Military Infiltration and Recruitment in Public Schools

After a Board presentation was made by CAMS and the Human Rights Committee, UTLA (United Teachers Los Angeles) in February 2003, a District Committee was established to address questions and concerns regarding military recruitment. For over a year, members and supporters of CAMS, a grassroots coalition of teachers, school staff, students, parents and community have documented and reported to this School District Committee specific instances of aggressive and abusive military recruiter tactics. We have been concerned about the lack of parameters regarding military recruitment, the lack of information and misinformation. We once again went to the Board of Education September 12, 2005 to express our concerns and present specific resolutions to address them. At the same time, approximately 250 email messages mobilized by the Leave My Child Alone campaign were sent to the Board of Education members to support our efforts. Following the Board presentation by a student, parent, teacher and CAMS Coordinator, we were promised that action would be taken within the next month.

We feel that this policy is a significant and important step in the right direction towards insuring the safety and protection of our students. For the past year we have been repeatedly told that military recruitment was a LOCAL SCHOOL DECISION. We believe that by providing the documentation of violations of district policy and safety concerns along with recommendations were important in the development of this policy. We acknowledge that the guidelines still leave many decisions regarding military limits up to the discretion of the school principal or designee. We are continuing to discuss with the District and lawyers, our concerns and possible changes. We welcome any suggestions. Specific comments are:

Two months ago we began our Adopt A School Project in 37 schools in the Los Angeles County including 25 LAUSD high schools (of which there are approximately a total of 60). Through our grassroots contacts at these 25 LAUSD schools, we will monitor this policy through a form with specific issues and areas to look for. In order to simplify the process, we will have a violation checklist to address the areas where the military recruiters have not followed the guidelines and protocol such as the limits regarding time and location that the school administrator may determine. The form will also document any difficulties of gaining equal access, school staff not complying with these guidelines (i.e. restricting the first amendment rights of students) and JROTC involuntary placement.

A policy is only effective when it is known, implemented and holds persons accountable for violations. We of CAMS will collect the data from the 25 schools in LAUSD, and see that the district is made aware of violations or problems with this policy.

We are appreciative for the hundreds of in our schools, which make this possible.
January 2008
Military recruitment in the schools appears to vary greatly from school to school. We found that our Adopt a School
contacts played an important role in keeping a check on military recruitment activity, initiating a counter message, and
providing alternatives. The Adopt a School Project that was expanded to 50 schools in the greater Los Angeles
area, has given us the ability to tailor effective strategies to meet the needs of each local school community.
There was an important revision of the School District Policy dated May 17, 2007 in which ALL students who elect to take the
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will have their scores and personal information kept private, and
NOT released to military recruiters. LAUSD is only the second school district in the nation with a blanket Option 8 policy.
The following violations to the policy have been reported:
-Military vans and humvees on high school campuses WITHOUT clearance from the Office of Risk Management.
-There are MORE military recruiters on campus than career and college recruiters.
-Students continue to report aggressive unwanted military recruiter contact.

Military Recruiter Actions that are of Concern but not addressed in the Policy
-The initiation of a JROTC program without an informed discussion with the community. Although LAUSD makes the Principal
the decision maker on this issue, it should be done in consultation with the school community.
-LAUSD Office of Directory Information would not agree to put the Opt Out information on the Emergency Card as we requested.
The Opt Out forms are confusing to fill out, and some students are still not getting the information. It appears most of the high
Schools do not publicize the Opt Out dates and give students and their parents this information.
-Military recruiters are using Career Information and Career Exploration as their entry way into classrooms and assemblies.
They are finding other ways to reach students and teachers.
Let us know what is happening at your school. Please fill out the CAMS Military Recruitment Survey.
Remember all students are protected by federal and state privacy laws.

1: Don't make a quick decision by enlisting the first time you see a recruiter or when you are upset.

5: Get a copy of the enlistment agreement. Read the fine print, especially the part about what the military can order you to do.

6: Once you are in you cannot get out so easily. You will be in for eight years and the only way out before that is if the military decides to give you a dishonorable discharge.

8: There are no job guarantees in the military. You go and do what someone else tells you to for eight years.

9: Military personnel may not be as free as civilians or have the same rights and civil liberties as civilians,

10: Many other opportunities exist for you to serve your community and better your skills.

With the budget crisis looming over California and Los Angeles Unified School District, it is important to consider the cost of JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Program) to LA Unified. Around the country, Education Boards are considering cuts or dismantling this program based on budget deficits.

LAUSD has 30 JROTC programs located in the most economically depressed communities in our city (with no programs west of Fairfax HS). The numbers of students in all the JROTC programs for the 2007-8 school year is 4,754 as reported by Ltc. U.S. Army Retired Ted A McDonald, the JROTC Coordinator. Mr. Mark Shrager of the LAUSD Budget Services Division provided the budget data. The net cost to LAUSD for the calendar year of 2006-7 is calculated to be: :

$ 1,633,871 Salary (the total cost is $3,267,742 in which LAUSD pays half and the Dept

$ 2,558,342. or 2.6 million- minimum cost to LAUSD for the JROTC program in 31 schools serving 4591 students in the 2006-7 school year. This does not include additional costs incurred such as field trips, facilities, etc.

This cost to the district drains resources that could be used for decreasing class size in the academic subjects, for counselors, qualified teachers, and resources for the school.

-Although JROTC is promoted as a leadership training program and character development, the JROTC Policy Memorandum 50 on March 30, 1999 states “Purpose: To provide guidance on implementation of initiatives to enhance recruiting efforts with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.”

-The California Education Code Section 51750 makes explicit that JROTC is a voluntary class.

“No student enrolled in any such school (secondary) shall be required to enroll in any course in military science and tactics.” Furthermore the LAUSD Policy Bulletin 2067.1 (May 17, 2007) states on page3 “participation in JROTC is voluntary.” High school students continue to be involuntarily placed into JROTC over the past four years since we have addressed this. Despite efforts to communicate this illegality to high school Principals by the Director of High School Programs, Mr. Bud Jacobs and Mr. Herman Clay, these violations continue.

-LAUSD has counted the JROTC program towards the physical education requirements; however JROTC (along with other programs) has been out of compliance regarding the California Department of Education Physical Education requirements. The areas of noncompliance include the following: not assessing students with the Fitnessgram, not receiving enough physical education instruction, instruction not delivered by teaches who hold appropriate credentials. In relation to this last area, JROTC instructors are not credentialed as PE instructors. Over the past few years, the district has taken steps towards meeting the Physical Education requirements, and we do not know the status towards compliance at this time

-Ten JROTC programs in LAUSD have firing ranges which is in contradiction to the intention of the Zero Tolerance for Guns policy of LAUSD (page 12 of the Parent-Student Handbook). The Federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 also mandates the expulsion of any student who takes a firearm onto a school campus. By permitting and instructing students on firing ranges gives a mixed message regarding promoting safe school campuses.

