Pros and Cons of Military Recruitment in Schools

The Military will use any means necessary to tell you the pros of why they are trying to recruit you without telling you the exact details.

(1)Pros:

War. No matter where your opinion of it falls, we can agree that the war is currently being waged on two fronts. We can also agree that our fighting force, men and women who grew up right next door to you and me, are dying every single day.

Taking these two facts into account, we can come to the conclusion that a larger fighting force, equipped with more soldiers, more weapons, and more advanced technology, will decrease the number of deaths on the front lines.

This means that literally, every time young men or women who wish to better themselves enlist in the armed forces, lives are saved.    

But to the few who excel above the mold, who pursue a higher calling, I urge you to listen to what recruiters have to say.

If you can do that, you may become the next American who decides to stand up for what you believe in, instead of letting your values be pushed to the side.

Cons:
When a crisply dressed military recruiter appears in my classroom to give his spiel, mixed feelings arise.  A part of me rejoices because I know when recruiters come in, it’s a free day. However, feelings of irritation also arise. Recruiters also target students (mostly male) who may not have a supportive family life.  Recruiters look for guys who long to find a place where they belong. The recruiters convince students that the military is just the place to find the brotherhood they have been missing all of their lives. 

I understand that everyone wants to be accepted. It’s natural for humans to crave social bonds with others, but kids should know that recruiters are not their friends; they are just doing their job.  Let’s not forget that they are salesmen trying to pitch their product to impressionable teenagers. You sign up, and they can get paid.  

I know that for some kids, the military can help them reach their goals. I also know that they need to gain information about their desired military branch, but do that on someone else’s time, not at school.(1)

(1)-http://snntoday.snn.pcsb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149:military-recruiters-in-high-school-pros-and-cons&catid=44:opinion&Itemid=78