The last thing most Wichita families and school administrators need to deal with is another form, but those parents who don’t want their children’s contact information given to military recruiters ought to be able to exercise easier control over that. So it won’t be surprising if the Wichita school board agrees to an opt-out form (at tonight’s meeting) that would keep the calls, letters and e-mails from coming. Still, especially with the military struggling to meet its recruitment goals and the war on terrorism raging, you’d like to think that kids whose skills and interests make them a good fit for the military will be able to hear the call.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
38 Comments
How young are we talking about? If they are seniors in High School and 18 years old, I think that parents shouldn’t have the right to opt out.
If they are younger than that, I say it’s ok.
So let me see…
We will let our kids get abortions when they are 16 without parental consent, but stop everything if they are contacted by a military recruiter!
Parents must have control! Parents have a right to opt out for their kids!
What about condoms?
Our kids can have access to sex ed and condoms in the schools without their parents consent…
But stop everything if the recruiters talk to them about a carrer in the military!
Why are you so scared? Are you scared that your kid might actually want to serve his country?
Besides, they can contact your children all they want to, but untill they are 18 they need your permission to join anyway!
So what is the big deal?
I have been on recruiting duty for a short time, and let me tell you that even after kids are 18 the most dreaded thing you can hear is “I need to talk to my parents” or “I want to talk to my parents.”
A majority of the time you will never hear from them again becuase their parents talked them out of it. Even though they are 18.
So I will ask again:
Why are you so scared to let your kids talk to a recruiter?
The “war on terrorism” is self-perpetuating.
It’s just that recruiters are entirely too aggressive. My friends and I can remember being called 3-4 times a week by a recruiter, even after saying “No! Stop calling me!” In fact, someone entered my info on an Army site a few weeks ago (dumb joke–I got’em back though), and I told the guy that, and he still calls! And leaves pamphlets wedged in my apartment door!It’s all about numbers. Some recruiters will stop at nothing, even assuring you “you won’t be in combat or anything. You’ll basically get to travel rent-free!”They won’t tell you about stop-loss, another form of drafting.You know, Nathan, it appears that you beleive kids are so stupid that they won’t know how to join the military if they’re not contacted by recruiters. We’re bombarded by television, radio and internet ads. If we wanted to join, we could find a way without being harrassed all the time by pushy recruiters.
I dont think kids are stupid at all.
Many never hear about or will ever know about some of the things the military can offer untill they are contacted by one.
If we followed the logic that those who want something will just seek it, then I guess it is time to shut down the entire advertising industry!
I don’t believe in pressuring children to enlist, which is what recruiters do. Push, push, push…enlisting is something that you shouldn’t have to be talked into doing. You enlist because you want to serve your country, not because of a hard-sell approach. It’s not like switching your long distance service. It’s a serious committment, possibly life threatening.Fine, if commercials can’t convey all the “perks”, send them home with some information, and a contact number in case they have questions. Then let the kid and his parents do the rest.
If we can opt-out of telemarketing calls, we should certainly be able to opt out of recruiter calls.
If these guys would leave you alone when you tell them “No” it would be one thing. But as it is, especailly with the failure to meet recruitment goals, they won’t take no for an answer. It’s not a matter of not wanting to go into combat (ok, that’s part of it) but of not wanting to go into a war that people don’t believe in. If we were still hunting for Osama then I think there would be more support. But, nobody wants their kid shot over the stupidness of Iraq. Parents need to be made aware of what is going on and have the option to opt-out. If a kid is interested in the military, he can track down the recruiter. I’m sure they would be happy to talk.
Exactly right, Anon. They won’t take no for an answer. You have to get pretty nasty in order to convey that you’re not interested. It’s an unpopular war, plain and simple. Half of us didn’t want to go in the first place. So the military should’ve realized a recruitment shortage was bound to happen.But spouting rhetoric about defending our contry, “embelleshing the truth” about potential for combat and stop loss and generally hounding them senseless to fight Dubya’s war is not the answer. Kids are more educated than they were forty years ago, so a lot of them know better than to support this war, even if their parents are Bushies.