-The JROTC program uses their own textbook that presents history from a military perspective (though adopted by educators). Sections of the text have been of concern regarding a biased perspective.

The JROTC program continues to violate the California Education Code and LAUSD Policy Bulletin 2067.1 by the involuntary placement of high school students into this program. There are also questions regarding compliance to physical education state requirements, JROTC instructor qualifications, the psychological impact of permitting guns on campus with a Zero Tolerance for Guns policy, and the JROTC curriculum. Instructors typically have a much smaller class size than other classes (including academic subjects), and this program has a high cost (a minimum of $557,25 per student paid for by LAUSD).

This program should be considered for elimination given the severe budget crisis facing LAUSD.

It was reported in 2003 by Lt. Col. Ted McDonald, JROTC Coordinator, that 5,521 students were enrolled at 29 high schools taught by 73 military personnel. Retired military personnel are given a special JROTC teaching credential that does not even require a college degree.

JROTC is a nonacademic elective course, not for college preparation. LAUSD contributes more than half the funding-- last year more than $2 million of the $4-million program. The JROTC programs are at 16 out of the 19 most severely overcrowded campuses. JROTC is disproportionately represented in working class or impoverished areas such as the Central and East Los Angeles communities with none west of Fairfax High School. Because of contractual conditions imposed by the military, JROTC is more expensive than a regular elective or the physical education classes taken as a substitute. If JROTC was eliminated, it would free up extra funds even after hiring the necessary staff to support JROTC students in other classes.

Latinos are now 13.5% of the U.S. population (2002 U.S. census update), but only about 10% of enlisted ranks. Latinos are about 10% of the Army and 14% of the Marines (2001 DOD). But the important thing to note is that in combat-related military occupations, Latinos jump to 25% of the Army, and 20% of the Marines. Blacks and Latinos are much more likely to receive penalties and incarceration in the brig while in the military, and to get less than honorable discharges upon separation, which damage life-chances for employment after leaving the military.

A Military-run training program for high school students. The goal is to create favorable attitudes and impressions towards the Services and careers in the Armed Forces (332 Code of Fed Regulations 542.5:3c).
Between 1992 to 1997, JROTC programs more than doubled. After General Colin Powell visited South Central L. A. following the riots in 1992. He concluded inner city youth needed more discipline and structure. JROTC continues to grow to over 3,500 programs nationwide. More than 40% of cadets who complete JROTC eventually join the military, the vast majority as enlisted personnel.

Here is the Enlistment Agreement you sign when you join up. Recruiters will try an hurry you to sign this without reading it. Read it here first. Notice that the US military does not have to honor any promises made by the recruiters to you. It's at the bottom of the page.

Over the past few months an announcement over the loud speaker at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles has been heard over and over again. Written by Sgt Eason the message is: “Join JROTC and become part of a winning team. An opportunity to develop and improve yourself in many ways: it uses military skills to teach self-discipline, confidence and pride in a job well done and it offers you challenges and opportunities that prepare you for graduation after high school.”

This pitch is aimed at the incoming 9th graders who have most likely heard about JROTC in a special 8th grade assembly- all part of a strategy that may appear innocuous to some, but is tailored to shape the minds of students and their parents and especially appeal to the desperation for structure, discipline and support. We urge you to look deeper at what’s really behind JROTC.

JROTC sometimes known as military science is taught by retired military officers with public education dollars, and lots of it. Perhaps the heavy advertising is needed since JROTC is a voluntary elective class (although students have been placed by default because there weren’t enough Physical education classes available). The program grows every year.

Some like JROTC primarily because they see it as a fix for discipline, self control, and other “problems” that parents and teachers have with youth. However, without addressing the underlying personal and societal and needs of our students, the military uses shame, fear and punishment, which will never work.

The bottom line is that JROTC is a military program, with the intent and purpose as stated in the U.S. army policy to “create favorable attitudes and impressions towards the military.” Let’s call it what it is- an early indoctrination to create future soldiers to fight and kill in war. And let’s speak of who these soldiers are-low income youth of color in working class communities who are targeted. This is military tracking which the school system perpetrates.

JROTC blurs the line between school and military. This was clearly seen at the JROTC awards assembly at Garfield last June, when the Garfield bull dog mascot marched around to the drum beat while wearing a military uniform with the word “Army “ written across.

I genuinely appreciated the extensive coverage you gave February 19, 2007,
to the state of "JROTC" in Los Angeles' high schools. There is a
battle raging for the hearts and minds of our young people.

As someone who has been educating the public about this program for 15
years, I wish to underscore two key points that were not clearly stated.
Junior Officers¹ Training Corps" (JROTC)
is false advertising. Nothing in this program prepares or qualifies high
school students for careers as military officers.

JROTC is similar to college-level Reserve Officers' Training Corps ROTC),
in that it is a part-time, military-run program. But JROTC
graduates are only eligible to enter the armed forces as enlisted men or
women, just like young people who never participated in JROTC.

Second, any program that offers small classes, extra staff, personal
attention, and less than challenging curriculum to high school students
is likely to earn the loyalty of its participants. Undeniably JROTC has many
"happy campers." But JROTC sucks money from general school
districts budgets. In many cases local funds cover over half of JROTC
program expenditures.

Our limited education dollars could be spent much more effectively teaching
non-violent strategies, conflict resolution techniques, and
preparing students for either college or civilian trades, than enticing them
to risk their lives and future, fighting for no reason in a war that can't
be won.

The term “Poverty Draft” was coined to describe the economic disparities and disproportionate number of youth of color recruited and enlisted into the armed services. In this case if you follow the “lack of money” into the poor rural areas and inner cities of America, you will find youth who have very few options, where military enlistment is marketed as a positive choice. American Indian, Latino, African American and Asian American youth are especially targeted for recruitment. Young men and women of color are over-represented in the armed forces and under represented on college campuses. In particular the numbers of females of color has dramatically increased in the Iraq War to more than 160,000 (“The Women’s War,” New York Times, March 18, 2007) and comprise 51% of all women serving in the military.

The Poverty Draft raises many issues including who pays the cost for war and who benefits, and the inequities in education and post education opportunities. The military recruitment of youth is a peace and justice issue. The territories of the United States such as Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico face even greater “poverty draft” conditions than the US. But we also are inspired by the activism in the Puerto Rico and their resistance. Below are student voices and articles about the Poverty Draft. Both students gave permission for us to print these articles.

