Should the military be allowed to recruit in public schools?

Topic:
U.S. Political Debates

34 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
56% of users

  • Military Member

    They shold be granted the rights that all other are allowed to do. Colleges days are recruitment tools, dont be hypocritical in your statements. Remember freedom isnt free. If you dont want your soon to be adults to defend this country pick up a weapon and fallow me.

    Yes Anonymous

  • I think the military should be allowed to recruit in public schools, because it may be the only opportunity for many kids to find out about the military.

    Most military recruits come from poorer families. Without the benefit of the military, these recruits would not have access to the education and leadership tools that the military utilizes. The military needs to have access to these students in order to recruit them. Without coming into schools, the military would have limited access to said students.

    Yes SqualidVaughn

  • We are well informed

    I am a highschool Senior and the millitary is a big choice for anyone. The recruiters in my area informed my school of many dangers. the brought in a vertean who was in a car boming and had lost both arms.They said that this is a dangerous carrear choice. They were very upfront with us. As to those who say that we are not mature enough to make this choice maybe it is true, But i firmly believe that if i can choose what college i go to i can choose that i want to serve my country. The millitary is giving me the carrer path that i want. I want to be an Army Field surgon. My family is unable to send me to a college that can help me reach my goal. I dont think of this as Luck. Yes, I am going to have to work harder than those born into a family without financial difficulties, butthe millitaryt is my choice and the recruters in my area helped me see this. I support recruiters in high schools.

    Yes Anonymous

  • The "public" aspect

    Military should be allowed to recruit in high schools because the military is a government institution. If children go to a public school that is supported by government dollars (and if they do not pay any fees to attend said school), then because they are getting an educational handout from the government, they should have to sit through the military schpiel. If you don't want the government to meddle in your child's life, send them to a private school, or do the responsible thing and home school them.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes, of course.

    Too impressionable and not mature enough to fight a war huh? Because World War I and World War II weren't fought by many young adults, right? Recruiters aren't predatory, anyone that's worked with one knows that. Let kids make their own decisions. If colleges are allowed to have college fairs in schools, then as a totally legitimate institution and career choice after high school, so should the military. "A certain level of maturity must be reached before these kids can consider fighting a war." There are SO many jobs that are non-combat roles, or support roles, that are virtually in little to no danger. Combat forces may get the majority of the glory, but without support roles, they would grind to a halt. Never everyone has bullets whizzing over their heads all day, only the ones that choose to do.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes

    I am a 17 year old senior and don't have what it takes to get inot college. I don't have the money or the grades. So i signed up for the army, who give me a $50,000 GI bill for college. So i think military recruiting in High School is good for kids, it gives them the chance to do something with their lives.

    Yes Anonymous

  • high school students joining the military will benefit them in the long run.

    high school students are able to make thier own decision, the recruiters job is to inform them about joining the military and the benefits. The recruiters do not tell the students they have to join this is not a mandatory thing the army is a volunteer job no one is told what they have to do. If the students does decide they want to join the military and they are only 17 and currently in thier junior year they will not be able to do active instead they will be required to do the split-ops program and they will be put in army reserves. After the students graduates they will be stuck in army reserves for a few years and then they can decide if they want to do active or not. But if a 17 year old student wants to do active they will have to wait until they finish highschool so there is no comitment to joining the service. If the parents do not want a military recruiter talking to thier kids at all they can get papers to opt out so the students personal stuff will not be shared with a recruiter. A student decides when they want to talk to a recruiter the recruiter does not go to them. in a reply to this answer No way!No way!!! children in high school are not mature enough to join the military at that age. they should goto college and graduate before chosing to goto apply for the military. By the time they graduate they will be mature enough to understand the difficulties and fears that will probably await Students will still be able to go to college if they join the reserves. The military will pay for the college but the students is then required to serve 4 years active and 4 years inactive. So the students will be able to get an education and they will be getting paid for it.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes!!!

