Military recruiters at US schools

[Lokomotive293]

Not quite sure, where to post this, but...
When I was in the US, I noticed that the military was everywhere, especially in school. Almost every week, they were in front of the cantine with a huge information stand, and one time, the Navy Band had a concert at the school. I wasn't really political back then, but all of that really scared me.
I was wondering if things like are generally accepted as normal in the US, since I heard no one complain. That was of course only one school, though.
In Germany, things aren't as bad (yet?), but the military is more and more trying to get into our schools. My experience is that, when we protest that, we often get a lot of sympathies and support from students, teachers and parents, and there have been cases where a school managed to successfully keep out the military.
Are there protests against military presence at schools in the US? And how much support do they get?

[Trans Queers for Satan]

I know at a lot of schools, people usually practice counter-recruitment (or it's termed something like that?). Basically what they do is establish a booth adjacent to the recruiters, and after the recruiters proselytize to a person, they talk to the person about how the military preys on impoverished areas and exploits people's economic situations, gives the person pamphlets or fliers, etc etc. I mean, I'm not sure how many people school recruitment drives to actually enlisting (but again I guess it depends on the economic standing of the area), but I've heard it's actually pretty effective.

[Rugged Collectivist]

In the US the military is constantly glorified. I don't think anyone who objected to military presence in school would receive much support.

In a lot of high schools and colleges there are programs called ROTC (or in the case of high schools JROTC) which is basically an army class. It isn't unusual to see students walking around in military uniforms on days when they have ROTC. The class is taught by actual military officers (I think. The guy who taught the one at my school was a sergeant, that's an NCO right?). Luckily, the class IS an elective so I never had to do it. The actual content is kind of vague. From what I understand they exercise and learn "leadership" (whatever the hell that means). My sister joined to learn leadership but quit after she found out you had to do pushups and wear a uniform.

For the record, my mom objected to my sister joining. She's more cynical than most people though. I don't know what other parents think of it.

[ВАЛТЕР]

I went to high school in the US and the constant presence of some recruiter or another was rather annoying to me. It shows how militaristic the US is culturally. Every sports game, every event in general has some military presence there recruiting or being celebrated in one way or another.

They also call you at random times throughout the day after you turn 18 and talk to you as if they're your best friend. Asking about what you plan on doing after high school, and how you plan on paying for college. Whatever you say, they have an answer for. "Oh you play guitar? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you play basketball? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you wanna be a mechanic? You can do that in the army too!" Doctor? Army. Plumber? Army. Business major? Army. They did that shit to me all the fucking time. One of them even challenged me to a fight when I told them I boxed. Who the fuck does that?

They'll do anything to get you in that door.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I went to high school in the US and the constant presence of some recruiter or another was rather annoying to me. It shows how militaristic the US is culturally. Every sports game, every event in general has some military presence there recruiting or being celebrated in one way or another.

They also call you at random times throughout the day after you turn 18 and talk to you as if they're your best friend. Asking about what you plan on doing after high school, and how you plan on paying for college. Whatever you say, they have an answer for. "Oh you play guitar? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you play basketball? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you wanna be a mechanic? You can do that in the army too!" Doctor? Army. Plumber? Army. Business major? Army. They did that shit to me all the fucking time. One of them even challenged me to a fight when I told them I boxed. Who the fuck does that?

They'll do anything to get you in that door.
Right? My senior year I just started telling these recruiters that I didn't need the military for their education and training(Because that's mostly what they would say, "Hey we got free school for you guys, why pay for college and get in debt") because I was receiving a scholarship to Yale :lol:.

But it's hard to be anti-militarization of everything in the U.S. If you don't worship the troops you're a unpatriotic weirdo who should "stand in front of the troops" if you're not willing to support militarization.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Military recruiters infest schools because the military is primarily interested in people who are young, low on money, and have hopes for their future. They then come along and promise that every dream of theirs will be fulfilled if they enlist; they promise them a "career", good money, and opportunities to advance. Obviously for many youth, especially in low-income areas, this is a tempting offer. Personally I have had around four or so friends from school enlist. Honestly, it seems like every few months I see a new one join up. My brother enlisted for a little while due to financial issues but was luckily kicked out because he wasn't adjusting well.

http://counterrecruitment.net/

http://www.cafepress.com/+counter-recruiting+gifts

http://www.educatorstostopthewar.org/antimilitaryrecruitment.htm

[GiantMonkeyMan]

The same shit happens in the UK as well. I'm pretty sure any nation state with a large military industrial complex tries to indoctrinate its youth into accepting and joining its armed forces. I remember when I was younger joining the RAF was a serious alternative choice for me back when I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I still have no idea what I want to do with my life but I definitely know what I don't want to do.