Thinking About Joining the Navy
By Carlos Cortez, Senior at Roosevelt High School, East Los Angeles
Rough Riders December 2006

We face many difficult decisions all the time, whether deciding on what college to go to, choosing a career, where to work, etc…Making decisions in life is normal but it can be very frustrating.

I am in a situation where I have to make a decision that will determine my future. I was thinking about joining the Navy or go to school full time. Of course my number one priority is to attend school full time, but I haven’t received an acceptance letter from a college. If I do get accepted to a college I’m going to take advantage of the offer. I don’t know if my financial aid will be enough to pay my tuition, books, and accessories. What I do know is that if I join the Navy, the will my whole tuition and I’ll be getting paid monthly while I go to school. It sounds good to me because instead of me paying the school, I have the Navy paying for it.

It only takes four years to serve and within those four years I can b e traveling, getting my college degree, and receive hands on training. Making my decision is hard because when I ask for advice people tell me that I should go to college instead of joining the military. Some people tell me that I’m ignorant for thinking of joining a military force because of the war that is going on in Iraq. The navy deals with water, while eh war is being fought on land.

The thing that is preventing me from my decision is leaving everything behind like: friends, family, and hobbies. I have talked to some people that are actually on service with the Navy, and they tell me that It’s going pretty good and they’re going to college. That could be me, but what if it doesn’t go well and I start regretting it.

I have set a ship date, basically a day when I decide to leave. My ship date is August 6, 2007, but I haven’t signed a contract, that’s the good thing. I still have enough time to think things through and decide what’s best for me.

A response was written for the January issue of Rough Rider by Arlene Inouye, who has also interacted with Carlos about his concerns. He has decided to get out of the DEP Delayed Entry Program and actively pursue money for college.

A male Roosevelt senior said” the military recruiter’s are always calling, and they don’t hang up.”

A female who was waiting to hear if she got accepted to college said “He (army recruiter) called me and pretended he was a friend saying stuff like, you better go to college or I’ll come and get you. It made me scared.”

“They just come to poor neighborhoods because they think we are stupid.” (female, 11th grader)

Military Recruitment at school will mean enlisting
By Maria Perez
#1659 Roosevelt High School Rough Riders

The military is recruiting in school. Figure out how the military is in reality before you are recruited or enlisted.

For years the military recruiters have gone around thinking you didn’t even notice them.

Mr. Castillo and an article have indicated that there is a paper (an active form) that your parents have to sign which requests not to give out personal information.

What this means is that if you didn’t sign the form your information might be given to the military recruiter.

A provision of the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, Bush’s education bill, requires that school districts release private student directory information like names, addresses, and telephone numbers. That is why Mr. Castillo’s does not agree with the school giving military recruiters the information of students and that the student information should not be used for that purpose.

This means risking the loss of federal funds. The only way to prevent the military recruiters from getting personal information is for the student or parent to sign.

The Assistant Principal was the person who agreed to this policy in January of 2003. This introduced a policy on military recruitment to the Student Council. This was the first time a formal policy that specified what was and was not allowed for military recruiters on campus was given.

Many students and teachers don’t know what the army is. Mr. Castillo has an issue with the military being in the school because he thinks that, for example, the JROTC is on campus to give an opportunity and a favorable positive view of the military.

However, the students might think that ”the military is the only thing that they could do good at if they don’t do good in school,” said Castillo, “They are trying to recruit them in to the military service.”

In reality what is the military? Students often don’t know the reality of being in the military. Being in the military forces you to lose your basic rights.

Individual expression through the way you dress and wear you hair won’t be tolerated.

In the military you can have an unexpected experiences like sexual harassment and rape, which is a real threat to the women in the military.

Another example is that discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals is not only intense within the military, it is an official policy,” from article.

Many people might think that the military will give discipline and decent living conditions in return for enlisting.

You are aware the in the enlisting agreement says that your status, pay, benefits and responsibilities in the military can change without warning and regardless of any promises in your agreement.

There are myths about the military. One of the two most common is the military job training myth and the easy money for college myth.

The first myth is job training. Many people join the military expecting to receive job training.

Military training is designed for military jobs, not to help you get a civilian job later. Even in the technically oriented Air Force, most jobs require particular military skills that won’t do you much good in the civilian world.

If you get the training you were promised for a particular military occupation, you still might not get any experience in the job because the military doesn’t have to use you in the field you requested. Therefore some people were satisfied in the 2002 SOF Survey. Only 54% of all military members including officers said they were satisfied with their training and professional development, and only 39% were satisfied with the total compensation they received for their work.

As said by Richard Cheney when he was Secretary of Defense, “The military is not a social welfare agency: it’s not a jobs program.”

The second myth is the easy money for college. Recruiters might promise you tens of thousands of free dollars for college, but it’s not free; you must work for it. Unless you qualify for special jobs or sign up for an extra long term, you’ll never see the higher amounts of money.

To qualify for any aid at all, you pay a $1200 non-refundable deposit to the military. If you receive a less than honorable discharge, and 1 out of 4 people do, or leave the military early, as 1 out of 3, or later decide no to go to college, the military will keep your deposit and give you nothing.

According to the Veterans Affairs Dept., only about half of eligible veterans are using their educational benefits, which means the military takes in a lot of money that will not be paid back. In other words, it’s really the military that profits, not veterans.

Colleges can help you find aid if you need it, and it pays to investigate these options before agreeing to give away years of your life to the military. Once you complete school, you can start earning the higher wages of a college graduate right away.

Many of the U.S. soldiers, who fought in the Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and the Persian Gulf, never expected they would be the ones to see action in the war.

Many of the Reserve and National Guard soldiers were sent to fight in emergencies, but the main purpose of the military is to fight in wars, and if you enlist you will have no choice if you are ordered to fight for something you don’t believe in.

After enlisting, if you discover that you religious, moral or ethical beliefs won’t allow you to kill, it will be hard for you to get a discharge as a conscientious objector.

For example, hundreds of U.S. soldiers were imprisoned when the objected to the Persian Gulf War.

Therefore do not enlist before you know the reality and the danger of the military life that lie in its advertising.

Many people not agree with the military recruiting students. Mr. Castillo said that he thinks that many teachers as well as students do not want the military to be recruiting because of No Child Left Behind.

The military can effect the military recruitment by the atmosphere they are in. It can affect them because of what the students viewing and hearing the positive sites of the military and that it will improve their future. In Mr. Castillo’s opinion, the military is not doing anything that will have power towards them.

