I've had enough

I've been fighting this battle for a couple of years with the schools - not wanting recruiters there, etc. This is the first time they have called my phone. There are aptitude tests given at most schools, in the junior and senior year - that are created by the military and the results are shared with the military. The students aren't told this when they take the test, just that it is a good test that will help them figure out what kind of career they are cut out for. I have always signed the "opt out" forms so that the military recruiters are not given our contact info from the high school -but something must have slipped through this time.

Stay firm, and away, 2XSA. I signed some things when I was 17 and have still not entirely escaped (called up 4 days ago). I am 49! And hi, BTW!

When they started this war I received a recall identification # in the mail. I was already past my 8 years out mark and they still contacted me. Recently I received some useless mail from Veterans Affairs It was about 6 months ago. I think they were just confirming that they knwo where I am...

I have a feeling I will see another recall # in the year to come.

This was my post. 3rddayrising... Hey 2x, if your son is really considering joining, then perhaps you may want some facts so he knows exactly what the rules of the game are and everything is on the level before he makes his decision as these are things that the recruiter will not cover.

Inform him that the wages are approx a grand a month.

If he does serve, when he decides to get out, they may not let him, even though his obligatory duty is up. They can unilaterally extend your service simply by extending your tour of duty in acceptable circumstances.

Once he is out, he is under obligation and subject to recall to active duty as an inactive reservist for 8 years from the date of his DD-214 discharge papers without any notice whatsoever.

Finally, they very rarely prosecute anyone criminally anymore for going AWOL. They just give them a lousy discharge and send them on their way...

3rdDayrising

Hey 2XSA! I can't PM, and I don't know whether you remember, but you helped me out with S&S (remember her?). We became great friends. Thanks!

I've been fighting this battle for a couple of years with the schools - not wanting recruiters there, etc. This is the first time they have called my phone. There are aptitude tests given at most schools, in the junior and senior year - that are created by the military and the results are shared with the military. The students aren't told this when they take the test, just that it is a good test that will help them figure out what kind of career they are cut out for. I have always signed the "opt out" forms so that the military recruiters are not given our contact info from the high school -but something must have slipped through this time.

Yeah...
My youngest son came home last year and said the recruiter told him that he was impressed with his test scores AND GRADES.

HOW DARE THE schools give out their grades, home telephone numbers, and addresses. I was outraged! I would think with all the new HIPPA and privacy laws this info. would be considered PRIVATE...but I guess not.

My son is not interested at all. He and I have talked about this for the last 6 years or more. Especially after 9/11. I told him that there is no way to know what kind of wars will be fought and for what reason - and once you sign up, you have to go, no matter what, whether you believe it is justified or not. So if you are willing to do that...

It's not like he's wanting to do this and I'm standing in his way.

Hey 2XSA! I can't PM, and I don't know whether you remember, but you helped me out with S&S (remember her?). We became great friends. Thanks!

Yes, I remember! I'm happy that went well!

I've been fighting this battle for a couple of years with the schools - not wanting recruiters there, etc. This is the first time they have called my phone. There are aptitude tests given at most schools, in the junior and senior year - that are created by the military and the results are shared with the military. The students aren't told this when they take the test, just that it is a good test that will help them figure out what kind of career they are cut out for. I have always signed the "opt out" forms so that the military recruiters are not given our contact info from the high school -but something must have slipped through this time.

Those tests are exactly what got me involved with them in the first place. The ones I took were called the ASVAB test, if memory serves.

I feel it is good for recruiters to be in our schools and I think it is good for our youth to go into the service of their nation. However, I do not think that haggling parents and incessantly calling the kids is appropriate at all. Kids are much more unfamiliar with and more suceptible to pressure, especially from an adult. It should be a free choice, not a car sale closer type choice

My son is not interested at all. He and I have talked about this for the last 6 years or more. Especially after 9/11. I told him that there is no way to know what kind of wars will be fought and for what reason - and once you sign up, you have to go, no matter what, whether you believe it is justified or not. So if you are willing to do that...

It's not like he's wanting to do this and I'm standing in his way.

I understand. I just thought I would give you a heads up to what he is really looking at. 3dr

Yeah...
My youngest son came home last year and said the recruiter told him that he was impressed with his test scores AND GRADES.

HOW DARE THE schools give out their grades, home telephone numbers, and addresses. I was outraged! I would think with all the new HIPPA and privacy laws this info. would be considered PRIVATE...but I guess not.

