My 17 year old son just got his first military recruitment phone call

[stevedeshazer]

Checked the "no recruitment" box on his high school forms. Got an unlisted number. He hung up on the guy.

:grr:

[MissB]

1. Can't the parents opt out too?

Maybe that is what you meant by "high school forms".

I'm guessing they're pretty desperate and are ignoring the "no recruitment" boxes.

[Emit]

16. There's an opt out form

On our local news last week, they reported that the 'deadline' for filing this form was up in October. I called the school district, and they are trying to find out why there is even a 'deadline' and why the local news was reporting this story. They are going to call me back and try to explain the whole procedure.

In the meantime, I sent an opt out form I got online (at an 'opt out' site) to my teenager's school registrars office.

[stevedeshazer]

21. We did, sorry wasn't clear.

I don't think it was his high school that released his info.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

42. I wrote the school twice & told them they could not give my sons' records

and low and behold, just after my oldest son reached 18 he received a couple of calls. I told them he was not interested, which he definitely isn't.

[No Exit]

45. Regarding "opting out", FYI:

As October approached, I knew I needed to get off my * and do the opt out form. I talked to school personnel, and they said that though there was still time to opt out, most of the branches of the service always came by VERY EARLY in the school year to get the names and addresses. So that way, the recruiters got the names/addresses/phones b/f most parents had gotten around to making an opt-out request.

And there's another thing. My kids' school has a "mall" area where kids are allowed to sit around during free periods. At least one recruiter regularly hangs out there, and the school has to let him in. A few kids end up being "friends" with this adult in their midst. Seems to me all the recruiter has to do is to get the school directory from one of his kid "friends", and he will have the name, address, and phone of every kid in the high school--even of those whose parents have officially opted out. (Every family has a school directory; most families possess more than one.)

Here's hoping God or karma or the vacuous universe or a black hole will soon take away the plague that is the */Cheney regime.

[Tace]

2. I'm A Vietnam CO -- Best Of Luck

He won't kill, if he won't go. It's all up to him. Regards.

[stevedeshazer]

22. He won't, he's determined not to.

I'm not worried about his resolve in that area.

Thanks. And thanks for your service.

[dorktv]

3. It is possible to scare a recruiter?

[havocmom]

6. Raging Grannies in Tucson evidently did... arrested for trespassing

when they went in and tried to enlist so some young people in Iraq could come home and get on with their lives.

Charges were dismissed just recently, by the way ;)

[No Exit]

46. I'VE GOT IT!!!!!!

Why don't we all start groups who will hang around recruiting offices, harassing whoever goes in and out, exactly the way the religious fanatics do to abortion clinics???

Unlike them, of course, we will stop well short of murdering personnel. We'll just make their lives miserable. After all, if the anti-abortion fanatics can try to claim First Amendment protection, why can't we claim the exact same protection??

[havocmom]

51. No, that would be obstruction and annoy the public

We just need to tie up recruiters' time

[havocmom]

4. Parents have to PRO-ACTIVELY sign opt out papers with schools

Then, it the schools give the contact info anyway, raise bloody hell.

Also, be aware: They are offering 3 free iTunes downloads (wow, not) for contact info AND they have a spot on the page for giving contact info on your friends! What a deal... 3 tunes for the chance to hound kids and their friends to sign away their lives....

Get the word out about both of these issues. Parents have to ask for, sign and return the forms to schools or the schools are required by law (NCLB) to forward contact info the military recruiters.

And don't let the kids near the free download site. If you have parental control filters, get this site banned!

http://www.1800goguard.com/music.html

Any Raging Grannies types might wanna download though... fun to talk to those nice recruiters in their snappy uniforms so long as one is way too old or way too infirm to pass their physicals :evilgrin:

[KyndCulture]

7. Oh yes...

and they are EMAILING this shit to kids on Yahoo... how they got my 17 yr olds email address I wanna know... if Yahoo is selling the ages of kids for email purposes I want to raise holy hell with them.

I saw this 2 days ago and I blew my cool completely... I thought I had to worry about pedophiles online now I gotta worry about the death peddlers.