In the past the military used to be in the school at all times, including lunch, between classes, and most of all access to classroom, which negatively impacted academic achievement. Therefore Mr. Castillo said, ”There is something that says that the military should have equal access, so we can’t tell them to get out, but if you are going to come here there are rules that they have to follow.”

We used to be the number one school in the country for Marine recruitment because of the students reputation in education.

“I think that Roosevelt was number one in Marine Recruitment because a lot of students weren’t going to college, some how they were available to get the students convinced. Students had a twisted view of the military as well as a positive view about what they were seeing. It was also it was an influence to the public.

“Marines would have many things that interested them (cool) with fancy presentations and just falling in love with it just looking at it. Another thing is that it was heard that the Marines were better. It is why it became the number one in Marine Recruitment,” said Mr. Castillo.

For many years in the past it has been said that teachers weren’t aware what the recruitment would lead to. Teachers from before didn’t know what the military was really about but it gave them a positive view about the military.

As the years went by, in the last 10 years, many teachers started realizing what the military was about, saying that the military is bad in ways because it could lead to greater danger than just recruiting for the students.

Getting informed and hearing different things about the military changes people’s state of mind about recruitment and the military.

In opinion of ISG Harrington and SFC Bergeron it was said do to the military that there are jobs that don’t guarantee you a job, but many other jobs by involving programming with the computer would get you a civilian job as technologist, programming or something related.

It is not only negative views from the military, but there are positive views that we don’t know of. The military recruits people with an education, not the people that get bad grades.

For example if they get some one with a lower education that person wouldn’t know what was going on and wouldn’t understand. The other person with higher or more education would know what was going on, understand what they need to do, and what they were being ordered to do.

ASVAB ALERT

ASVAB BREAKTHROUGH: LAUSD TO PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY

The Military’s Stealth Test: School districts are beginning to keep the results of a dodgy student aptitude test out of the hands of military recruiters
By Megan Tady

December 7, 2007 from In These Times

One thing is different this year about an aptitude test given to high school juniors and seniors in a Los Angeles school district: The test results won’t be going to military recruiters.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) adopted a policy in May to keep aptitude test results out of the hands of military recruiters, and notified the district’s career counselors of the change last month. LAUSD is the second largest school system in the country. Last year, another major school district, Montgomery Public Schools in Maryland, also enforced this policy.

Faced with questions of the future, every year high school juniors and seniors shade-in oval, numbered bubbles on aptitude tests. The test results may tell a student whether she’s well suited to work with people or has the mind for mechanics or engineering.

But one of these aptitude tests isn't’t just designed to help guide faltering students to career enlightenment. Written by the Department of Defense and marketed by the military as a “career exploration” test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) informs military recruiters of which students to target for enlistment. Unless schools opt out, students are required to sign a privacy waiver before taking the test, allowing recruiters to mine their test results for possible recruits. Often, students and parents are unaware of the test’s true intentions, and at many schools, this test is mandatory. Fourteen thousands schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations give the ASVAB each year.

Privacy rights advocates and anti-war activists call ASVAB a devious military recruitment strategy and an assault on children’s privacy. They have been pressuring schools to either drop the test, or enforce a little-known policy that keeps test results out of the hands of recruiters, called Option 8. They’re also lobbying schools to get parental consent before their children sit for the ASVAB and sign the privacy waiver.

Schools can choose between several options to administer the test. Option 8 allows schools to still give the test for career placement purposes without releasing the results to recruiters. Cash-strapped schools often use the ASVAB as an aptitude test because it is provided for free.

“If school administrators feel there is no suitable alternative and are truly interested in the alleged career exploration benefits of the test, they shouldn’t be opposed to requiring parental consent and selecting Option 8 to protect student privacy,” says Pat Elder, a member of Peace Action Montgomery, who helped petition the Maryland school district to adopt Option 8.

The LAUSD’s decision to adopt Option 8 came after strong demands from groups like the L.A. chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, and the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth. The National Lawyers Guild, in a legal memorandum submitted to the school district in June 2006, accused the school district of violating its legal obligations to protect students’ privacy rights when administering the ASVAB.

The LAUSD did not respond to interview requests.

The timed ASVAB tests students in arithmetic reasoning, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension and mathematics. Along with the test results, other information made available to recruiters include a student’s name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, sex, ethnic group identification, graduation plans, and academic and extracurricular interests.

The National Lawyer’s Guild warned in its memo, “With this sensitive data, military recruiters can then tailor recruiting methods to individual students, enabling the recruiters to mount a barrage of intimate and intimidating attacks on impressionable minors absent parental supervision.”

Elder says he is troubled by the way the military veils the ASVAB’s purpose. “The army is touting this as a career exploration program and is hiding the fact that it’s a recruiting program,” he says.

Arlene Inouye, a coordinator with the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, says that students and parents aren’t the only ones duped by the ASVAB.

“Career counselors that I’ve talked to really haven’t known that it’s a military test,” Inouye says. “It’s really been one of those underground, undercover ways that military recruiters have used to recruit.”

The confusion might be because of the way the military markets the ASVAB. The ASVAB website gives scant indication that the test is linked to military recruitment. The description on the site says benignly that the ASVAB is “designed to encourage students to increase their level of self-knowledge and to understand how that information could be linked to civilian and military occupational characteristics.” The site contains no military images.

But other military websites and information are more forthcoming about the ASVAB. A 2004 school recruiting handbook says the purpose of the ASVAB, along with career guidance, is to “provide the field recruiter with a source of leads of high school seniors and juniors through the ASVAB for enlistment into the Active Army and Army Reserve.”

In the handbook, recruiters are told that one of their “most important responsibilities will be arranging the ASVAB in… schools.” The guide also suggests that recruiters should be present when the test is given.

Data from the ASVAB is also used at the Joint Advertising Market Research & Studies (JAMRS), a Department of Defense program that works to bolster the military’s image as a career option, and create slick recruitment campaigns.

“There’s no question that the military looks at our high schools as fertile recruiting ground for wars,” Inouye says.

As the military becomes increasingly strained, advocacy groups, parents and students are growing more concerned about recruiting tactics in schools.

“[The Army says], ‘Look, we have this wonderful dream,’ ” Inouye says. “And it’s an illusion and our young people are dying. I just feel very strongly that it’s unconscionable that our society allows the recruitment of minors.”