[GPDP]

I went to high school in an area that was predominantly Hispanic, and of course low-income. Army bullshit was everywhere. We had a popular JROTC program, and army/navy recruiters were always setting up near the main hallways, especially during lunch time and at the end of the school day. Even within classes, our teachers and faculty were often encouraging that we support the military in their endeavors. And of course I got many a call from recruiters at home, promising the world to me if I were to just hear them out.

Make no mistake, the armed forces are a deeply embedded part of American culture. It's why even anti-war liberals make sure to at least keep up the pretense of supporting the troops, if not outright cheering them on despite their misgivings.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Army recruiters and recruitment films make me seethe ..US and UK ones..just can't understand why they're admired and glorified so much (I mean, I know why and how etc but still can't believe that's allowed to happen and anyone who challenges it is put in the same boat as poppy burners or Westboro assholes; either your support 'our' troops or you're an enemy).

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

US culture glorifies the military almost as much as an outright fascist state.

[Sea]

I went to high school in the US and the constant presence of some recruiter or another was rather annoying to me. It shows how militaristic the US is culturally. Every sports game, every event in general has some military presence there recruiting or being celebrated in one way or another.

They also call you at random times throughout the day after you turn 18 and talk to you as if they're your best friend. Asking about what you plan on doing after high school, and how you plan on paying for college. Whatever you say, they have an answer for. "Oh you play guitar? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you play basketball? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you wanna be a mechanic? You can do that in the army too!" Doctor? Army. Plumber? Army. Business major? Army. They did that shit to me all the fucking time. One of them even challenged me to a fight when I told them I boxed. Who the fuck does that?

They'll do anything to get you in that door.Can I read Marx in the army? Hmmm....

[CryingWolf]

I went to high school in the US and the constant presence of some recruiter or another was rather annoying to me. It shows how militaristic the US is culturally. Every sports game, every event in general has some military presence there recruiting or being celebrated in one way or another.

They also call you at random times throughout the day after you turn 18 and talk to you as if they're your best friend. Asking about what you plan on doing after high school, and how you plan on paying for college. Whatever you say, they have an answer for. "Oh you play guitar? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you play basketball? You can do that in the army too!" "Oh you wanna be a mechanic? You can do that in the army too!" Doctor? Army. Plumber? Army. Business major? Army. They did that shit to me all the fucking time. One of them even challenged me to a fight when I told them I boxed. Who the fuck does that?

They'll do anything to get you in that door.

You want to destroy capitalism and all states including the US? Army.

[Ostrinski]

Can I read Marx in the army? Hmmm....The user The Douche was in the armed forces and I believe he said if they catch you with radical literature they take it away from you.

[Ostrinski]

My experiences are similar to that of GPDP. I went to high school with a lot of kids from poorer rural areas. Military was always right outside of the lunch room all day during lunch. Most of the white kids from these poorer rural areas came from staunchly conservative families and the military always exploited their nationalistic sentiments. Would always see these kids walking around so proud of signing up with the armed forces.

Made my stomach sick.

[skitty]

US culture glorifies the military almost as much as an outright fascist state.

Remember when Obama was criticised for not wearing the mandatory American flag lapel pin?

[Broha]

Yeah I'm a Senior in high school this year in the U.S. and the military often sets up a table to recruit students in the cafeteria. The spot is pretty much reserved for colleges/military recruitment. The ROTC program for the marine corps. is also well supported by our school, although pretty much all they do is run on the track. I don't really see much military at basketball/football games or anything like that though.

[Sea]

Remember when Obama was criticised for not wearing the mandatory American flag lapel pin?That's more of the edgy apathetic Obama that connects with the disgruntled youth rather than the actual serious Obama that knows damn well it doesn't matter if he wears it or not. I recall an old saying that goes something like "There's two sides to every POTUS."

I like to call him Public Relations-'Bama. He's so much more whimsical than the typical-patronizing-democrat Obama.

