Category:

PE Class with the Marines.

6/11/2014

The Marine recruiter came to "help" with the 3 PE classes for the high school. Remember, this is a small rural school with 30-40 kids per grade. This was his 3rd visit in 8 school days to this small rural school with only 30-40 kids per grade. The next school down the road has 400 per grade. Why is he not fishing in a bigger pond?

He is trained that poorer rural schools are more likely to let him do what he wants?
He likes the scenic drive to the small rural school?
Perhaps my presence on campus when recruiters are there is an affront to his hoo-rah buddy system of always being right and he is "marking" his territory/

I really don't know.

I went to the school with two friends of mine and here is what we saw:

I did not take this video, someone with me did.

It is not your typical PE class calisthetics. This "exercise" has on person on the ground, face up, and other public school students on each side and they are to drag the inert student in the middle. Yes. Just like in a war movie. Yes. Just like in boot camp. Except that this is in public school.

They also had students carrying other students across their back and walking for 25 feet or so. Kinda like you would carry a wounded comrade in a move. Or in Afghanistan, or in this public school when the Marine recruiter is the teacher.

The physical education class was led by the Marine Corps RECRUITER and his assistant was a graduate from this small rural school who had joined the Marine Corps. I do not think either of those two have a degree in physical education.

Here is the recruiter's first visit ever to the small rural school on May 13th. He is demonstrating the proper "ammo" can lift.

I do not have a photo of the recruiter when he was back 3 days later to help with the school clean-up day. He said he would be there to help in the morning and then do the Marine Corps Fitness exercises for students in the afternoon. He got confused and only helped with the clean-up and did not follow through with the afternoon activities.

So, the video above is from when he was back once again to this small rural school on May 22nd to run the PE classes.

Bonus!

Turns out that this recruiter has a lot of time on his hands to woo this small rural school district and the students as he showed up at the high school graduation to hand out awards on June7th.

To recap:
1st visit ever by this recruiter to this school - May 13
2nd visit - May 16
3rd visit - May 22nd
4th visit - for graduation - June 7th

His job description is not Ambassador for the Marines. His job description is RECRUITER.

The recruiter's handbooks tell them to ingratiate themselves with the faculty and staff at schools. This guy is by the book.|

But, I am not buying it.

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The Marines came to visit 3 times in 8 school days....

5/13/2014

26 Comments

Just to be clear.

I want a plethora of choices of post secondary educational opportunities presented at public schools.

This issue started when there were an overwhelming amount of military visits to this small rural school and few trade school or colleges
that came to the campus.

Today was a scheduled Marine Corps recruiting session at the small rural school
where my kid goes .

I got there 15 minutes early and darned if they had not arrived and checked in
1/2 hour before that.

The head recruiter got briefed by the principal about me and given the "list" of what they can and cannot do.

This list of administrative rules regarding recruiters only exists because I worked hard to make it so.

There were no rules before me.

The head recruiter asked me how I was, and I replied, "Great," and asked in return how he was.

He said he was tired because
he was up late talking to people and telling them truthful things about joining the Marines.

Yes, HE SAID that.

They had an "ammo" ( I am not certain that an "ammo" box has any place in a public school...) box that was filled with sand and got young boys to sign a waiver to see how many times they could lift it over their head in two minutes.

Why?

So if the kid does a certain amount of lifts, - he - or she will get a "prize."

I am not kidding!

A prize.

A Marine lanyard.

A Marine keychain.

A Marine poster.

You, dear reader, and I, have paid for these prizes with our taxes.

Kids fell for this big time.

The waiver they sign incidentally gives their contact info.

The head recruiter told them that if they check the "no-contact" box he will not call them.

Right.

I bet some other recruiter will.

Get this:

THIS FRIDAY is the school community clean up day.
The same head honcho recruiter is going to VOLUNTEER to help.
That is now 2 recruitment efforts in less than 2 weeks.

But WAIT.
There is MORE!

Next week the same head recruiter will be back to teach all the high school PE classes via the "Marine Corps Youth Physical Fitness" program.
That is a recruiting program spelled out clearly in the Marine Corps description of the program.

So now that is 3 Marine recruitment efforts at this small rural school where there are only
40 kids per GRADE.

******************************************

Oh, yeah....
The head recruiter also stopped the band teacher in the hall to ask if he could come talk to the band about the Marines - cause the Marines have the oldest band and .....yadda yadda yadda.

26 Comments

A funny thing happened.

12/11/2013

1 Comment

I keep a sharp eye on the school calendar as the school has implemented a policy that ALL recruitment visits, be they college or military, are to be listed online at least 2 weeks prior to the visit.

A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, I double checked the calendar and there was a Naval Academy presentation that got added to the calendar a mere 5 minutes before it was to begin!

I make it a point to be on campus for any military presence and I could not be there on 5 minutes notice.

I contacted the school right away and the councilor and the the principal got back to me to explain that it was an oversight and not an intentional action that would have prevented me from being there for the presentation.

Do I believe them?
*********************************************

Here is a great video that I just watched.

I like the idea that children can be solicited to go to a college and if they change their minds during the course of that commitment - they can move on.