Let me see if I got this straight. Nathan is the Marine Corps recruiter. As long as he’s sending other people’s kids, he doesn’t have to go. So how’s the recruiting business, Nathan? Are we making quota?
And just so we get this straight, I think the military is an excellent career choice. A lot of my friends kids ask for advice about the military. My suggestion to any young person that feels the military is right for them is, join the Air Force or the Navy where you can learn a skill or a trade, or get an education. You’re a lot less likely to get shot or blown up that way.
I’d enlist in a heartbeat if we decided to topple the Saudi empire!
W.R. Locke,
I am not a recruiter. I said I had spent a little bit of time recruiting. I know what they do and how they do it.
We need men and women in all areas of the military not just the ones that dont see combat.
I guess in an ideal world everyone could get 50,000 for college and just sit in an air conditioned tent fixing radios, but in the real world we need infantry too. It is a very honorable posisition maybe not as rewarding as a data tech, but they are the back bone of the fighting force.
I agree that if you dont want to be called then you can opt out of that, but to say your kids cant be exposed to a recruiter at all? That is a bit too much.
The system should be an “opt-in” rather than an “opt-out”. That way the recruiters don’t have to wade through all of the ones who don’t want to enlist. Greater efficiencies, less stress on those who don’t want to be recruited, and less effort for the recruiters; seems like a win-win to me.
Nathan, my point is there are much safer ways to get that $50,000, Like the Air Force or the Navy. Funny thing, to collect that 50 grand, you gotta survive.
Much as I hate to agree with you on anything, Infantry is an honorable position. It was for me. It also got me shot. Twice. I wouldn’t suggest it as a career.
But you can’t blame parents for not wanting their kids to die in an unjust and unpopular war.
Nathan, do you believe it’s an honorable thing to die for your country?
Nathan, I think you’re being a little misleading about the $50,000. Are you saying the Marine corps will just give you $50,000 for college, no strings attached? No match or anything like that? No requirements beyond the inital enlistment?
Nathan, so the most dreaded thing a recruiter can hear from a prospective enlistee is “I need to talk to my parents”? Why is that? Because maybe it won’t as easy to manipulate the young and vulnerable to enlist?
I would like for someone… anyone to tell me a popular war. Anyone?
I agree that invading Iraq was BS. However, do not blame the military.
Let’s look at it this way:Susie Rottencrotch goes to college. Isn’t that nice?? Well, why is she able to go to college? Because men & women who honor their country, regardless who the president is, go in to protect the rights of wimpy Americans that just want to take what America has to offer.
1 year later, Susie is in college, protesting the war, spitting on the vets, burning the flag, and badmouthing her country that has given her the freedom to get an education.
No, the war isn’t popular. Iraq probably shouldn’t have ever happened. Afghanistan is a good cause.
It is the recruiter that has to sell the military. Sure the military is a 24×7, 365 day a year job. But it is something that you can reflect on for a lifetime.
How many people have we lost in Iraq/Afghanistan? 1,700? Hmmm maybe we should just look at people in college, and how many have died in the past 3-4 years?
I was in the Marines.
If you can read this, Thank a teacher.If you can read this in English, Thank a Vet.
W.R. Locke,
I think it is honorable to die while in the military service. As long as it was not while you were raping and stealing…(all that context stuff)
No I am not saying there are no strings attached.
Last time I checked that 50,000 included the GI Bill which is probably around 25,000-30,000 now.
To recieve that you have to contribute 1800 dollars.
Then depending on your contract you would be eleigable for a “kicker.” Last I checked this was different for every service.
The Marines was 10,000 or 15,000 on top of the GI Bill.
While I was in I also had a one time give them 600 for 6000 more deal.
You have to have a clean record too. If you get court martialed or NJP in some cases you can loose your kicker or bonus.
I am pretty sure you get the GI bill as long as you are honorably discgharged.
heck, I dont know all the details anymore… close enough.
Damoon,
Most of the reason why it is dreaded is becuase you just spent an hour talking to someone about the Marine Corps and they are all excited want to join and are ready to go then you never even hear from them again.
If anything, it is the exact opposite.
They have made their choice and their parents manipulate them out of joining.
I am talking about 18 year olds here, not underage kids.