[Leftsolidarity]

I have an odd experience with that because I went to 3 different high schools in 3 very different socio-economic areas so I got to see how they act and what recruiters go where. I started writing an article about it in junior year but got distracted. I think I might finish that sometime soon and post it up.

Funniest interaction I had with them was when me and my best friend were in gym and they actually had the recruiters teach the entire gym class and the real teachers said if we refused to particapate we would be sent to the office and suspended. So we made asses of ourselves and one of the recruiters got into my friends face and starting screaming, mocking (saying he has a little dick among other things), swearing, etc. all in the middle of the gym in front of everyone so my friend goes off on him too. The recruiter kicks him out and when my friend is walking my friend moons him. Then the recruiter kicked him in the ass. My friend was sent to the office, arrested for indecent exposure, and suspended. The recruiter had nothing happen to him but I did stop seeing him there after a few weeks.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

It was relatively common here, in Canada, in the early 2000s. I haven't been in highschool for almost a decade, so I can't say what it's like now. In any case, we had a relatively organized anarchist/socialist group at our highschool that not only did counter-recruitment, but actively harassed the recruiters themselves. After a week or two of getting called murderers and jingoists by pissed off teenagers, they left.
Realistically, we didn't have a particularly nuanced view of soldiers at the time, but, hey, it worked.

[keystone]

back when i was in HS, a couple of army recruiters came one day and set up a booth in our cafeteria at lunch. a few friends and i went over and threw all their shit in the trash, then told them to get the fuck out of our school. they stayed away for a little while after that. we didn't know how to progress from that low level of struggle at the time.

much respect to all the students doing counter-recruitment and anti-military work at school. it's really important.

to answer the OP's question, the military gets considerable sympathy in the US. about 1% of the population is in the military (not including their spouses and children) and somewhere between 5-10% of the population are veterans, though that includes many vietnam vets who were drafted, many are right-wing conservative or fascist. the schools and media have a constant stream of pro-military propaganda that badgers everyone to honor the military for their service.

veterans get government-mandated preferential hiring for jobs, and employers are given tax incentives to hiring vets. they are also paid a lot of money (plus free housing while in the service) and often continue to receive insane financial benefits after leaving the military: tens of thousands of dollars for school, continuing healthcare, lifetime salary/pension after 20 years of employment. they get thousands of dollars in signing bonuses just for joining in many cases. exit options include working as a private military contractor for kbr or blackwater making even more money working in iraq or afghanistan, or becoming a cop to bring a little of the military occupation to oppressed communities at home.

so, if you are willing to help kill people for imperialism, you will be paid greatly thanks to the US putting over half of its tax revenue into financing its military. there is no need for a draft in the US, with all of these financial benefits offered to pretty much any unskilled person without physical disabilities.

[kashkin]

Huh, I guess we are lucky. I haven't heard a case of military recruitment in schools here, barring one selective state school which has a cadet program, I can't remember if it is mandatory but I do know the students can choose between the army and the air force.

There are few countries in the world which don't glorify the military, but the extent t seems to have reached in the US is crazy.

[skitty]

That's more of the edgy apathetic Obama that connects with the disgruntled youth rather than the actual serious Obama that knows damn well it doesn't matter if he wears it or not. I recall an old saying that goes something like "There's two sides to every POTUS."

I like to call him Public Relations-'Bama. He's so much more whimsical than the typical-patronizing-democrat Obama.
I believe Obama bowed and started wearing it religiously; and it does matter, to too many people. That sort of enforced, conspicuous patriotism is pretty scary. We've seen it before:(.

[Red Commissar]

I only recall the military recruiting happening during lunch time. They usually came about the same time some universities came to try and get students starting early applications. I guess considering the military tending to prey on people from lower socioeconomic status, it's almost cynical for them to be there after the more pricey option of university has come through.

I also recall that they tended to give out a lot of free stuff, one popular thing was a pull-up contest where the winner would get some free backpack with the logo of what ever branch of the military was there.

And yeah, like was mentioned before we also had a JROTC chapter, and those who were in there did go around in their green uniforms at times. IIRC in my highschool they had a firing range for their air guns, or what ever "safe" weapon they were using.

I don't think it was overwhelming though, they didn't go around bugging people to join the military but they always left it as an option for those of be able to deal with college expenses, loans, etc.