    I am an 18 year old High School senior. Last march I joined the United States Marine Corps. I will be going to Boot Camp in June right after I graduate. I am not just choosing to say that it is okay that recruiters are allowed in high schools, just because I was contacted by one. I am saying yes, because it is a great way to learn about serving your country. When a recruiter speaks with students at the high school, they aren't forcing them to do anything. Yes, he/she might tell the student all the ''good thing'' about joining the military, but most students know that if you join, you have the chance of going to war. There are HUNDREDS of jobs in all the branches of the military that don't involve seeing combat at all. A popular argument on the other side of this discussion is that parents aren't always informed of the recruiters talking to their kids. But I think that if their child is talking to the recruiter, they have an interest in joining and they would have talked about it at home. Therefore, the parents probably would have talked to them about it. Another argument is that the kids aren't mature enough for it. That is what Boot camp is for!!!!!! In my case.. If I'm not mature enough to handle war.. Boot Camp will show that, and I won't Graduate from it.. Kids aren't going straight from their high school classrooms, to the battlefield. There is a lot of training to get them to the point where they are ''mature'' enough to go to war. I agree with other people on this, that all people should have to go through training and serve our country. It would truly open everyone eyes to what anyone in the military goes through. Another reason I think that it is completely okay that recruiters come to high schools and talk to students is because it gives kids that can't financially get a higher education a goal to graduate and get help from the military to get further education.

    Yes Anonymous

  • a great choice

    yes because i have to choose to go to the military after i had graduated andif they didnt i dnt know wat i would have dne so thanks to recruiters

    Yes Anonymous

  • Lucky it is not mandatory to serve

    I have been serving in the USAF for 11years, and after traveling around and noticing most countries require their nationals to serve at least a 2 year commitment; opens your eyes!!! We need to really remeber who gives us the right to run our mouths with the freedom of speech.

    Yes Anonymous

  • A great way to give high school kids an opportunity to get an education that will help them in future years.

    The U.S. military has been stretched dangerously thin by the American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Plus, the military has a lot to offer: good pay, money for college, and the chance to see the world. The presence of military recruiters in high schools does not force students to join the military; it simply alerts them to an option.

    Yes R4di0Chad

  • I don't think it's harmful to let students know about their career options in the military through recruitment in public schools.

    For many students a career in the military may create opportunities they may not otherwise have had. As long as recruitment efforts are not aggressive, I think presence of military recruiters in the public schools is acceptable. It seems unlikely that a student who has a much different plan for his life after high school, or one who is resistant to serving in the military would be persuaded to join the military because of the presence of recruiters in his school. Meanwhile, students who are interested in joining the military or who are still assessing a variety of educational/career options will be able to educate themselves about what military service would mean for them more easily.

    Yes EntiDean

  • I think the military should be allowed to recruit in public schools.

    I believe that the military should be allowed to recruit in public schools. If schools can hold job fairs and allow prospective colleges into schools, the military should be allowed as well. Some kids aren't able to qualify for financial aide and otherwise unable to pay for college. The military offers kids a way to pay for school, and offers others who wouldn't go to school ordinarily a chance at a career.

    Yes CiriHug2

  • The military should be allowed to recruit in public schools because there's no good reason to disallow it.

    The military should definitely be allowed to recruit in public schools because public schools are one of the best places to find potential soldiers. Every kid has the choice to join the military at some point or another anyway, so they might as well know what the military is all about at a reasonably early time. It truly is the best future option for many students (ones with bad grades for example) so these kids deserve to know about it.

    Yes TwoVic

  • I believe the military, like colleges, should be allowed to recruit in public schools.

    I believe the military should be allowed to recruit in public schools. Students are deciding what they want to do with their future, and that is one of their options. It is the best way for students to get information about what opportunities await them, such as college, military or work. Military personnel visiting public schools are simply providing information for students and are not using unethical actions to get them to join the military. It is very similar to colleges attending public schools to recruit new students.

    Yes ObaICheese

  • The military should be allowed to recruit in public schools because their is nothing offensive about the military and it also a very honorable and patriotic thing to serve.

