Would you allow a military recruiter to contact your teenager?

December 15, 2008

During this holiday season, those in the armed forces and their families should be in our thoughts and prayers. We should be so grateful for their incredible sacrifice. 

Many military families have empty places at the holiday dinner table. I can not imagine the pain that these people feel this time of year.

 

Would you be happy if your son or daughter decided to go into the military?

 

I have to be honest and tell you that the military life is not one that I have encouraged for my two teens. My selfish preference is for them to go to college and learn a career that involves helping people while staying safe themselves.  

 

According to a recent article in the Spinal Column, I am not alone. In the two high schools in my own school district of Huron Valley, many students opt out of having their names being placed on a contact list for new military recruits.

 

 

For example, during the 2008-2009 school year, 1,106 out of 1,687 students at Milford High School opted to keep their contact information from being accessed by military recruiters. At Lakeland High School, the numbers were 1,002 out of 1,730 students.

 

If a school receives federal funding, it must allow military recruiters to access student directories, according to Section 9528 of the federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”

 

However, the act also mandates that parents and students be informed as to how to prevent their contact information from being given to military recruiters. 
 

My family has not been confronted with this decision since my teenagers attend private schools. If they were at public schools, I am not sure if we would opt to have their names removed from the military recruitment list.

 

Until I met my husband, I was pretty clueless about (and removed from) the military life. My dad was in the service before I was born, and I came from a family of all girls. Back then, military careers were not something that females seriously considered.

 

My husband barely missed the draft during the Vietnam era, and went to college instead.

 

However, my brother-in-law Larry Krieg has been in the United States Army for many years. His service has included a lot of time away from his family, including a stint at “Camp Gitmo.”  I also have many cousins who have signed up to defend our country at one time or another.

 

These families have all given up so much for the United States. For example, a few years ago, my brother-in-law stunned us when he announced at his wedding that he would be leaving his new bride and family and going overseas.

 

The willingness of these fine people to sacrifice is what keeps Americans safe, free, and luckier than people in other countries. 

Thank you to all of our military, and happy holidays! We are grateful and proud!