Marine recruiters wear down, practically kidnap potential recruit

[HamdenRice]

Parents beware: Recruiting techniques have gone way beyond aggressive, almost to kidnapping, as this Seattle family learned:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/paynter/227497_paynter08.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=2

When Marine recruiters go way beyond the call

By SUSAN PAYNTER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST

For mom Marcia Cobb and her teenage son Axel, the white letters USMC on their caller ID soon spelled, "Don't answer the phone!"

...

The next step of Axel's misadventure came when he heard about a cool "chin-ups" contest in Bellingham, where the prize was a free Xbox. The now 18-year-old Skagit Valley Community College student dragged his tail feathers home uncharacteristically late that night. And, in the morning, Marcia learned the Marines had hosted the event and "then had him out all night, drilling him to join."

...

The next weekend, when Marcia went to Seattle for the Folklife Festival and Axel was home alone, two recruiters showed up at the door.

Axel repeated the family mantra, but he was feeling frazzled and worn down by then. The sergeant was friendly but, at the same time, aggressively insistent. This time, when Axel said, "Not interested," the sarge turned surly, snapping, "You're making a big (bleeping) mistake!"

Next thing Axel knew, the same sergeant and another recruiter showed up at the LaConner Brewing Co., the restaurant where Axel works. And before Axel, an older cousin and other co-workers knew or understood what was happening, Axel was whisked away in a car.

"They said we were going somewhere but I didn't know we were going all the way to Seattle," Axel said.

...

At about 3:30 in the morning, Alex was awakened in the motel and fed a little something. Twelve hours later, without further sleep or food, he had taken a battery of tests and signed a lot of papers he hadn't gotten a chance to read. "Just formalities," he was told. "Sign here. And here. Nothing to worry about."

...

Then, with her grown daughter in tow, she high-tailed it south, frantically phoning Axel whose cell phone had been confiscated "so he wouldn't be distracted during tests."

[whistle]

1. This sounds like what France did in recruiting for the Foreign

...Legion and also what Britain did 200-250 years ago to get recruits into its navy.

[HamdenRice]

7. Also Britain -- isn't this what started the War of 1812???

It's bizarre, isn't it? Impressment in the Royal Navy was one of the causes of the War of 1812, and the armed forces recruiters are practically engaging in a modern version of those tactics.

[oblivious]

12. Whoa!! Press Gangs!

The early press gangs operated within the law. They would frequent the bars on the lookout for any young, strong and fit looking male. Having found their target, they would persuade the poor fellow into volunteering as they bought the beer, ensuring that the victim became more and more incapable, until he would agree to almost anything. So the poor wretch would awake from his drunken sleep to find himself on one of his Majesty's Warships. He was now subject to the full rigours of military discipline, so there was no turning back

http://www.the-old-sea-dog.net/uk9.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ned=us&q=press+gangs&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web

[KLF44]

2. I would press charges!!

Charge them with stalking,mental and verbal abuse,kidnapping.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi KLF44!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[unhappycamper]

3. I just emailed the link to everyone I know that has

children or grandchildren. I'm hoping some of them will pass it along.

[Webster Green]

4. Marine Recruiters in CA charged with having sex with high school girls

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/NEWS/506090329/1033/NEWS01

[noamnety]

6. I don't understand why the DA isn't pressing charges

"Mendocino County District Attorney Norm Vroman said his office decided it would not charge Dunzweiler with unlawful sex with a minor, in part because the Marines responded quickly to the allegations of misconduct."

The military can do all the court martialing it wants, but at the end of the day he commited a sex offense, using his position of authority. He ought to be charged and registered as a sex offender, to preclude him from ever working with students again.

In addition to that, civilian teachers get up to 20 years for a similar crime - here the military is talking about giving him up to 12 months.

[yorkiemommie1]

5. the Marines need to reimburse her the $250

that's a lot of money to someone like her.

[journalist3072]

8. I have an idea....

Although the army had the recruiting "stand down" day, it seems as though they need to put a temporary, complete hault on recruting. There are too many instances popping up of intimidation, threats, etc from military recruiters.

I say they hault recruiting completely, for the time being, until all these allegations are investigated.

And where is Congress on this? They were eager to investigate steroids in baseball, but where are they on this?

[eyepaddle]

9. This isn't good, more signs of desperation in the military recruiting

picture.

I've mentioned this once or twice before, but I'm 35 and just recently started getting recruiting materials mailed to me again. I'm fairly sure they got my name from the Universtiy where I am a Public Health graduate student--but I'd bet they are also aware of my age. And, hell, they turned me down when I was seventeen and rudderless because of my poor vision. My eyes haven't improved but I bet they'd take me now.

That's not quite as dramatic (or as despicable) as a kidnapping--but neither are good omens for an all volunteer force.

[HamdenRice]

10. With this level of recruitment desperation ...

a draft cannot be far away.