LHS recruitment policy

[Will Brown]

When we took federal funds for out schools, and clamored for more, we pretty much destroyed any argument for keeping the federal government out of our schools. Beggars can't be choosers, and we have indentured our schools to washington.

From a national perspective, maintaining a ready and able military force would certainly seem to be a higher priority than education, which is primarily personal improvement, which can certainly have a positive effect on the country, but is probably less important than national self defense. The history of our political leaders, of both parties, misusing our military forces does not obviate the necessity of having those forces.

I wasn't at the recent events, but the services have always had public relations activities. and any recruiter would be glad to get one of these shows in his territory, and would no doubt want to be present himself to get some local publicity. But this is not recruiting; it is an adjunct to recruiting. Recruiting itself is a very personal activity, where a recruiter wants to deal with an individual and show that individual how the service can help him reach his objectives, because those objectives vary from prospect to prospect. If that sounds like salesmanship, it should, because recruiters are salesmen. And a good salesman always emphasizes the positive aspects of his product. When you buy a car, do you expect the salesman to tell you how dangerous driving is?

I think with unemployment as high as it is, and with strapped parents unable to pay for college, the prospect of having a decent salary, and an excellent GI bill when he gets out, would look pretty good to a lot of our young people.

[Danielle Masters]

But Will depending on the words used a recruiting tool like this can turn kids away. This is my son's first year of high school, his first experience with military recruiters and he felt like they were down playing the military and the true experience. I have always told him that for the field he wants to go into that military service would be worthwhile for him. We've looked at the top engineering schools and time in and time out military colleges rank up there with the best. His experience though at the assemblies completely turned him off to the military. He felt his intelligence was being insulted. I have to wonder of he felt this way perhaps other students did also. I'm not sure if that is the best policy if you want the brightest and best for the military.

I do also understand the ties to federal money and that is why I will not cry foul regarding access to students but I do think that in light of the fact that kids today have great access to information perhaps a more realistic representation of military service would be in order. Don't insult them by stating it's like playing a video game or going on vacation all that will do is turn off a fair number of students.

[Missy Limkemann]

Here is my thing....why force these kids to go to these assemblies? Take for instance my son (who is not in high school yet...but give me 2 years ...) he is special needs. He will never be military, we know that, but force him to go to this, something he can't understand, and then tell him it is like video games or like a vacation, he is going to be sad when he finds out he can't go. Again this is a 13 year old who cannot tie his own shoes or wash his own hair without help, so trust me when I say he is not military. There should be an option for kids whether they want to go to ANY assembly. If they don't want to go, give them study hall, extra credit work, something. When I was in school, I thought these types of things were a waste of my time. I wanted my education, I wanted to learn, I wanted to do my work, not sit and listen to something that had nothing to do with my life or my choices.

Ok, off my box now....lol.

[Will Brown]

DM, do you have any experience with the military? Do you have any first-hand information about what military life is like? I would guess not. So how can you be so certain that military life is like? From personal experience I can tell you that travel and vacation are big selling points to some people. I've not been on active duty since they really went high tech, but I see and read enough that the comparison to video gaming is not the lie you make it out to be.

You are right that the service academies have a very good reputation with regard to engineering. So good in fact (coupled with their cost) that they don't have to recruit. If you walked into a recruiters office and asked about the service academies, the most he could do for you would be to give you a brochure and a phone number (and, of course, he would see if you were interested in enlisting). The main task of recruiters is in finding qualified applicants for enlisting, not in finding officers. And community events, such as bringing in a band or a show, is aimed at this market. And all they want to do at such an event is to bring exposure to military service. If some kids, or parents, don't believe them, that is largely irrelevant, because they only need to pique interest among a few.

ML, if the schools were to cull out those who they think are not qualified for military service and keep them from attending the show, you would scream high and low. Usually, the event is an entertaining show, and even those who are not interested or qualified, can enjoy it. I would think your child would be more hurt by being excluded, than by later finding out he doesn't meet enlistment criteria. If challenged kids are systematically excluded from events, wouldn't the same reasoning lead to excluding them from school?