    The military should be allowed to recruit in public schools because their is nothing offensive about the military and it also a very honorable and patriotic thing to serve. Students in high school are already subjected to the violent images they see in the news. Their is nothing offensive about the military and the job it does that would prevent it from recruiting high school students who wish to serve their country in any of the armed forces. Signing up for a particular branch of the armed forces is not a punched ticket for war, either. In addition, the armed forces can teach and train soldiers in real world professions such as medicine and law enforcement that the soldiers can take after they leave the service and have a successful career.

    Yes 53r3n3Piers

  • I agree that the military should be allowed to recruit in public schools, going to the military is a viable option after graduation.

    Students do want to join the military and they should be at the campus job and career fairs. A student should be aware of all of their options when deciding what to do with the rest of your life. The military is a proud American institution that instills pride and discipline in Americans and, they should be supported. A person can learn a lot form military service and a lot of kids these days are excited to serve for their country. College or trade school isn't the next step for most people. The military will also teach you a skilled trade that you can use when your service is up.

    Yes C0ImEIite

  • Why not it's not the worst profession that a child could choice.

    I was in the military and to tell you the truth a lot of today's youth's could use the experience that the military gives you. It teaches you how to survive and do things that you did not think you could ever do. So yes let the military recruit in the schools serving your country is not a bad thing but an honor to do.

    Yes 5h4rkEmar

  • Heck yes, they should, our young should be proud to serve!

    Public schools have no problem with colleges recruiting on campus. Why would they have a problem with the Military doing the same? Are they trying to tell me that is not important? We need patriots in this time we live in. People just don't seem to realize that we are a nation at war. I believe that any school that attempts to ban the Army from recruiting should have their federal funds pulled.

    Yes BriaBlacken
Voice Your Opinion
No
44% of users

  • No high school students are not mature enough to make such a desicion that will change there life forever.

    An army recruiter is no better than a car’s salesman they will tell you anything to get you to sign up and once you do you’re stuck. They say oh it's just four years and they pay for college. They will avoid telling you about the inactive duty where you are likely to be deployed again and this time not with your friends so instead you will be convinced to reenlist so you can stay with your group. From there you are bribed with bonuses to continue to extend your contract and once you get to the 10 year mark you might as well stick it out tell retirement to have the benefits for life. It is not just a 4 year commitment. The recruiters know high school students are an easy target they won’t ask a lot of questions and will believe anything they are told. You will never be the same after the army in some good ways and some bad.

    No Anonymous

  • I disagree that the military should be able to recruit in public school because minor children should have a parent's involvement in a decision that can change their lives for the worse, forever.

    Military service is dangerous and rigorous. The training is a sort of brain washing. Children are not in a position to know what is best for them or understand the gravity of what they are exposing themselves to should they join the military. If the clergy wanted to enter a school and recruit kids to be ministers everyone would be up in arms. The military is no different than religion in that it requires discipline and sacrifice and is responsible for the mass murder of billions of people since time began.

    No N3vinFace

  • NO!!!

    No. Just because the military and public schools are government institutions does not mean that those who aren't lucky enough to afford private school should have to go to war.

    No Anonymous

  • The separation of civil life and military life is essential to keeping politics out of war.

    The military provides a critical service, but it is not a civilian service. The military kills, controls and manipulates in order to achieve goals, among them defense. Those methods, as well as the environment of conformity and command-chain obedience, are not compatible with school environments. Schools are about learning and not compulsory or controlling military service. We should not further militarize our society by inviting recruiters into public schools.

    No CarMj

  • No way!

    No way!!! children in high school are not mature enough to join the military at that age. they should goto college and graduate before chosing to goto apply for the military. By the time they graduate they will be mature enough to understand the difficulties and fears that will probably await.

    No Anonymous

  • Public high school students are not yet mature enough to make such an important life decision.

    I do not think the military should be allowed to recruit in public high schools, as a person of that age is not mature enough to understand all the potential dangers or risks involved. A certain level of maturity must be reached before these kids can consider fighting a war.