I told my recruiter when I joined I wanted to talk to my father and he acted like he would never see me again.
however, my familiy understands military service and thought it to be an excellent thing for me to do if it is what I wanted, unlike other families who hate the military and would never want their kids to joins.
Is there a war you have ever supported Damoon?
Raping and stealing?!?! LOL, I would hope that wouldn’t be a common thing, especially for Marines. When I was in Africa, that sort of thing was considered a fringe benefit (YUCK!). But your answer is reasonable. My commanding officer in Viet Nam didn’t see it that way. He always said you should make that other sob die for his country.
Nathan, did you serve in Iraq? Not that it has anything to do with the subject at hand, but it does establish a certian credential. I and a lot of other combat vets have a lot more respect for a person’s opinion about war if they’ve been shot at.
Mr. Locke,I doubt that you were in Vietnam at all. The comment you attribute to your so-called commanding officer is actually attributed by historians to General Patton from an earlier war.
Typical. Administration bashers like you would be at least a tiny bit convincing if you didn’t lie so often about your military duty.
You say that statement was first made by Patton? well no kidding Braniac. I guess to someone like you, a Marine Colonel quoting Patton would really seem strange. Now go back to your Fox news.
Bohica, I strongly suggest you get therapy.
Damoon, I strongly suggest you get therapy.
Bush must have read Adolph Hitler’s book Mein Kampf. Hitler used kids to do the fighting toward the end of the war.
Ah, we have a gamer. mdcaruso@sktc.net, when you try to fake someone’s name, you need to fake the email address, too. You forgot to do that on the post “supposedly” by Damoon. I notice you got my email right, which would indicate you have at least half a brain.
My Uncle was a U.S. Marine, on Guadacanal, during WW2. I’m a Vietnam vet.
No one forced either of us, to serve and I don’t think his mother was happy, nor mine, when we joined the service.
But, it was an experience and it served a purpose. It helped Our Country, when it needed help! We are proud to say, “We Served.”
everybody here needs to get therapy. you all have too much time on your hands.
Nathan, you’re a useless little worm.
Well, this thread has finally reached a level the editors of the WE can comprehend.
My commanding officer always said, “Remember to rape and pillage before you burn!”
Hank
It appears as if someone is copying my name…
Oh well.
I still say that the WE editors should set this up like a forum and not a blog.
We would all have to register with a name and email address that is verifiable and no one could have the same name twice.
Then we could avoid problems like this…
I am so glad that we have a psychiatrist in here.
I make one comment and now I need help??
I guess the saying is true… there is a fine line between genius and insane!
It was twenty some years ago but I still remember the harrassment I endured from one particular Army sergeant recruiter. I even remember his name but I will not divulge that here. This guy came to my high school and pulled me out of class. He called endlessly. He even showed up un-announced at my parents home, with a van load of other kids, and took me to take the ASVAB (armed services vocational aptitude battery) test. My high school councilor even advised me that I had to talk to this guy.And that was more than 20 years ago, before this new hidden provision in the “no child left behind act” (incidentally still under funded by bush) which requires my childs school to provide the military with my childs age, address, phone number, email etc. now that he is entering middle school. The school is required to do this on condition of its federal funding…..or lack thereof.That I have to fill out a special form to opt my child out of harrassment by military recruiters is worrisome. In these days of the “patriot” act, and quotes by the resident in chief that “you are either with us or against us”, I fear it may get me and my child on some sort of watch list. But I do want this form made available and I will sign it. And if any recruiter should make call on our home, I will turn them away. But I will give them the names Jenna or Barbara Bush as possible contacts as they are also of age to serve.
Nathan–
Regarding your first post. Last time I checked schools don’t give abortion providers the names of kids so that they can call them up, do they?
That’s the issue . . . should schools have to provide information to recruiters which they now have to thanks to our Chickenhawk in Chief’s No Child Left Behind funding.
Of course, it’s only the PUBLIC schools. The PRIVATE schools who are funded by faith-based initiatives don’t have to do diddly . . .
The irony, the irony.
Looks like somebody “borrowed” my name last night and took it for a test ride.
Nathan, I didn’t post the “Your a useless little worm”. Some sicko is being dishonest. I have to much respect for others to call them names.