Counter Recruitment
Giving the choice back to informed students.
- Students and parents can press the school board to make the access to student information by recruiters an OPT-IN choice. This can give privacy to the students who do not wish to be approached by recruiters and give the choice back to students who are interested in military service.
- Handouts
Good resource: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/military recruitment/links
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Testing for Juniors and Seniors:
- About 14,000 high schools nationwide give a test to students — administered by the US military — ASVAB. It is an admissions and placement test for the US military. All persons enlisting in the US military are required to take the ASVAB. It determines whether a potential recruit is considered qualified for the military and certain jobs.
- Schools are NOT required to give the test that is offered by the Pentagon at no charge to the school.
- Students are NOT required to take the test and can not be forced to give this kind of personal information to the military. Unfortunately, some schools give the students the impression that they must take it — or even coerce them into taking it.
- Students who do take the test give up their personal information, which goes directly to recruiters.
- The military grades the test. They will send a copy of the scores to the student and the school counselor.
- Schools can give the test and not release the scores to the military recruiters. The default option for schools is known as "Option 8. No release to recruiters."
- The ASVAB will not necessarily help the student find the job that is best for her or him. In some subject areas the ASVAB may test what a person already knows how to do, not what she or he could do well in and would like.
- The ASVAB does discriminate against certain groups of people. Many service members are automatically assigned to non-technical military jobs because of poor ASVAB scores. As a result, for example, many African-American service members are assigned to low-skill jobs when they might have been able to be trained for more technical jobs. Women are also less likely to get good scores on the mechanical sections, because many haven't done mechanical work in the past — just for an example.
- For more information on youth and military recruitment: http://www.afsc.org/youthmil.htm
JROTC — A Course in Racism, Violence and Hatred:
- 2/3rds of the cost of JROTC is paid by the school district NOT the Pentagon. JROTC costs school districts an average of $50,000 per school.
- Created in 1916 under the National Defense Act 1916.
- Expanded to 732 schools in 1992 under Colin Powell. Expected to expand to 2.300 by 2003. There are 20,000 secondary schools in the nation.
- Military discipline relies on power-over others, domination, coercion, intimidation and violence. The foundation is based on misogyny, homophobia, racism, and classism. Military discipline does not allow for critical thinking skills and problem solving for students who will contribute to a democratic society — they are taught to be fearful, submissive and unquestioning. Discipline instead relies on taking orders only, no questions asked.
- Long Beach, CA, JROTC students formed a military style gang and murdered one of their own members.
- In Detroit, one student shot another student on orders from his student JROTC squad leader. The same squad leader also shot and wounded someone else.
- In Arizona, a student JROTC student killed 9 Buddhist monks. He was wearing military fatigues as he committed the crime.
- In South San Diego County, JROTC students played "war games" in which they attacked and robbed immigrants crossing the border from Mexico.
- In Brockton, Massachusetts, a JROTC instructor was arrested and charged with sexually abusing 15 female cadets over a 3-year period. Victims and witnesses were afraid to come forward because the instructor threatened to kill them and their families.
- Long Beach, CA, JROTC students formed a military style gang and murdered one of their own members.
- JROTC is NOT an alternative to violence; it brings guns into schools, glorifies violence and teaches students to use weapons, teaches students to use intimidation, coercion, power-over others and violence to control other students.
- 54% of JROTC are people of color, and approximately half of all cadets will enter directly into military service. Of these, 70% will enter service at the lowest rank. Few will go on to college - even if promised by the military. Some of the jobs that they will fill will be short of people in the field and they will be required to work 12-hour shifts to make up for the gap, thus not giving them much free time to go to college.
- JROTC is not a preparation for college or officer training.
- The policy of JROTC is in keeping with the Department of Defense policy, which bans lesbian, gay and bisexual instructors. It also discriminates against students with disabilities, despite the fact that this violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- 65% of participants in the GI Bill receive NO MONEY for college. Only 15% ever earn a college degree.
- 70% of students who apply for Federal Financial Aid receive help paying for college, and they don't have to kill another human being in order to get an education.
- For more information: www.join-snafu.org 212-802-4459.
- Links for alternatives to pay for college:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAF/Students/sfa.html
http://www.collegeispossible.com
Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (Project YANO):
- Careers in Peacemaking and Social Change. Brochure discussing how to make a career choice that is compatible with both income needs and ethical values. ¢50 ea.
- Adventures Working for Peace & Social Justice. List of sample projects offering youths opportunities to travel, do challenging work, help people in need and work for change; national and international. Living allowances and benefits vary. ¢50 ea.
- Examples of Careers in peacemaking and Community Activism. Sample list of careers for young people to consider; suggests how the jobs can be used to work for peace and social justice and notes some skills needed for each career. Spanish/English. $0.45 ea.
- Teacher Outreach Packet. Sent to San Diego area teachers: cover letter; resource order form; information on the video, "It's Not Just a Job;" and a list of questions addressed by Project YANO Speakers. ¢55 ea.
- So You Want to Be a Man. Speaks to those who think the military is the best way to prove one's manhood. Spanish/English, half-page flyer. ¢30 ea.
- Using Equal Access to Counter Militarism in High Schools. Report on Project YANO's efforts to gain access to schools in San Diego County from 1984 to 1995. Discusses outreach strategies, legal basis for equal access, lessons learned by activists. Key correspondence with school districts is included in appendix. Very useful for getting a school outreach program started. 41 pages. $6.25 ea.
- Some Objections to JROTC. Summary of some arguments against JROTC. Includes sample excerpts from Navy, Army & Air Force JROTC textbooks. ¢45 ea.
- JROTC Textbook Excerpts. Master compilation: hundreds of excerpts from Army, Navy and Air Force JROTC curriculum materials, illustrating historical inaccuracies, one-sided presentations of political issues, militaristic values, recruitment propaganda, racism, etc. Includes page references and some commentary by our reviewers. 52 pages. $4.50 ea.
- Is JROTC More Expensive for Local Schools? Uses personal budget from one school to illustrate how JROTC can cost more than other educational programs. ¢45 ea.
- You Expected Union Solidarity? — Not from JROTC Teachers! During a successful 1996 teachers strike in San Diego, every JROTC instructor crossed teacher picket lines, despite the fact that they belonged to and enjoyed benefits from the teacher union. Flier id directed to other teachers and includes sample textbook quotes and arguments about why teachers should be concerned about the JROTC program. ¢45 ea.
- Project YANO, P.O. Box 230157, Encinitas, CA 92023