New LAUSD Policy Protects Student Privacy ASVAB- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
October 27, 2007

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), arguably the military's most valuable recruiting tool, is a grueling half-day examination of 9 individual tests given to 900,000 students in 13,000 high schools and post-secondary schools every year. The ASVAB is promoted as a voluntary "career exploration program" administered to juniors and seniors through a collaborative effort between the Department of Education and the Department of Defense. Many schools across the country, however, make it mandatory for students to take the test and others coerce them to do so. The test represents an egregious constitutional violation of the federal government's meddling in state-supported educational institutions.
All children who sit for the ASVAB are required to sign a "Privacy Statement" that gives permission to the military to use private information and test results for recruiting purposes. Most states, however, have laws that restrict minors from relinquishing private information without the consent of their parents. .Unless a school district or high school selects option 8, the data from the ASVAB is forwarded to recruiters and to the military's Joint Advertising Market Research and Studies Program, a massive database that collects information on approximately 30 million US citizens from 16 to 24 years of age.
The military has done an excellent job in keeping Option 8 a secret. Most high school principals and central office administrators across the country are ignorant of the ASVAB option that allows the test to be administered without the results being forwarded to recruiting services, but the military has even more in its favor than the ignorance of high school officials. Options aside, ardent militarists have managed to implement mandatory ASVAB testing in high schools throughout the country.

LAUSD Bulletin 2067.1 Military Access to Schools, May 7, 2007

      Los Angeles Unified School District has established a policy with regard to military access to schools on October 21, 2005, and revised on May 17, 2007. The policy bulletin states that the District is committed to protecting the rights of its students as well as providing as many options and opportunities as possible. It establishes guidelines for military recruiters in the schools, rights and responsibilities of students and families, the role of the school and responsibility of Military Representatives. The revision of the policy bulletin applies solely to the ASVAB section on page 3 that states:
    To ensure consistency with the opt-out provisions for release of contact information to the military, District schools shall select "Option 8" prior to the administration of the ASVAB at the school. The District employee facilitating the test's administration shall request Option 8 when scheduling the ASVAB test for the school.
   Prior to this policy, as many as 75% of the high schools in LAUSD, gave the ASVAB. We discovered that students, parents and Career Advisors (who facilitate the test at the local school) were not informed that privacy rights were waived and that military recruiters were receiving student’s contact information along with their ASVAB scores.
“I am upset because we returned the Opt Out form and yet were receiving constant calls by the military recruiters,” a parent complained.
    LAUSD as the second largest school district in the nation has joined the Montgomery County Maryland to institute a blanket Option 8 policy for its 60 high schools.
   LAUSD has taken an important step to protect student privacy. If you have any questions please contact:
Arlene Inouye, CAMS, Military Advisory Committee, LAUSD

November 26, 2007
Los Angeles Schools Move to Protect Student Privacy from Military

Growing concern about protecting student data leads to focus on military aptitude testing in secondary schools.

Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest school system, has instituted a new policy to stop the practice of releasing confidential student information to military recruiters under a controversial Department of Defense testing program. LAUSD becomes the second major school system to adopt such a policy, joining Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.

Under the DoD testing program, which began in 1968, secondary schools are asked by recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to some or all of their students in grades ten through twelve. The ASVAB test is typically marketed as a general career exploration exam but was designed to screen enlistment applicants specifically for military occupations. It is now administered to 688,016 students in 66% of all high schools nationwide, according to data obtained from the Department of Defense. Rarely is parental permission sought before testing students. Several hundred high schools across the country require all Juniors to take the test.

After the test is given, recruiters routinely receive detailed personal information on students, including their gender, race, Social Security number, aptitude data and contact information. Schools have the option of giving the ASVAB test without test results being used for recruiting, but polls of school counselors in places like L.A. have revealed little awareness of the option. As a result, the ASVAB has become a primary tool for getting around restrictions on access to confidential student information.

"It's really a way for recruiters to circumvent parents and obtain personal data on students that cannot be legally released through the school system," said Rick Jahnkow of the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities in San Diego. "Students are often not told what the true purpose of the test is, and the vast majority of those tested are age 17 or younger. When they sit down to take it, they are told to sign a privacy act waiver that is of questionable legality."

Growing concern over aggressive recruiting has caused parents, students and community activists across the country to give the issue greater attention. This has led to increased scrutiny of high school ASVAB testing and efforts to challenge it in places like Los Angeles. Last year, Montgomery County Public Schools, in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, decided to withhold ASVAB test results from recruiters and require parental consent for all minors taking the military test.

The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY) formed in 2004 to bring together organizations doing counter-recruitment work nationally. It maintains a publicly accessible database of such groups on its Web site at www.nnomy.org.

CONTACT: Arlene Inouye, Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, L.A., CA 626-483-6160

An OPTIONAL, free test administered to high school students by the military Purpose is not for determining general occupational aptitudes, but for admissions and placement into U.S. military

~Tests general knowledge in a variety of career possibilities
~Scores determine whether one gets into military
~Scores establish what jobs recruits are allowed to train in
~Used to obtain personal contact information
~You are NOT obligated to join military after taking the test
~You may be pursued at home by military recruiters

You do not have to take the ASVAB test. It is an optional test. that means you can just say "No! I don't want to take this test." If you do take the test your name, phone and address go straight to the Pentagon and military recruiters (the Pentagon controls the US military and plans war, and will control you too if you allow them .)

ASVAB may be given to you as a Career Placement, or Job, Test. But if you want to find a job you are good at and are having a hard time thinking about that or about what you want to go to college for than make an appointment with your school counselor or talk with your favorite teacher. There are many many things that you can do and careers you can pursue. CAMS has put together a Career Guide for Southern California here and a Guide for Higher Education here. Make sure you tell the counselor or the teacher you talk with the the military is not an option for you.

You can resist! You can protest! You can REFUSE TO TAKE THIS TEST for the Pentagon and endless wars.

Here is some sample info on ASVAB from the goarmy.com site... the red comments are mine.

You and your young adult get a say in what Army job he or she has. But several factors are considered when assigning a job or Military Occupational Specialty (MOS):

* Current and anticipated needs of the Army
* Career aspirations
* Skills and qualifications
* the current Resource War

The final factor is the Soldier's score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which tests your son or daughter's skills and how they apply to jobs in the Army.

The Paragraph Comprehension test consists of 15 items measuring your ability to obtain information from written passages. You will find one or more paragraphs of reading material followed by incomplete statements or questions. After you read each paragraph, select the one that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Twenty-five percent of all household burglaries can be attributed to unlocked windows or doors. Crime is the result of opportunity plus desire. To prevent crime, it is each individual's responsibility to:
A. provide the desire
B. provide the opportunity
C. prevent the desire
D. prevent the opportunity

...but if the military kills civilians is that too a crime? What about torture? What about using chemical weapons like white phosphorous against schoolchildren in Fallujah? Ask your recruiter.

