Please join activists from the DC
Antiwar Network and Code Pink Women for Peace in a peaceful
demonstration at the U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Center located at
8202 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland this Friday, May 27,
from 5:00 pm. to 7:00 pm.
The station is located three blocks
from the Silver Spring Metro at the intersection of Silver Spring Ave.
and Georgia Ave. From the South Side Metro Exit, walk one block
east on Bonifant St. to Georgia Avenue, then right 2 blocks to the
recruiting station.
Driving on Georgia Ave. from DC, the recruiting station is on the left, about two blocks past East-West Highway (Rt. 410).
We are protesting the militarization of
our communities and schools. We are outraged by recent reports in
the news detailing recruiting excesses and improprieties:
- The No Child Left Behind Act is
putting young people at risk by requiring high schools to give military
recruiters access to the names, addresses and phone numbers of students.
At least eight recruiters have been
accused of assaulting potential or new recruits in Indiana, West
Virginia, Washington, California, New York and Maryland since the law
took effect in 2002.
- Interviews with recruiters in 10
states reveal routine concealment of mental-health histories and police
records of recruits. A 21-year-old man in Ohio with bipolar
disorder, fresh out of a three-week stint in a psychiatric hospital was
enlisted by recruiters and was ready to be shipped off to boot
camp. The military would not release him until his parents had
their congressman intervene. An Army investigation found no
wrong-doing and the recruiters are still at their jobs.
- Recruiters across the country are
giving children a special ‘aptitude’ test (ASVAB) without parental
consent. The test is used by recruiters to gain information on
potential recruits.
- A Marine recruiter in Oklahoma was
recently convicted of fraudulently enlisting two recruits who had
unresolved underage drinking charges.
- An Army Recruiter from Texas
threatened a potential recruit with arrest if he did not report to the
Recruiting Center at the local mall.
- Throughout the country, military
recruiters chaperone high school proms, referee intramural sports
events and sponsor various clubs then socialize with students after
school hours in popular hangouts like waiting areas of
neighborhood restaurants that employ large numbers of local
youth. Recruiting manuals instruct recruiters to “own the
schools” and “penetrate the market.”
- The Navy runs newspaper
advertisements that say, "Postal worker - Hiring H.S. Diploma grads,
17-34. No experience needed, will train. Must relocate. Excellent pay
& benefits." Calls to the toll free number are answered by
Navy recruiters.
- A 17 year-old walked into a
recruiting station in Colorado and told the recruiter he was a high
school dropout and a pot head. Actually, he was neither, but the
recruiter suggested he draw up a fake diploma and take certain drugs to
hide the marijuana in his urine.
- The Army inserts promotional
literature into the video jackets of violent and sexually explicit
R-rated rentals nationally to target a select audience.
- Helicopter, tank and Humvee visits to the nation’s high schools are "standard practice" in communities across the nation.
- Recruiters intimidate and lie to high school students about the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and other material facts.
Join us this Friday!
Ideas for signs:
Stop the lies!
Tell the truth!
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Brochures, Flyers and Articles to help in Counter-Recruiting
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Brochure: Do you know enough to enlist? (AFSC)
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/Military-Recruitment/Enlist.PDF
Brochure: What you should know before joining the military:
(Project Yano)
http://comdsd.org/yano_web/NOTJSTJ_B-W_2-05.pdf
Single page flyer: Recruitment Promises and Realty:
http://www.afsc.org/eyes/recruitment-promises.pdf
Single page flyer: Ten points to consider before you sign a military ennlistment agreement: (AFSC)
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/Military-Recruitment/10pts.pdf
This is a quasi-official site sponsored by the Army National Guard and includes articles with titles like, "What the Recruiter Never Told You"
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm
U.S. Army Recruiter's Handbook:
http://www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/REC_PUBS/p350_2.pdf
“Recruiting Improprieties Policies and Procedures” (USAREC 601-45)
is an 18 page pdf. Pay particular attention to 2-3 h:
(1) "Recruiters will not knowingly mislead or misinform a prospect
or applicant regarding any aspect of processing, entitlements,
benefits or other aspects of the Army so the prospect or applicant
would decide to enlist…Other examples include false promises of cash
bonuses, Army College Fund, Student Loan Repayment Program.."
USAREC 601-25 is a 3 page PDF on prohibited and regulated
activities, like sexual conduct, alcohol use, etc.
To access these sites, simply google, "usarec 601-45" and "usarec
601-25" You'll come to a link on electronic publications. Click on
that and then you can access the two publications.
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More resources:
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Deceptions in Recruiting:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/deceptioninrecruiting.htm#_ednref4
Marketing Enlistment:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/In_harm_s_Way.pdf
Before you enlist:
http://www.objector.org/before-you-enlist/myths.html
Locally:
http://www.counter-recruitment.org/website/
Recruiting Center Demo - May 27, 5PM