[havocmom]

11. When I was in HS, way back in the olden days, had a teacher who had been

OSS during WWII and for a bit as it morphed into the CIA. He saw a lot and opted out to teach US History. He was a very quiet man with warm humor, but very removed from things in a time of much campus activism. One day, after a whole lotta crap coming down from official channels to the news about that war in SE Asia, he stopped in mid sentence during a lecture. He quietly asked us to close our books and put down our pencils. We wouldn't need notes for what he was about to tell us. It would never be on any test for his class.

"Kids, if you never learn anything else from any of my classes, learn this. The Government is NOT your friend..."

He went on to explain how information was compiled but never checked for accuracy or even validity. He explained how easy it was for person or persons with an axe to grind could fuck you up bad in official records and how there could be all sorts of files on individuals the government had no business keeping files on.

I had never seen a human being so sad as he was that day. Nor have I seen a person that despondent since, and that covers a lotta years and more catastrophie than I care to recall.

The government is NOT your friend.

Mr. O, I got it. And thanks.

edited for typo

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

32. Good message

I tell my daughter that all of the time, that the Government is not our friend.

Also - do not trust the government.

period

[stevedeshazer]

23. That's the thing...we DID and they're contacting him anyway.

I don't think it was the school district, it was a big issue here last year. The public schools are good about that.

I suspect the DMV or a credit report or something like that.

[northzax]

49. you know what's funny?

I sent that link to my girlfriend on friday, just for kicks, and her employer blocked the site. Her employer? the government of the United States of America. hah.

[KyndCulture]

5. death peddlers... gahhh I hate them...

They are preying on our children online now too, my son got this stupid email "click here to get 3 FREE iTunes mp3s of your choice" it was from the freaking National Guard. I blew a gasket.

[file83]

8. What probably happened....

There are several other ways those recruiters could have gotten your son's number...internet (like if he registered for the free video game www.americasarmy.com), those free iTunes offers from the Army, etc... they are getting very creative (slimy). Of course it could be as simple as those recruiters probably got your son's phone number from some kid at school that doesn't like your son (for whatever dumb reason) as a prank...high school kids can be very uncool.

Don't worry, just make sure your son understands how important it is that he NEVER gets caught up in the FANTASY aspect of the military. It can be very suductive for young men to think how "fun" it would be, the weapons, the uniforms, the "importance" of it all. If he knows this is all illusion, then he'll never say "yes" to those guys.

[stevedeshazer]

24. He knows about that web stuff and avoids it.

The kid is better grounded than I am. He's got no illusions about the glamour of the military.

[zalinda]

9. They also get info from kids who are signing up

my son got a call when his friend signed up. The kid gave the recruiter my son's phone number. When my son said he could only see out of one eye the recruiter quickly ended the phone call.

zalinda

[onehandle]

10. When the recruiters called for the son of a friend of mine.

He politely said no, but gave them the number of a mutual friend.

This high-school friend of ours has a 19 year old son who is "mulling" college options -still.

The dad is a big Bush fan, but neither he or the son have any interest in joining the military.

The dad is pretty pissed.

[HawkerHurricane]

12. Much as I hate this stuff...

I cannot, in my heart, blame the recruiters.

The recruiters are career military men (and women), proud of thier uniform and thier service. Even when they don't believe in the mission, they still believe in the service.

They are lied to about the job of recruiting. Often, they are forced into it against thier will. They are punished for failure to meet a quota the service says doesn't exist.

Some of the saddest, most miserable people I ever met were people who failed at recruiting. People who, before a 3 year recruiter stretch, were fast track up and comers, the best and brightest of the military... who had thier careers ruined because they only averaged 5 kids a month instead of the 6 the quota said they had to have... the quota that didn't exist on any paperwork.

So, I hate what BushCo has done to our military. I hate the military brass who have allowed it to happen in silence. But the poor guys in the ranks who have to try to make this abortion work...
They have my sympathy.

[stevedeshazer]

27. I've got no beef with honest recruiters.

Talk about Mission Impossible inthe current climate.

And those who do sign up, as long as they have a realistic sense of what they're getting into, more power to 'em.