What does the ASVAB measure?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery measures your knowledge and ability in ten different areas; from math to electronics. It is not an IQ test, but the ASVAB is one of the ways to help you decide what job areas in the Army would be best for you.

As youth figure out the lies of the military the 'passing' score is dropping so the military can take in more people who do not know better. Warn your fellow students about ASVAB. Tell them they can refuse to take it.

Who gives the ASVAB, and where can I take it?
The ASVAB is usually given in schools by test administrators from the Federal Government. Schools determine where and when the ASVAB will be given.

The ad says, “Join the army and earn up to $50,000 for college.” The reality is that 57% of those who sign up for the GI Bill educational benefits do not receive the benefits, and 23% receive only half their maximum benefit. Why? Because the military attaches many strings to eligibility and GI bill benefits. If they are received, don't pay enough to cover costs at even the most inexpensive schools.

Under the Delayed Entry Program, you sign up now but don't enter the military until up to 12 months later. Some students sign up for DEP because they are not yet 18 years old. If you change your mind, you can get out of DEP, and DO NOT have to join.

Women report higher incidences of rape, sexual abuse and harassment than civilians. A 1999 review of Pentagon records found that 50,000 military spouses were victims of domestic violence-5 times the civilian rate.


Here are the latest developments that CAMS has formed with LAUSD. Other people in other school districts can do the same through negotiations with your District or School Board.Ask us how! ASVAB Reporting Military Recruiter Abuse Researching ASVAB in your school CAMS Press release on ASVAB below. More info on ASVAB here. PENTAGON DATA BASE The Pentagon collects information on you. Find out more here. DEP (DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM) Good information on DEP here JROTC NEWS New (MAY 2008) JROTC figures are in for the 2006-7 school year in LAUSD. After documentation of military recruiter abuses, LAUSD codified policy regarding JROTC, military recruiters, ASVAB and more. Policy Bulletin 2067 was introduced on October 21, 2005 and then revised May 17, 2007 to change the ASVAB policy. Here is the new policy. Violations should be reported to District officials and CAMS. Scroll down for Arlene Inouye's analysis of the policy. JROTC is no longer the alternative for not enough PE classes in LAUSD. If you are placed in JROTC because PE classes are filled up than your school is breaking the law and district policy! Call us at 626-799-9118 or send us an email at info@militaryfreeschhools.org Tanks and guns on your campus need prior permission from LAUSD's Office of Risk Management. Ask the recruiter or tank commander to produce these documents, and let us know if you see a tank. This past year an alert teacher reported military vans that pulled up on her campus, with shooting games and recruiters. We immediately called the Office of Risk Management who stated that permission wasn’t granted and the Principal also was not informed. The military vans were ordered off the campus! Office of Risk Management is 213-241-3987. Your LAUSD counselor has CAMS materials. Ask her or him for CAMS Great Jobs, Careers, Futures Call us if they don't know what you are talking about. SPECIAL NOTE: Do not fill out any information cards from recruiters for prize winning raffles. This is another way of them getting your information. The only real winners are those who do not join in with this insane death machine. Choose peace and community over the slavery of war and destruction. Beware of www.march2success.com and other military test preparation and tutorial web sites that lure students and teachers with academic support. Remember it is by design that the military wants you to see them as a valuable resource to the school program. LAUSD High Schools with JROTC Programs in the 2007-8 School Year Army Schools: Belmont, Cleveland, Fairfax, Franklin, Garfield, Hollywood, Jefferson, Jordan, Lincoln, Los Angeles High, Manual Arts, Monroe, Roosevelt, Van Nuys, Verdugo Hills, Washington Prep, West Adams, Wilson. Air Force Schools: Canoga Park, Francis Polytechnic, Fulton College Prep, San Pedro. Marine Schools: Crenshaw, Carson, Fremont. Navy Schools: El Camino, Kennedy, Narbonne, Locke, Reseda and Foshay Learning Center. Student total on November 26, 2007 is: Army- 3,346 Navy- 674 Air Force- 358 Marine Corps 376 Total in all services: 4,754 (2006-7 total was 4,591, and 2003-4 total was 6,034 students) Note: Many of the JROTC students are 9th graders who were recruited from middle school. JROTC has also enrolled high numbers of ESL students and Special Education students. Questionable enrollment into this program continues along with heavy promotion and awarding students who “recruit” their peers. The JROTC program must keep the enrollment up to 100 students, in order to maintain the program. LAUSD Middle Schools with California Cadet enrollment varies from semester to semester. Past schools have included: Audubon Middle School, Bethune MS, Burbank MS, John Burroughs MS, Henry Clay MS, Fulton Middle School, Robert Frost MS, Bret Harte Prep MS, Horace Mann MS, Los Angeles Academy MS, James Madison MS, Robert Millikan MS, Nightingale MS, Nimitz MS, Pacoima MS, Reed MS, Stevenson MS Virgil MS		Military Infiltration of Our Public Schools LA High School Students ::: The law gives Military Recruiters access to your information (names. addresses and telephone numbers) UNLESS YOU OPT-OUT! What is Opt Out? It is your legal right to notify your school that you DO NOT want the military to receive your personal info. It's your choice. Don't let them harass you with endless phone calls and promises which may not come true! Go to the OPT OUT page for more info! Honesty In Recruitment PDF file from John Lalla, very good!! CAMS Youth Brochure CAMS Stopping Militarism Brochure CAMS Youth Brochure What Every Girl Should Know Great Careers Careers in Peace List #1 Careers in Peace List #2 Spanish Brochure for your parents How to get out of JROTC classes How to get out of JROTC classes Maybe you heard from a friend that JROTC was really fun, that you get to go on trips and do special stuff. So you told your Counselor that you wanted to be enrolled into JROTC. But once you got in, you found out it wasn’t like that at all! No problem, just go see your Counselor and explain that you want to change classes, and make sure you don’t get a fail or incomplete. · No student should be involuntarily placed into JROTC. If you have been put into JROTC without requesting the class, try the following: · Go to your counselor and request that you change classes. . If you have been put into JROTC instead of a Physical Education course, know that you will probably have little fly activity such as only one day a week (which violates the California Education Code Physical Education requirements). You have a need and right to have a regular physical education course. You should NOT be automatically placed into JROTC instead of physical education. · Write a letter stating why you object to being in the JROTC, make a copy and give one to the Counselor and keep the other for yourself. The letter can be used in your HYPERLINK "http://www.militaryfreeschools.org/conscienceobject.htm" Conscientious Objector File in the event of a Draft. · Have your parent or guardian request that you be removed from the JROTC class. It can be in a letter, or at a scheduled conference. · If you are stuck in a JROTC class and cannot change classes you may want to ask the JROTC instructor about why you are studying war and killing. Ask questions about what happens to a soldier who loses an arm or a leg or a hand, or goes blind from fighting in a war. Challenging a teacher is not something that should get you in trouble if done in a respectful manner. If you feel you are being targeted unfairly by an instructor, any teacher, because you are asking questions about the course subject matter- than this can be a reason for allowing you to change classes (provided there is one available). A graphic of JROTC presence in LAUSD YOU ARE SO BEING PLAYED !! Why is that Coca Cola can silver ? Why