    No Quibarce

  • I oppose military recruitment in public schools, as teenagers are not equipped to make these life changing decisions based on the information offered by recruiting officers.

    Recruiters for the military swoop down on juniors and seniors in highschool promising college education and ability to see the world. Parents are out of the loop while their children are listening to only the good things these recruits offer. Then the branches continually call home phones asking for the children because the phone numbers are made available. A better practice would be to make appointments with the parents and the child away from the school so parents can discuss both the negative and positive aspects.

    No EueChosen

  • Recruiting in public schools by the military shouldn't be allowed because children there are too impressionable.

    It is unfair to go to a school and talk to children about joining the military. These children will believe everything that is said one hundred percent. Things are promised to these children that really aren't fulfilled. I think that military should only be allowed to talk to adults eighteen and older and not in a school setting because there is always the factor of peer pressure as well.

    No B3rkIffy

  • The military should not be allowed to recruit in public schools.

    School age children are very impressionable. I don't feel it is right for any organization to recruit from schools. Especially not one as life changing as the military. With teenagers there is always the peer pressure whether is be pro or anti military it is likely to affect a teenagers decision on whether or not to join the military. I have nothing but respect for those who serve in our military but I would not want a child to enlist for any reason besides the truthfully and personally wanting to. If a person really does want to join the military there are plenty of advertisements and recruiting offices in almost every city.

    No w00tboycomic

  • The military should have the same access to schools as any other company, no more, no less.

    I know that some people would object to the military recruiting in public schools on philosophical grounds. But whether you believe in the military or not, people do have the right to choose it as a career for themselves. And that's just what the military is, a career. As such, it's entirely appropriate for the military to recruit in public schools in the same way that colleges, professional sports teams and future employers do. Since there is no draft and participation in the military is voluntary, students who are not interested can simply ignore the military recruiters. On the other hand, students who are interested shouldn't be put at a disadvantage by having the military recruiters excluded while other students are provided recruiting opportunities of interest to them.

    No 54r4h5FinI

  • I do not support this as I have always thought the age to enlist is far too young.

    If we don't let children drink alcohol until they are 21 why on earth would we let them enlist at 16. Young and impressionable the army recruiters have a lot of tricks up their sleeves to make our young boys and girls think this the only option for them. They make it look glamorous, noble, exciting and financially rewarding. This is just not the reality as any new recruit just out of boot camp will tell you. The recruit kids so young is a crime. Let them go into colleges if they must but not our schools

    No Chr0Iviobile

  • The military should not be allowed to recruit in public schools because it's pressuring on children.

    The military should not be allowed to recruit in public schools because it's pressuring on children. Children are required to attend school, so unless they go to private school or are home-schooled, there is no avoiding their presence. It's not that the military is bad, but there is a lot of pressure by their presence for kids to sign up.

    No H0bi3Invader

  • The military discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, thus is not an equal-opportunity organization.

    Public schools are supposed to be non-sectarian and open to all individuals. It is inappropriate for public schools to allow any employer, community group, organization, etc. access to public schools if that entity is not open to all people. This should be the case for any group wishing to present at assemblies, disseminate information, or volunteer their services in any way to the school system.

    No DVargas

  • The military should not be allowed to recruit in public schools because school children should not be subjected their marketing ploys.

    The job of military recruiters is to meet their quotas and school children are particularly vulnerable to their sales ploys. They emphasize the positive aspects of joining the military while downplaying the negatives, including the possibilities of death and physical and mental disability. It is not uncommon for new recruits to be unaware that the statements made by recruiters are in no way binding until they report for duty.

    No Pur3Erto

  • No, the age the army is targeting at is not mentally prepared enough to make such serious decisions

    The military is trying to recruit kids right in their high school. At the ages of 16, 17, and 18, high-schoolers brains are continuing to develop. In fact, the "foresight" part of their brain - that is, a part involved in decision making skills doesn't develop completely for several more years. The military knows this and takes advantage of it. High-schoolers don't know what they're getting themselves into.

    No 54ndDavi
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