It's the privacy invasion that bugs me. I don't want solicitation calls on my unlisted number.

I blame Bush, Rummy, and the Pentagon for putting the military in such a shitty posture. I have every bit of respect for all the grunts who are trying to keep this clusterfuck all haywired together.

Thanks for your take, I wanted to make it clear I agree and don't blame the recruiters themselves.

[HawkerHurricane]

30. "Honest Recruiters"

The 'Dishonest Recruiter' does exist. They should be treated like any dishonest person. But the system encourages it. "Don't lie, you'll get in trouble if you get caught, but if you don't make quota (which we don't have, but you better get 3 more kids this month) you'll get in trouble, so it's your choice..."

To many good men ruined, to many ok men forced to be dishonest to avoid ruin...

[CBGLuthier]

35. How are they punished?

Do they flog them if they don't meet the numbers?


See, I believe in a thing called ethics. Without them people are shit.

[havocmom]

38. They have my sympathy too, HH, but I will NOT let up in fighting them now

Some wars, do indeed, need to be fought. And it IS imparative that we have a well trained standing military which can go into action at a moments notice.

I have lived near, worked at and had friends from military bases most of my life. Experience has taught me most are honorable people who truly understand the point of sacrafice for the greater good and believe in duty to country.

And I have seen pictures in albums of horrible things done to human beings, piles of bodies, parts of bodies, young and old. I have seen such albums stacked as tall as me, and I am a tall woman. I have seen men who compiled such albums and know they are as broken as the bodies in the photographs.

I understand duty and nobility. I have seen it betrayed by those who would profit from suffering.

This war was not necessary. This was built on a foundation of lies for the profit of just a select few. I will not cease in my efforts to prevent young people from being wasted as ballast to keep this boat going in the direction it is headed.

And, I know, dear HH, from your messages to us here while you were away, that you share many of my goals. We are teachers, you and I, each in our own theater of war.

Grateful, I am for those who have served in service to the guarentee of my liberty. Grateful and duty bound, It is my duty to participate, as best I can, in the operation of this nation.

Democracy is NOT a spectator sport. I do not leave it for 'somebody' to do my duty for me. I see part of that duty as protecting the backs of those who wear the uniforms. I do this by working to secure honesty and responsible policy from the people who issure orders to those in uniform.

I have nothing personal against most recruiters, but I'll be damned if I will put up with lies and bad policy from them any more than I will accept it from the civilians who issue the orders.

And I will not stop trying to starve this particular beast.

I owe that to all the young people, and to a mother who has only a flag to hold instead of a strong son to lean on as she faces old age.

[HawkerHurricane]

50. Well said.

And I cannot (will not) attempt to contradict you.

I only ask that others do as you have, and see the difference between the dishonorable Masters, thier toadies, and those who try to serve honorably.

This administration has attempted to purge the military of those who would not toadie up to them. They have attempted to recruit only those who would (see the scandals in the Air Force Acadamy recently about psuedo Christians attempting conversions and punishing those who would not).

Sometimes wars are needed. This is not one of the times. And since they can't get the honorable and normal (or even those who believe!) to enlist by telling the truth to them, they encourage lying and punish the truth tellers.
Megasigh.

It's hard for me. I know that you are right. But I also know too many of the recruiters, that they are good men in a bad situation. If only...
If only the War Supporters would enlist.
If only the country had seen that this war was bullshit.
If only the supreme court had followed states rights.
If only...

[SheilaT]

13. I think they may also

get addresses from such things as driver's licenses records.

My two sons attended a private high school which did not participate in giving recruiters names and addresses. Both sons have still gotten stuff (although no phone calls) from various branches of the service.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I am sure you went easy on the chap after all he was only doing his job...

...trying to convince your son to go to Iraq and die like a dog in the sand guarding pipelines for Halliburton. I would have lost it.

Don

[magicoflife]

15. honey

I am in the same boat, also checked "no recruitment". Is this not scary!

[Postman]

17. Next time they call act as if you're the 17 year old...

then hammer them.

Tell him them to go fight Bush's trumped up wars themselves.

I don't support troops who support Bush.