does that commercial stick in your head ? How come you are willing to spend two to three times the reasonable price for name brand shoes or purses ??? Because big companies pay advertisers and psychologists hundreds of thousands of dollars to control your thinking, and your actions ! PROPAGANDA: a type of message aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of people. So when you watch tv, movies, read magazines be aware, who is working to move you, to control you ? Do you feel a need to buy, to be, to participate ?? Propaganda techniques include: patriotic flag-waving, glittering generalities, intentional vagueness, oversimplification of complex issues, rationalization, introducing unrelated red herring issues, using appealing, simple slogans, stereotyping, testimonials from authority figures or celebrities, unstated assumptions, and encouraging readers or viewers to "jump on the bandwagon" of a particular ideology. WOW here’s an example that uses several of these ! “YOU ARE WITH US, OR YOU ARE AGAINST US” GW BUSH "Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognition's (thoughts), and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist." Source: Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell, Propaganda And Persuasion, 4th edition, 2006. Can you say “ADVERTISING” ?? ANYTIME you are being pushed or encouraged to do, to accept, to buy, to be, without being encouraged to get information, to think for yourself, to KNOW what you are getting involved in BEWARE ! Someone is playing you !! MORE INFO on Propaganda: Propaganda Critic Propaganda from Wikipedia This information is brought to you by: NELA Radical Neighbors for Peace through Justice
REVIEW of POLICY BULLETIN 2067 Military Access to Schools Arlene Inouye, CAMS Coordinator, HRC/UTLA Member, November 2005 BACKGROUND INFORMATION After a Board presentation was made by CAMS and the Human Rights Committee, UTLA (United Teachers Los Angeles) in February 2003, a District Committee was established to address questions and concerns regarding military recruitment. For over a year, members and supporters of CAMS, a grassroots coalition of teachers, school staff, students, parents and community have documented and reported to this School District Committee specific instances of aggressive and abusive military recruiter tactics. We have been concerned about the lack of parameters regarding military recruitment, the lack of information and misinformation. We once again went to the Board of Education September 12, 2005 to express our concerns and present specific resolutions to address them. At the same time, approximately 250 email messages mobilized by the Leave My Child Alone campaign were sent to the Board of Education members to support our efforts. Following the Board presentation by a student, parent, teacher and CAMS Coordinator, we were promised that action would be taken within the next month. ANALYSIS OF POLICY We feel that this policy is a significant and important step in the right direction towards insuring the safety and protection of our students. For the past year we have been repeatedly told that military recruitment was a LOCAL SCHOOL DECISION. We believe that by providing the documentation of violations of district policy and safety concerns along with recommendations were important in the development of this policy. We acknowledge that the guidelines still leave many decisions regarding military limits up to the discretion of the school principal or designee. We are continuing to discuss with the District and lawyers, our concerns and possible changes. We welcome any suggestions. Specific comments are: The first page states that the “military recruiters MAY” have various limits, which makes it optional and subjective according to the school principal. We like the fact that student first amendment rights of free expression, and to lawfully protest the military are stated, along with an attachment which can be easily duplicated and given to students. Unfortunately there is no mention of counter recruiter rights to pass out literature and present alternatives. It was stated by the district official that community persons can gain access through teacher contacts at the local school, and that it is a local school decision. This policy does not address other methods of military recruitment such as through school sponsored sports events and programs. Concerns were specially raised regarding the Classic Football game between Garfield and Roosevelt High School and the heavy recruiting and vendor access given to the military recruiters. Who makes this decision and the process for approval will be researched by the district. The policy makes clear the school district policy of voluntary placement into the JROTC program, but states that those who enrolled in a JROTC/ROTC class in lieu of physical education who choose to drop the JROTC/ROTC class will be prioritized for enrollment in physical education. This does not address the fact that there are insufficient physical education classes to meet the needs of students, and JROTC does not meet the state physical education requirements. According to the California Standards for Physical Education, JROTC along with other electives such as drill team, are out of compliance. LAUSD has until June 2006, to remedy this situation. Under the responsibility of Military Representatives, the Office of Risk Management must approve all military equipment or vehicles on campus in advance. Thus far, there have been no requests to this office, so this should dramatically decrease and possibly eliminate the humvees and military vans on campus. The policy does not address the unequal representation of the military representatives over college and career representatives at career fairs. There were a few schools over the past year which had a career fair with excessive military recruiters and lack of career and college recruiters. Whenever this occurs, we can notify the school district and they will address this. The policy clarifies that the school does not approve of any trips or transporting by military recruiters outside of school hours. We had documented cases of this occurring which the district had not known. We feel that it is important to strengthen parental rights in relation to transportation issues and taking the ASVAB. There are some inconsistencies in the District’s Opt Out policy, and what is written in the policy (i.e., 17 year old students being able to Opt Out without parent signature). MONITORING Two months ago we began our Adopt A School Project in 37 schools in the Los Angeles County including 25 LAUSD high schools (of which there are approximately a total of 60). Through our grassroots contacts at these 25 LAUSD schools, we will monitor this policy through a form with specific issues and areas to look for. In order to simplify the process, we will have a violation checklist to address the areas where the military recruiters have not followed the guidelines and protocol such as the limits regarding time and location that the school administrator may determine. The form will also document any difficulties of gaining equal access, school staff not complying with these guidelines (i.e. restricting the first amendment rights of students) and JROTC involuntary placement. A policy is only effective when it is known, implemented and holds persons accountable for violations. We of CAMS will collect the data from the 25 schools in LAUSD, and see that the district is made aware of violations or problems with this policy. We are appreciative for the hundreds of in our schools, which make this possible. January 2008 Military recruitment in the schools appears to vary greatly from school to school. We found that our Adopt a School contacts played an important role in keeping a check on military recruitment activity, initiating a counter message, and providing alternatives. The Adopt a School Project that was expanded to 50 schools in the greater Los Angeles area, has given us the ability to tailor effective strategies to meet the needs of each local school community. There was an important revision of the School District Policy dated May 17, 2007 in which ALL students who elect to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will have their scores and personal information kept private, and NOT released to military recruiters. LAUSD is