Should the military be given the names of every student in America?

[Blondie]

No child unrecruited.

 

[minniecarousel]

It sounds like this is a new law, but my sons graduated from HS in '98 & 2000 and they both received military recruitment info in the mail. They were also notified to sign up for the Selective Service around their 18th birthdays. So I don't understand where the military got their info from - unless it was from their school at that time too? They've had social security numbers almost from birth, so there's another source. I don't see why they need info from the schools, since there are other sources.

 

[Blondie]

The schools are probably the best source for getting thorough info.

Someone started a thread a few days back about why their pediatrician's office wanted their social security numbers. Hmmm...

 

[tar heel]

My college freshman son was recruited, both by the local office and by the military academies. The academies, I'm sure, had gotten his name from the College Board, just like the other universities recruiting him. I hadn't given any thought to how the local recruiter got his telephone number, though. I will say that the recruiter, who called the week before he left for college, didn't really seem to have any information about him except that he had graduated in May. The recruiter asked him his SAT score and future plans, then changed gears and tried to get him interested in ROTC or reserves. This call did not seem inappropriate to me, but I would feel different if my 9th grader started getting calls now. That a recruiter even MIGHT have his name, school, address, etc., is news to me.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Unbelievable! The schools will actually provide a list of students with addresses and phone numbers WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMISSION! As a matter of fact, I have a friend who lost her husband just over a year ago. Recently, a recruiter called her home asking to speak to her son. She told him that she lost her husband and they weren't about to get her son!!

 

[Blondie]

Being the mother of two sons, I would want their decision to enlist to be soley on the purpose of them wanting to, not because they were influenced by someone calling my home.

 

[GEM]

We had lots of recruiters at my high school during my senior year, and that was back in '91. They came several times to talk to classes, etc. I gots lots of mail and several phone calls as well. I didn't think much about it, since it definately wasn't something I was interested in. It never occured to me to wonder how they got my information. I didnt' really care. I just ignored them like I ignored the recruiters from the universities I wasn't interested in attending.

 

[Planogirl]

Recruiters are up-front about their plans to use school lists to aggressively pursue students through mailings, phone calls, and personal visits -- even if parents object. "The only thing that will get us to stop contacting the family is if they call their congressman," says Major Johannes Paraan, head U.S. Army recruiter for Vermont and northeastern New York. "Or maybe if the kid died, we'll take them off our list."

Nice that if a kid died that they would MAYBE take them off the list. This is amazing and a total invasion of privacy IMO.

 

[Bob O]

Since every one is required to enlist for the draft, i have no problem with the military being given that info and trying to recruit the best possible to serve our great country. My son who is 17 yrs old just got mail from the navy yesterday and has gotten other info from the other branches in the military.

 

[browneyes]

I thought they got that info from the ASVAB test (or whatever the name of it is that give to you when you're a senior). I was pestered by the Army recruitment office for a couple of years after HS after taking the test. Including being cussed out by the recruiter. I thought they got my info from that test. I was 18 when I took it, so my parents didn't need to give permission. I graduated with my Associate's Degree last year and I still get things in the mail from the Navy.

No, I don't think the schools should send out private info.

 

[Doctor P]

Good for them! As long as young men are required to register with Selective Service, everything that can be done to ensure full and complete compliance is OK with me.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by Blondie
Being the mother of two sons, I would want their decision to enlist to be soley on the purpose of them wanting to, not because they were influenced by someone calling my home.

That's easy enough - just tell the school not to release their information. Students have the right to have the information withheld from recruiters. The fact that many of the schools are too lazy or too incompetent to inform the students is not the fault of the recruiters.

 

[shortbun]

Looks like it's time to resurrect the
Canadian Underground Railroad. They'll
get my kid when they peel him from
my dead cold hands!

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by shortbun
Looks like it's time to resurrect the
Canadian Underground Railroad. They'll
get my kid when they peel him from
my dead cold hands!