[Twist_U_Up]

18. Heres a Helpful link for high school aged kids

Opt out form inside also a VERY good video with Cindy Sheehan

http://www.leavemychildalone.com/

[stevedeshazer]

28. Thanks

[oibme]

19. My 17 year old son............

Just say NO!!!!!!!

[applegrove]

20. That's awful.

[kywildcat]

25. The just opened an armed services recruiting station in my VERY suburban

neighborhood. In front of a private school. My son is 16, and absolutely not inclined to enlist, but my stomach is doing flips about this whole recruiting station in a suburb.

[leeroysphitz]

39. But you don't mind a recruiting station

downtown in front of a public school? Not to put words in your mouth but your post sounds... well pretty snobby.

[kywildcat]

40. They've filled the strip malls

and what not close to public schools already. Not to be snobby, but I'm frightened of their desperation. This is not a wealthy suburb, but a location with access to a large lower middle class/blue collar workforce. In addition, the diocese sold the property to the developer, who inturn rented to the recruiters. My son does not attend this school, but one with a military recruiting station already established close by.
I am absolutely shocked at the desperation of the administration to appeal to new recruits, and how desperate they are to attach themselves to all schools. Unfortunately, they've mined the public schools and are moving on.

[July]

44. They're in my son's school's lunch room.

Which the school neglected to tell us parents. Found out about it way after it started when my son mentioned it to us.

[leeroysphitz]

48. You and the rest of the people in your community are PAYING

for that lunch room. You should have been given a say...

[etherealtruth]

26. Oddly, over the last 6 months I have received written "info" and the ...

... occasional phone call from recruiters.

The odd aspect to this is that I am 43 (have never been in the military), am a single mother of three and can not decide if I want to get a suggested hip replacement (sports injury).

When informed of the above they agree the military is probably "not for you," but after a month,or so, they contact me again.

Better me than an innocent kid, I guess.

[greblc]

29. They are relentless.

School your son on the realities of war. Make him read articles on the devastion war causes.

[RagAss]

31. I activated the call blocking feature on our phone

After the first few calls to my sons the calls were blocked.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

33. I sent an opt out and received confirmation from schools

I downloaded one of those online opt out forms, mailed it in, and in two days got a confirmation letter from the school superintendent.

If you haven't done this, go ahead and do it now.

If Bush isn't impeached - we could be in for a draft.

[Bigmack]

34. Tell your son....

... that they'll NEVER take him, so just ignore the recruiters. They won't take kids with a missing right big toe.

He HAS a right big toe, you say?

Shoot it off in his sleep rather than let him go! Better lose a big toe than the whole leg... or head.

I was in the Southeast Asian War Games ("Hey... we took Second Place!), and my son knew I'd do it rather than let him go.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

36. Does he play "America's Army" online? The "free" download game?

http://www.americasarmy.com/

[degreesofgray]

37. I remember those calls

My favorite was the Marine recruiter who called and asked if I was still pursuing foreign language studies in college. He asked if I'd be interested in learning Russian in sunny Monterey, California. I told him I had no interest in joining the military and he accused me of being "closed minded" for not considering Uncle Sam as a career choice. This coming from a Marine recruiter, mind you. I thought it was both funny and disturbing.

[Beelzebud]

41. Do what I did when I was his age.

Tell them you'd rather be a Canadian than a Marine.

They never called me back again.

Although I'm sure that was the day my FBI file was created. :D

[No Exit]

43. Welcome to the club...

Please install Call Block on your telephone immediately. Be the first person in your home to review the mail each day. Instruct your son to use his cellphone number for personal friends only.

When your child was little, did you ever try to gently counsel him on what to do if a stranger ever approached him and tried to get friendly, and offer him candy and stuff? Reach back in your mind to the instruction techniques you used them, dust them off, and revise them to fit an adolescent/near-adult mind. Then please have a chat with the boy.

Incidentally, though, from your post, it sounds as though your son already has a good understanding of what to do when approached by press-gangs---er, I mean, recruiters...

[gizmo1979]

47. Caller ID works wonders

If it says U.S Government don't answer.I did talk to one recruiter and he understood my point of view and never called back.