Not so with the military.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kcz7NFrPUg0

Pertinent Cartoon!

1 Comment

My Part Time Job

11/21/2013

2 Comments

I no longer protest in front of the school each morning. I no longer pester the principal and councilor and school board about policy changes. I accept that I got the most egregious actions changed at this school district.

However, I still go and sit and "monitor" the military recruiters when they come soliciting.

That is my part time job. I like it. I have to go less and less as time goes on. This is my 4th year of being a "monitor" and each year fewer and fewer military recruiters opt to travel to this small rural school district. Go figure.

I still have strong feelings that children should not be solicited for any future endeavors that they cannot get out of, if they change their mind. I mean, you and I likely have the option of looking for another job, or car or spouse. The military does not give children that option.

I plan on being the "monitor" for years to come. It does not take too much of my time, and as a friend told me, "You may be saving many lives here and around the world." I had to think about that and I admit she may be right.

I would totally suggest that anyone who wishes to save lives, go be a "monitor" at your local public school. Thank you.

2 Comments

Read this article.

4/2/2013

0 Comments

This is what military recruiters do not tell you.

Read this article written by soldier.

0 Comments

Hoorah!

3/19/2013

0 Comments

I went to the school, as I always do when a military recruiter is scheduled to be on campus.

I got there 10 minutes early and the Marine recruiters got there earlier than me.

Why were they so early?

Well, they had to set up their child-attracting equipment.

It was a chin-up bar that they assembled in a classroom, positioned in direct line with the classroom doorway to the hall.

I signed in at the office, as all visitors are required to do and noticed that those early bird Marines, yes TWO of them, in full dress uniform had not signed in.

So I asked the office staff if they had signed in - and they said no. I told the office staff I would tell the Marines to go do so.

   That likely caught the Marines off-guard.

Just as I told them, the office rang the teacher to tell them to sign in.

So, they had to sign in right after me - and my "reason for visit" is as always - "military monitor." (heh)

Then, because these 2 Marines in Full Dress Uniform did not stand out enough in this small school in a rural area...there they were in the hall trying to lure children into the room to try out the chin-up bar.

I had to tell them that they were not allowed to be in the hall, only in the classroom.

They were not happy to hear that and I told them I would go to the office and verify where they could be and not be.

I went to the office and came back to let them know the rules at this school only allow them to being INSIDE the classroom.

   I then took the opportunity to tell them that the sign on the door says military recruiters in this room are only for high schoolers - not 7th or 8th graders.
Just an FYI.
Yes.
I was not making friends today.

Hoorah!

They introduced themselves to me.

Last names and ranks.

  Apparently they don't have first names.

We chit-chatted a bit and of course they
asked me why I am there.
(although I am pretty sure they were briefed on my visits)

I told them I am there to sit in the classroom everytime a military recruiter is on campus, and that I am not anti-military - just pro-many-choices for kids.

   I told them that many more colleges had come out to the school this year.

During our little chat- I mentioned that I recently read that the Marines have removed their Tuition-Assistance for folks in the military who are trying to continue to study while enlisted.

He assured me that those funds will be made available as soon as all the sequestration stuff is settled.

Right....

So glad HE knows what the government is going to do with
their monies.

Uh-huh.

That chin-up bar turned out to be a magnet.

Smart on their behalf.

Another smart marketing tactic they have is that each child has to
sign a "waiver" in case they
"hurt" themselves on the chin-up bar.

By signing this "waiver" the kids give the recruiters their contact information.

Hoorah!

20 chin-ups and you earn a t-shirt or a backpack emblazoned with the marines current logo.
"Pain is just weakness leaving the body."

Hoorah!

There were lesser "gifts" for kids who did fewer chin-ups.

   All paid for by you and me.

Hoorah!

One marine, Mr. A., as I will call him, after the rush of testosterone of young boys doing chin-ups with praises like, "That's a Marine chin-up!" (Hoorah!) chatted with me and I told him I had worked hard to get more colleges in the mix of recruiters at the school and that 7 colleges had come out so far this year.

Compared to the 2 colleges who came out last year.

He asked how many military recruiters, and I told him that they were the 3rd military recruiters this year.

He wanted to know if I would now lobby for more military rectruiters... I said no, and he wanted to know why.

   I told him that college
likely won't kill a kid.

He said with all the drinking and rapes it might.
(whaaa?)

I told him that the military is a far worse place for a woman according to statistics of sexual assault in that male dominated environment.

He then proceeded to try to tell me that colleges are just as male dominated and unsafe as the military.

(WTF? Are you kidding me!)

At that point, I realized that he was just going to be a jerk and I told him I am done speaking to him.

He asked where I worked and what kind of job I do.

(Nope not gonna say)

(OK- so that was awkward....)

The lunch time was up and they had to pack all their gear.

  I make a point to not leave campus until recruiters leave, just cause I am that kind of person.

(I like to sign out of the visitor log after the recruiters,)

They had to disassemble that chin-up bar and make two trips to the big government van that hauls that kind of stuff from school to school.

They took a looooong time with that first trip.