You know... I think 1 or 2 years of mandatory service, for ALL kids out of high school, might not be a bad thing. But it shouldn't have to be in the military. There should be many options for serving your country.

I feel it is good for recruiters to be in our schools and I think it is good for our youth to go into the service of their nation. However, I do not think that haggling parents and incessantly calling the kids is appropriate at all. Kids are much more unfamiliar with and more suceptible to pressure, especially from an adult. It should be a free choice, not a car sale closer type choice

You know... I think 1 or 2 years of mandatory service, for ALL kids out of high school, might not be a bad thing. But it shouldn't have to be in the military. There should be many options for serving your country.

For the third time, the military recruiters have called my cell phone (we don't have a land line) asking to speak to my son. I have told them he is not interested and not to call again. Tonight the Srgt. Cp. Whoeverthefuck, told me they would keep calling until they spoke with him. That THEY need to see if he meets certain qualifications that THEY are interested in. WHAT THE FUCK? I said, "He is MY son and not 18 and YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO HIM." She said, "You know what mam....." and then she shut up and told me to have a nice day and hung up.

This pisses me off to no end.

Yeah...
My youngest son came home last year and said the recruiter told him that he was impressed with his test scores AND GRADES.

HOW DARE THE schools give out their grades, home telephone numbers, and addresses. I was outraged! I would think with all the new HIPPA and privacy laws this info. would be considered PRIVATE...but I guess not.

I am shocked (not really sure why I should be though) that the schools have been so complicit in this, giving out personal information and all. Perhaps there are exemptions for the military in the interest of "national security"?

Also, fill out the forms at this website. They will stop calling.

[link to themmob.org]

Your sons school is providing info to the military regarding your son. You can stop this by filling out those forms.

Takes about 5 min. each.

I really wonder what she was going to say to me when she said "You know what mam....." It's like she thought better of it and ended the phone call.
I thought it was odd, too. Thanks for speaking up.

You know... I think 1 or 2 years of mandatory service, for ALL kids out of high school, might not be a bad thing. But it shouldn't have to be in the military. There should be many options for serving your country.

Absolutely...
BRAVO! A voice of reason.
What an excellent idea. I wonder if they've ever explored that option.

I really wonder what she was going to say to me when she said "You know what mam....." It's like she thought better of it and ended the phone call.
I thought it was odd, too. Thanks for speaking up.

You know... I think 1 or 2 years of mandatory service, for ALL kids out of high school, might not be a bad thing. But it shouldn't have to be in the military. There should be many options for serving your country.

Absolutely...
BRAVO! A voice of reason.
What an excellent idea. I wonder if they've ever explored that option.

The idea has been tossed around for a while now, at least since the first Clinton term, but met with resistance for a variety of reasons. One of the main ones being comparisons to the "Hitler Youth" and such.

I agree many options for serving the country should be available, but I feel they should remain optional.

Of course, I understand the desire to instill in the youth a sense of pride, and usefulness, and responsibility, ect.

I feel it is good for recruiters to be in our schools and I think it is good for our youth to go into the service of their nation. However, I do not think that haggling parents and incessantly calling the kids is appropriate at all. Kids are much more unfamiliar with and more suceptible to pressure, especially from an adult. It should be a free choice, not a car sale closer type choice

I really wonder what she was going to say to me when she said "You know what mam....." It's like she thought better of it and ended the phone call.
I thought it was odd, too. Thanks for speaking up.



What she might have going to say was....

"I totally understand how you feel, ma'am. And if I were you, I wouldn't want my kid to join the army either.

But this is my job. They won't let me out of the army, and I refused to do this, they'd probably send ME back to Iraq."



But they record those phone calls, so maybe she figured she'd just better keep her mouth shut.

I really wonder what she was going to say to me when she said "You know what mam....." It's like she thought better of it and ended the phone call.
I thought it was odd, too. Thanks for speaking up.



What she might have going to say was....

"I totally understand how you feel, ma'am. And if I were you, I wouldn't want my kid to join the army either.

But this is my job. They won't let me out of the army, and I refused to do this, they'd probably send ME back to Iraq."



But they record those phone calls, so maybe she figured she'd just better keep her mouth shut.


or

"...If you dont happily hand over your son to us ma'am, we will assume you and your family are domestic terrorists and round you up and ship you to a fema detainment camp. But the choice is up to you."