That's probably good - mama's boys usually don't do so well in the military.

But back to reality here - why would you send your precious out of the country? Just tell the school to not give out his information.

It's so funny to watch people get all upset about something that can be taken care of so very easily.

 

[pokiemomo181]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by shortbun
Looks like it's time to resurrect the
Canadian Underground Railroad. They'll
get my kid when they peel him from
my dead cold hands!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------







I really can't see where it does any harm. If they aren't interested they aren't forced to join. I have two son's in the Air Force. The oldest is going back overseas soon. I too worry about my children. When I exspressed my concern to my son, he told me" Mom if I die serving my country, and protecting my daughters then so be it." I understand how mothers feel, I am one, but if no one served to protect this country, and your children, where would we be. These wonderful people are under paid, and lay their life on the line everyday. Complaining about recuiters calling, or getting info seems really sad. Its ok for our sons and daughters to do this, but not yours. Seems unfair to me, but that is just my opinion. I thought we all were in this together, we are a free country, but there is a price we have to pay for that freedom, and it isn't cheap by any means.


Pokie

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by shortbun
Looks like it's time to resurrect the
Canadian Underground Railroad. They'll
get my kid when they peel him from
my dead cold hands!

Maybe people with your attitude should have to serve instead of their children. You benefit from the sacrifices of others. You enjoy freedom but choose not to defend it. I'm sure you you would be among the first to complain if you're freedoms were infringed upon.

Life is a give and take not a one way street. Good luck to you and yours.

 

[gemmie214]

I do not understand what the fuss is about. High school seniors have life choices to make. They should have all of their choices at their fingertips so they can make the choice that suits THEM. Military life is a career just like any other. It is a wonderful way for many to get a higher education that maybe would not have been able to do so for many reasons. It is a wonderful way for many to travel, learn and mature. Colleges activly seek out those they wish to attend their schools. I guess I just do not see the problem with our military doing the same. JMHO

 

[shortbun]

Well AFR-if we're going to resort to name calling...
I know you are but what am I? That comes directly
from my 7yo son's emotional mindset and since
that seems to be your bent tonight....

Eeyore2U-people with my "attitude" stopped a war
in the early 70's. My son WILL travel outside this country
someday as an ambassador to try to dispell all the horrible
things people think about it because of attitudes
like yours, NOT as a war monger to push our opinions
and ways on others but as an advocate of peace.

I made you guys mad, eh? Enjoy the next couple of
years-nothing ever lasts forever. That's what makes
this country so great!
mimi

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by shortbun
Eeyore2U-people with my "attitude" stopped a war
in the early 70's. My son WILL travel outside this country
someday as an ambassador to try to dispell all the horrible
things people think about it because of attitudes
like yours, NOT as a war monger to push our opinions
and ways on others but as an advocate of peace.

I made you guys mad, eh? Enjoy the next couple of
years-nothing ever lasts forever. That's what makes
this country so great!
mimi

mimi,

Are you referrring to the Viet Nam conflict? The conflict were 58,000 Americans died? Please tell me how people like you stopped it.

If you see people who choose not to defend our country as ambassadors of peace then maybe you need to change your glasses.

I see those that lay their life on the line and those who have lost their life defending people like you and yours as martyrs ands heroes. They defend your rights and then take the abuse you throw at them.

Enjoy the next couple of years? Pushing our opinons on others? Where and how would you expect us to defend our soil or should we just hand over the keys?

 

[abaldacci]

Originally posted by shortbun
Looks like it's time to resurrect the
Canadian Underground Railroad. They'll
get my kid when they peel him from
my dead cold hands!

My son will go to college not the army. I am to chicken to be in the armed services but I admire people who are. Don't judge us because we are different than you. When you get hurt aren't you glad people in the medical field are there to help. Not everyone is cut out to do that either, but I don't call people names because that is not the road they chose. Open up it takes all kinds to make a great USA.