I figured they were having a good laugh at my expense.

I don't mind.

I consider it a gift.

Hoorah from me to them!

They came back for the second trip and Mr. A ( the one I said I was done speaking to) came over to shake my hand and as shook his clammy hand I told him that I will see him next time.

  He said, "We'll be back."

Fine with me.

You cannot intimidate me.

The few. (thank goodness)
The proud. (solicitors of children)

0 Comments

One person

1/27/2013

0 Comments

Me, myself and I are really just a total sum of one.
As they saying goes, "One person can make a difference."
Yes.
Yes they can.
That one person was me.
That one person could just as easily be you too.
Really.
Give it a try.

Here I am - one person - protesting in front of a school district that has less than 500 children.

I protested every school day for 6 months.

The district had an open-door policy for armed forces recruiters to woo 7th-12th graders when I began to ask for change.

Change did not come quickly nor did all the changes I asked for come to fruition.

Change DID happen.

See that picture?

One person.

One.

0 Comments

Get a job.

11/2/2012

0 Comments

How does military training translate into the real job market?
Here is Jon Stewart's take on it.

Turns out, not so much....

0 Comments

Tell the truth.

10/25/2012

0 Comments

Yesterday was the first day of this school year that a military recruiter was scheduled at the small rural school my kid attends.

I go to the school every time a military recruiter is scheduled and sit in the same room they are in, so I can listen to what they tell children.

Yesterday, when I signed it, I noticed that there were 3, yes THREE Navy recruiters who signed in right before me.

There is a place in the login book to state your reason for visiting.

Their reason was, get this... "Navy Awareness."

WTF

Is their job called Navy Awareness, or is it called, Navy Recruiter.

Geez.

I signed in as usual as - Military Monitor.
I was truthful.

This is the kind of area that armed forces recruiters like.

The Navy recruiter who is the regular guy, is being sent elsewhere and there is a new recruiter on the block.

The new guy had been briefed about me, no doubt about that.

He gave me such a glaring stink-eye!

Ha.

Stink-eye don't scare me, buddy.

I walked over and stuck out my hand and introduced myself and
MADE HIM SHAKE MY HAND.
ha ha!
I looked him right in his stink-eye glare and smiled.

He kept up his pouty resentful attitude, and I did not care.

Maybe next time I should login and my purpose will be
Military Predator Awareness Monitor.

0 Comments

Ch Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes....

9/13/2012

0 Comments

Change can happen in many ways.

Last year my "scoreboard" protest sign was very effective
in getting my point across.

I have not carried a sign so far this year.

There appears to be some residual waves of change with the school district.

They will not allow military recruiters to place "holds" on calendar dates to recruit children at the school.
They will have to actually confirm a week ahead that they will be at the school and THEN the district will put their recruiting day on the calendar.
That makes sense.
Duh.

Just a little reminder of a not-so-warm welcome for me last year.

Here is something kind of interesting:
On the School District's calendar there are 5 - yes count them FIVE - colleges scheduled to show up in the next month or so.

FIVE.
Last YEAR it was maybe - and a BIG maybe - 2 colleges showed up.

I went through the visitor log book VERY carefully to verify my information.

So how very very interesting to see SO MANY at the very beginning of the year and NO military recruiters yet.

OK - so not all the scheduled colleges are what I would call, uh, top tier, or even tier-worthy colleges... but it amuses me to see how MANY there are on the calendar.

Maybe a kid from a small poverty ridden rural school district will actually see some more post secondary educational opportunities presented to them at their own school.

Imagine that.

Keep in mind that one person can effect change.

It could be you.

I will only "honk" for college recruiters.
I am funny that way...

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<<Previous

PE Class with the Marines.

Here is the recruiter's first visit ever to the small rural school on May 13th. He is demonstrating the proper "ammo" can lift.

The Marines came to visit 3 times in 8 school days....

Just to be clear.

I want a plethora of choices of post secondary educational opportunities presented at public schools.

This issue started when there were an overwhelming amount of military visits to this small rural school and few trade school or colleges
that came to the campus.

A funny thing happened.

My Part Time Job

Read this article.

Hoorah!

One person

Get a job.

Tell the truth.

This is the kind of area that armed forces recruiters like.

Ch Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes....

Just a little reminder of a not-so-warm welcome for me last year.

I will only "honk" for college recruiters.
I am funny that way...

Author

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Here is the recruiter's first visit ever to the small rural school on May 13th. He is demonstrating the proper "ammo" can lift.

Just to be clear. I want a plethora of choices of post secondary educational opportunities presented at public schools. This issue started when there were an overwhelming amount of military visits to this small rural school and few trade school or colleges that came to the campus.

This is the kind of area that armed forces recruiters like.

Just a little reminder of a not-so-warm welcome for me last year.

I will only "honk" for college recruiters.I am funny that way...

Author

Archives

Categories

Just to be clear.

I want a plethora of choices of post secondary educational opportunities presented at public schools.

This issue started when there were an overwhelming amount of military visits to this small rural school and few trade school or colleges
that came to the campus.

I will only "honk" for college recruiters.
I am funny that way...