[Charlie Page]

I certainly hope the armed forces recruiters are reading this. There is some valuable feedback that they probably won’t get out of their marketing focus groups.

On a side note, I have a hard time thanking the federal government for giving back our own money. The largest part of everyone’s tax withholding is for the federal government. They take it from us then turn around and give a small portion back to us and we’re supposed to be grateful.

[Danielle Masters]

Will, while I have never served in the military my father did (Army), my uncle did (Army), my grandfather did (Marines-drill sergeant), my great-father did (Marines) and on my husband's side of the family military service goes far back also. I grew up in San Diego where most of my friends had like me one or both parents serving in the military. Is that enough experience for you? I think I comprehend that it's not like playing a video game or going on vacation.

I was merely pointing out that I have no issue with military recruitment on campus but that the recruiters might not comprehend that many of the kids they are trying to speak too are rather savvy and many of them have grown up watching the news and know military service is not akin to playing a video game or going on vacation and if you think that then well your idea of a vacation is far different than mine.

[Will Brown]

Will, while I have never served in the military my father did (Army), my uncle did (Army), my grandfather did (Marines-drill sergeant), my great-father did (Marines) and on my husband's side of the family military service goes far back also. I grew up in San Diego where most of my friends had like me one or both parents serving in the military. Is that enough experience for you? I think I comprehend that it's not like playing a video game or going on vacation.

If my calculator is right, your resume adds up to exactly no time of actual military service. So from your absolutely vacant reservoir of current military experience, why would any sentient being accept your baseless conclusions? You don't seem to comprehend that military techniques and practices have changed since your ancestors served, or since you were young, even accepting that a camp follower would have had any pertinent knowledge. You don't seem to understand that driving a tank, or being a gunner, is done by manipulating blips on a screen.

[Danielle Masters]

Wow Will you are quite daft. Sorry but when my kids or I play video games it's generally in our living room or at a friends, not in some desert on the other side of the world and another little difference the chance of dying playing a video game or have to kill another human being is nearly zero. I think that my experience as a person with a working brain tells me there is a difference between playing a fake game and going off to war.

Once again not sure why you have such contempt for me it is quite disturbing as I wonder about you. I have said nothing begrudging the military. I totally support our soldiers and I respect my dad and my grandfather who are hardly distant relatives for their military service. I know that growing up I worried about my father and his safety once again something I wouldn't do if he was on a vacation or playing a video game.

We are attempting to have a civil discussion here regarding what our children are being told and the discussions we have had with them regarding the assemblies at Lakewood high school. Once again I merely stated that my son felt his intelligence was being insulted. I think that is a valid comment. You have added nothing but insults to this discussion and honestly I am growing tired of your bizarre behaviors and therefore will be ignoring your posts and no longer responding to your taunts. You rarely add any quality discussion and seem bent on making rude comments, hardly civil at all and certainly not very adult behavior for a board where we are attempting to have adult conversations.

[Missy Limkemann]

ML, if the schools were to cull out those who they think are not qualified for military service and keep them from attending the show, you would scream high and low. Usually, the event is an entertaining show, and even those who are not interested or qualified, can enjoy it. I would think your child would be more hurt by being excluded, than by later finding out he doesn't meet enlistment criteria. If challenged kids are systematically excluded from events, wouldn't the same reasoning lead to excluding them from school?

I for one would not scream high and low if my son was excluded from it. I would demand that he be excluded from it, or he would just miss the day. I don't want "entertainment" when talking about the military. I want truth. I want talk about Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, I don't want a vacation or video game talk. I want TRUTH!!! (did I really just say that when talking about government? OMG I am losing my mind)

I also feel that as a parent I have the right to ask my child be excluded from any assembly that I don't want him to be at. I certainly can excuse my child from school for a religous holiday so I think asking for this is not too much.

I want to say that I have a cousin who is in the Marines right now as we speak. He is Corporal (spelling?) in the Marines. He started out in the Brookpark Group, you know the one that lost almost all their guys a few years ago. I told him about vacation and video games and he just laughed. He said this is no vacation and certainly no video game. He also is getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan now. I also grew up with a military family. But I do have someone in there now, today!!!!