"80,000 TEENAGERS IN THE MILITARY, AND YOU
CAN'T HAVE US!!" were the words displayed on a banner that was
carried in a recent march through Fort Collins. The event,
organized by Youth Against Militarism, featured a
multi-generational array of speakers: Youth Against Militarism's
Katy Whittle; Lee Gerry, Iraq Veterans Against the War; Norberto
Valdez, Vietnam veteran; and Joe Stern, Word War II veteran.
They spoke against war and predatory recruitment practices,
something that's all too common in places that youths frequent,
especially schools.
Our community is not immune from such
practices. Our youths are educating themselves about the truth
behind recruiters' promises:
Recruiters promise thousands of dollars in
college funding. Yet, 57 percent of recruits who are promised
money for college receive absolutely no funds, according to the
American Friends Service Committee.
Recruiters present the military as a
promising career for women, yet the chances of women getting
raped in the military are 10 times greater than in civilian
life.
Recruiters promise job skills and a decent
future, yet veterans - 9 percent of the U.S. population - make
up 23 percent of the homeless population.
Youth Against Militarism educates the
public about how military recruiters are not obligated to tell
the truth. This is blatantly obvious in reading the military
enlistment/reenlistment agreement section 9. (b) "Laws and
regulations that govern military personnel may change without
notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay,
allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the
Armed Forces regardless (emphasis mine) of the provisions
of this enlistment/reenlistment document."
As the occupation of Iraq escalates, the
unscrupulous tactics of military recruiters escalate, as well.
During New West Fest, Army recruiters were stationed next to the
toddler playground at the Fort Collins museum. As young children
filed out of the blow-up castles at Library Park, they walked
into a basketball toss game with a
GoArmy.com backdrop.
Members of Youth Against Militarism and Strength Through Peace
held a sign next to the recruiters that read "War is not a
Game," showing a photograph of a wounded Iraqi child. More than
200 pieces of literature were distributed within an hour to
passers-by.
Youth Against Militarism educates the
public about section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act of
2002. The provision requires all high schools to hand over their
students' contact information to military or lose significant
funding. Our district receives $3.9 million dollars from the No
Child act. The military is holding our schools hostage by
demanding the contact information of all juniors and seniors.
However, students or their parents can
protect their privacy by opting out of that process. They need
to just complete the required "opt-out" form by Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Forms are available at schools and on the Web site of the Center
for Justice, Peace and Environment,
www.cjpe.org.
Opting out is crucial for those who are concerned about their
privacy and do not want harassing phone calls from military
recruiters. Students need not be 18 years old to sign the
opt-out form themselves.
The mission of Youth Against Militarism is
to set boundaries for, and provide alternatives to, the military
influence on youths at schools and in the community. For more
information, contact Youth Against Militarism at 419-8944.