Category:

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

5/13/2014

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

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...

0 Comments

College won't do this to a person.

9/4/2012

1 Comment

The writer of the letter below sent it to me after we published the story last week about veterans in the prison system. We exchanged a couple of emails and she granted me permission to post her letter here, with identifying details expunged. I've changed her name in the opening sentence:

My name is Margaret. I am the wife of an Active Duty Soldier. My husband has served 4 tours in Iraq beginning during the invasion of the war. When he returned from the initial invasion he was changed forever, I don't think we realize just how much until later on.

He began to drink, he was angry, he was depressed, he was forgetful, he was everything but the man he left. Less then 1 year later he was preparing to leave for his 2nd tour in Iraq. He had at this point received 2 DUI's and was a mess. He asked for help and was blown off. He was given pills, take these and get on a plane is what they wanted him to do.

He did take them.. He took them all at once. I found him in the bathroom laid in the floor. I was so lucky his battle buddy had stopped by, we were able to get him into a car and to the hospital down the street. When they pumped his stomach and finally got him alert he said I didn't want to die, I just wanted out. Out of his own head and the nightmare in it. He didn't even realize what he was doing to himself.

His Command showed up and did everything within their power to stomp him even further into the ground, people who had not even deployed before to know what he was going thru. People who could go to sleep at night without smelling dead bodies burning and hearing children scream as they were burned or shot to death. People who didn't see blood and body parts every time they closed their eyes were the ones making decisions for his care. They locked him away in a mental ward for 3 days. Then they released him.. Within a month he was on a plane to Iraq again.

This story just repeats with the deployments. During R&R on the 4th deployment I was going thru a file cabinet at home. He was not drinking (he stopped on his own after his 2nd tour he really wanted to try to fix himself). I was stooped down, I'm not sure if I moved the wrong way, but he blacked out and the next thing I know, he has me on the ground like I'm the bad guy.. I was bruised with a broken rib and he had no idea what had happened. I had him put in jail, not because I was upset with him, but because it was the ONLY way I could get his Command to help him.

When they arrested him I called right away to get him out and he spent less then 2
hours in jail. However, he was able to stay on the Rear and get help! I can remember times where he would be clearing the house at night when others slept. One time he was having a nightmare and I was terrified to wake him up. He grabbed me by my ankles and pulled me out of the bed onto the ground I assume he thought he was tieing up the bad guys?

He feels like he is floating in a fog when he is awake if he doesn't have his medications. When he is medicated he can't really function, but he at least can be in the house to watch tv with the kids or sit to have dinner with us. My husband was prepping to leave for his 5th tour this time to Afghanistan when a Dr finally stepped in and said I think you've had enough. His Command was unhappy with this so they put him in for a Medical Board and that's what we are in the middle of now.

My husband has not gone to a store to shop in years, he can't attend ball games with our children unless he can see the field from sitting in our vehicle, he can't go to dinner at a crowded place, he doesn't want people to come to our house to entertain, he doesn't speak to anyone but me.

I am married to my better half, my heart and at 32 years old he is broken. Physically and emotionally broken. He has adhesions on his lungs from the burn pits, he has had numerous invasive procedures on his back from wearing gear that has grinded his bone and discs away, he has no feeling in his left side most times from that putting pressure on his nerve, he has no memory of present events or short term memory, he has no empathy or emotion regarding anything. No conversation whether he is angry, mad or sad is anything but monotone.

He has sleep apnea so bad from breathing issues to the point he needs surgery, he has shin splints and hairline fractures in his feet and legs from deployments, the list just goes on and on... Everyday the Army breaks these boys and then they toss them out with nothing near the pay they are used to, yet so used up at 32.

The Dr doesn't know if he will ever be able to hold another job. If you say you need a mental health eval or you're sick you're shunned, called names and you just aren't allowed, yet they want to know why on average a Service member commits suicide 1 person every single day. One suicide is too many, 1 a day is a travesty.

Our children have suffered thru moves, deployments and now not having a Father, but now they have to worry about possibly not having health care or money to pay the bills at such a young age, because I will have to get us moved, find a job that can support us and then I have to be able to take care of my husband a special needs child, 2 other children all at the same time, because our Country broke my husband. Yet, who's there to advocate for them? There is no one, not here, anyways.

You go to the Army they send you to someone else who keeps passing you around, there is no integrated system at all to help these guys, to track them and know they will be taken care of.. It's such a heartbreak..

The point of my email was that I am so glad that people like yourself just put out the facts, it's happening there isn't anyone tracking it and people need to open their eyes and understand there are underlying causes for many of these men and they need help!

Thanks!

-Margaret

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2012/08/i_am_married_to_my_better_half.html

1 Comment

School is out.

6/30/2012

0 Comments

School is out and I am not carrying my protest sign each school morning.

I miss seeing the nice people that I met over the 6 months that I walked my protest beat.

Am I done?

I have a few more things to get done at this school district - so, no, I am not done.

Kids at this small rural school district still need a policy that will not allow recruiters to directly ask for a student's contact information.

That is just wrong.

Even one of the very pro-miltary moms who spoke to me this last year agreed with me on that.

Stay tuned.
:)

0 Comments

<<Previous

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

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...

College won't do this to a person.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2012/08/i_am_married_to_my_better_half.html

School is out.

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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...

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2012/08/i_am_married_to_my_better_half.html

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...