SPUSA Counter Recruitment

RESIST, DON'T ENLIST
MYTHS AND
TRUTHS ABOUT
JOINING THE
U.S. MILITARY
SOCIALIST PARTY USA
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
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Are you prepared to fight in any war, in
any place, and any time that the
government orders you to?
Is this a spur of the moment decision
you may regret later?
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Have you really considered all the
college financial aid and job training
placement possibilities in your
community?
Have you talked to any of the many
veterans who didn't like the military?
Why didn't they make the military a
career?
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Is joining the military something you
want to do, or are you being pressured
into it by other people?
If you become unhappy after you
enlist, do you know how hard it would
be to get out?
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If you get a less-than-honorable
discharge, do you know how hard it
would be to get it changed?
RECRUITERS LIE
RECRUITERS LIE
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Recruiters must meet their quotas or
"mission"
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They must "play fast and loose with the
rules" to find new recruits because "no
one wants to join" (The New York
Times, May 8, 2005)
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Recruitment attempts are often
followed threats, coercion, and false
promises
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One in five recruiters is investigated for
improprieties (Damien Cave, The New
York Times, May 3, 2005)
RECRUITERS LIE
MYTH
TRUTH
The military will give you up to $86,000 to
pay for college.
57 percent of enlistees don't get any
college money.
The military gives real life job training
and experience.
A majority reported being unhappy
with their compensation, and only 54
percent reported job satisfaction,
including officers.
You won't see combat, and you can
leave the military when you want.
The military can extend your contract
without your permission.
9 THINGS TO REMEMBER
WHEN TALKING TO A RECRUITER
Recruiters are trying to make a sale
Take along a parent or friend
Don't hide your medical condition or police record
Carefully read any papers you are given
Talk with parents, friends, or a civilian counselor
Get all promises in writing
Get copies of everything you sign
Ask questions
If you don't like your new job, you can't quit
THE ENLISTMENT AGREEMENT
Page 2, paragraph nine, point B of the enlistment
agreement states:
"Laws and regulations that govern military personnel
may change without notice to me. Such changes may
affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits and
responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces
regardless of the provisions of me and enlistment/
reenlistment document. "
Translation: It's a binding contract for you, but not for
them.
DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM
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You don't have to go,
even if you have signed
up under DEP
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You don't need a "good
reason"; simply put your
request in writing
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There is no catch
WHAT THEY'RE NOT SAYING
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Veterans typically earn 12% to 15%
less than workers who did not serve in
the military
A person signing up for money for
college can expect an average net
benefit of less than $2200, which takes
into account the $1200 nonrefundable
contribution that every enlistee makes
($100 a month for the first 12 months
of service)
Because of "stop loss" orders, recruit
can be kept in the military and
definitely, or callback from the reserves
years later
People of color represent one third of
all enlisted personnel but only one
eighth of the officers
WHAT THEY'RE NOT SAYING
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Nearly 90% of women in the military
report being sexually harassed
Nearly one third of women soldiers
report being raped
65% of current enlistees state that they
are not satisfied with their military jobs
In addition to the more than thousands
of US men and women who have died
in the war any rack, there are tens of
thousands more who have been
wounded and have returned home
with dramatic brain injuries, loss of the
lambs, PTSD, and serious illnesses
related to exposure to depleted
uranium used in U.S. munitions.
Military personnel are trained and must
be prepared to kill other human beings
KNOW THE TRUTH
ABOUT LIFE IN THE MILITARY
You will lose almost all
control over how you live
The military has serious
problems with racial inequality
LGBTQ recruits and those with
alternative political views are highly
discriminated against
"Many women report that
they are not allowed to work
for the jobs which they were
trained."
Abuse during basic training
is routine