service.

And if the idea works, it's not "lame".

Originally posted by drwizardphd
I don't really have a problem with JROTC, because in my experience it was mostly the nerdier types who signed up for it, and most of the people I knew who were in it never went on to join the military. They would meet up after school and run drill routines (ironically at the same time/place as the cheerleaders ). Needless to say, we all got a chuckle out of the kids who thought it was cool to carry a plastic rifle around dressed in a light green scout uniform all day.

Oh, the "nerdier" types. Obviously, a cool chick magnet like you wouldn't be seen near the JROTC kids, right?

Most don't join, but have stated that they liked what they learned (discipline, etc). The military isn't for everyone.

This isn't about recruitment. This is about military schooling. You may want to call it indoctrination but I call it a fair system. You have every oppoutunity to opt out. No obligation to join the actual military.

If discipline, hard work, good grades, developing a value system, being healthy are not for you, then don't join. Don't go to the school. Don't send your kids to that type of school.

The real question that needs to be asked here is how can anything destroy the US public education system? Thats like me throwing a rock through the window of the burned up skeleton remains of a building and some bystander yelling at me for "destroying" said building.

I went to a public school and its filled with the rudest kids in the country that halt progress for those that actually want to learn and amount to something. Whats wrong with teaching kids discipline and respect early on in america?

I wish I was taught in a learning environment where these things were emphasized. Instead, I had to deal with kids who thrived on disrupting class because their parents are a joke. Its not like their parents or their society are going to teach them with garbage shows like "my sweet 16". Every idiot you see in the street breaking laws or causing problems started out as a class clown. They were never taught that their behavior was unacceptable and that has now manifested as their adult personality.

The military came and spoke to me when I was a senior. I said I wasn't interested and they moved on. You're not so important that they must recruit "you". There's millions of other kids willing to join and they'd much rather work with them.

Its also always fun to see "US Govt." on a caller ID. It always brings about a feeling of "oh #!". "Did I pay my taxes?" "Did they hear me say they do a horrible job at everything 4 months ago?" You start wondering if they're watching you debate whether you should answer the phone or not .

[edit on 1-7-2009 by Eitimzevinten]

Originally posted by drwizardphd
Most of the people who have died as a result of our occupation are civilians. You army guys might not like to admit it, but that is the cost of war. We are killing far more than we are saving.

Double check your sources. "We" aren't killing a lot of those civilians, they are being killed by insurgents. Last I checked, the US military didn't have "1975 Ford Stationwagon car bomb" in their inventory. And we don't target women and children in markets, either.

Originally posted by jerico65

Recruiters came to my school, but only the 16+ kids were contacted.

A 16 year old is not old enough or mature enough to decide if s/he is willing to dedicate a large portion of his/her life to the military.

Originally posted by jerico65
Actually, they give them to the kids, they bring them home, and maybe an older brother or sister will read them and contact a recruiter. Last I checked, 12 year old kids weren't in the military.

Then why do they go to a middle school's career day? That is a pretty big leap of faith, to assume that the only reason they pass out info at these events is to target the students' older siblings. In fact its downright absurd.

Originally posted by jerico65
Sounds like a good idea. The Army developed a video game to pitch their branch of the service.

And if the idea works, it's not "lame".

This is another point of contention that I have with the military. Trying to equate actual service to a video game in the minds of children who play it is disgusting. A game holds no consequences, it is simply a fun way to pass time. When you kill someone in a game, their children don't go hungry.

Originally posted by jerico65
Oh, the "nerdier" types. Obviously, a cool chick magnet like you wouldn't be seen near the JROTC kids, right?

Most don't join, but have stated that they liked what they learned (discipline, etc). The military isn't for everyone.

What can I say? I call it like I see it. JROTC was a joke back when I was in high school. Not sure if its changed since then, but twirling plastic rifles and getting barked at by the Phys Ed coach was not my idea of a nice way to spend the afternoon.

By the way, I would support the military 110% if they actually fought to defend our country rather than fighting to make old rich people even richer. Our military has been nothing but a money making machine since after WW2, and our young men and women who join it are being stepped-on and taken advantage of quite unfairly.