only the second school district in the nation with a blanket Option 8 policy. The following violations to the policy have been reported: -Military vans and humvees on high school campuses WITHOUT clearance from the Office of Risk Management. -There are MORE military recruiters on campus than career and college recruiters. -Students continue to report aggressive unwanted military recruiter contact. Military Recruiter Actions that are of Concern but not addressed in the Policy -The initiation of a JROTC program without an informed discussion with the community. Although LAUSD makes the Principal the decision maker on this issue, it should be done in consultation with the school community. -LAUSD Office of Directory Information would not agree to put the Opt Out information on the Emergency Card as we requested. The Opt Out forms are confusing to fill out, and some students are still not getting the information. It appears most of the high Schools do not publicize the Opt Out dates and give students and their parents this information. -Military recruiters are using Career Information and Career Exploration as their entry way into classrooms and assemblies. They are finding other ways to reach students and teachers. Let us know what is happening at your school. Please fill out the CAMS Military Recruitment Survey. Remember all students are protected by federal and state privacy laws. Ten Points To Consider Before You Sign A Military Enlistment Agreement 1: Don't make a quick decision by enlisting the first time you see a recruiter or when you are upset. 2: Take a witness with you when you speak to a recruiter. 3: Talk to veterans who have been there about their experiences. 4: Consider your moral feelings about going to war and killing someone. 5: Get a copy of the enlistment agreement. Read the fine print, especially the part about what the military can order you to do. 6: Once you are in you cannot get out so easily. You will be in for eight years and the only way out before that is if the military decides to give you a dishonorable discharge. 7: Get all the recruiters promises in writing! 8: There are no job guarantees in the military. You go and do what someone else tells you to for eight years. 9: Military personnel may not be as free as civilians or have the same rights and civil liberties as civilians, 10: Many other opportunities exist for you to serve your community and better your skills. Check out AFSC for more info. Also see CAMS Conscientious Objector page for Selective Service Info. JROTC Stats for 2006-7 School Year May 2008 With the budget crisis looming over California and Los Angeles Unified School District, it is important to consider the cost of JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Program) to LA Unified. Around the country, Education Boards are considering cuts or dismantling this program based on budget deficits. LAUSD has 30 JROTC programs located in the most economically depressed communities in our city (with no programs west of Fairfax HS). The numbers of students in all the JROTC programs for the 2007-8 school year is 4,754 as reported by Ltc. U.S. Army Retired Ted A McDonald, the JROTC Coordinator. Mr. Mark Shrager of the LAUSD Budget Services Division provided the budget data. The net cost to LAUSD for the calendar year of 2006-7 is calculated to be: : $ 1,633,871 Salary (the total cost is $3,267,742 in which LAUSD pays half and the Dept of Defense pays the other half) $ 915,494 Employee benefits (LAUSD pays for all the benefits) $ 9,077 Mileage Reimbursements ______________________________________ $ 2,558,342. or 2.6 million- minimum cost to LAUSD for the JROTC program in 31 schools serving 4591 students in the 2006-7 school year. This does not include additional costs incurred such as field trips, facilities, etc. The budget director estimates that 2007-8 will be similar to this figure. Taking the example of Roosevelt HS which has two instructors for 171 students, they have an average of 16 students per period (5 periods in a 6 period day, while other teachers have more than twice that size in each class). Approximate cost per student for the JROTC program to LAUSD is a minimum of $557.25 This cost to the district drains resources that could be used for decreasing class size in the academic subjects, for counselors, qualified teachers, and resources for the school. The numbers of JROTC students was at a low of 4,234 in 1999-2000, to a high of 6,034 students in 2003-04. There must be a minimum of 100 students for 2 JROTC instructors to keep the program open. Numbers in 2006 and 2007 have remained steady from 4,591 to 4,754. A concern has been the continued involuntary placement into this program and a surge of enrollment right before the fall norm deadline. (Case in point is Lincoln HS which had 84 students in Sept. which jumped to 110 in November). Students have been reported at the school to be put into JROTC without knowing it is voluntary. Additionally students in the special education program have been encouraged to enroll, possibly to keep the JROTC program open. Note that there is also a middle school California Cadet program that is not reflected in these numbers or budget. There is no budget item for the California Cadet program since the class is picked up by certificated teachers who teach this class as one of their periods. The number of students enrolled varies from year to year. Issues of Concern: -Although JROTC is promoted as a leadership training program and character development, the JROTC Policy Memorandum 50 on March 30, 1999 states “Purpose: To provide guidance on implementation of initiatives to enhance recruiting efforts with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.” -The California Education Code Section 51750 makes explicit that JROTC is a voluntary class. “No student enrolled in any such school (secondary) shall be required to enroll in any course in military science and tactics.” Furthermore the LAUSD Policy Bulletin 2067.1 (May 17, 2007) states on page3 “participation in JROTC is voluntary.” High school students continue to be involuntarily placed into JROTC over the past four years since we have addressed this. Despite efforts to communicate this illegality to high school Principals by the Director of High School Programs, Mr. Bud Jacobs and Mr. Herman Clay, these violations continue. -LAUSD has counted the JROTC program towards the physical education requirements; however JROTC (along with other programs) has been out of compliance regarding the California Department of Education Physical Education requirements. The areas of noncompliance include the following: not assessing students with the Fitnessgram, not receiving enough physical education instruction, instruction not delivered by teaches who hold appropriate credentials. In relation to this last area, JROTC instructors are not credentialed as PE instructors. Over the past few years, the district has taken steps towards meeting the Physical Education requirements, and we do not know the status towards compliance at this time . -Ten JROTC programs in LAUSD have firing ranges which is in contradiction to the intention of the Zero Tolerance for Guns policy of LAUSD (page 12 of the Parent-Student Handbook). The Federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 also mandates the expulsion of any student who takes a firearm onto a school campus. By permitting and instructing students on firing ranges gives a mixed message regarding promoting safe school campuses. -The JROTC program uses their own textbook that presents history from a military perspective (though adopted by educators). Sections of the text have been of concern regarding a biased perspective. Summary: The JROTC program continues to violate the California Education Code and LAUSD Policy Bulletin 2067.1 by the involuntary placement of high school students into this program. There are also questions regarding compliance to physical education state requirements, JROTC instructor qualifications, the psychological impact of permitting guns on campus with a Zero Tolerance for Guns policy, and the JROTC curriculum. Instructors typically have a much smaller class size than other classes (including academic subjects), and this program has a high cost (a minimum of $557,25 per student paid for by LAUSD). This program should be considered for elimination given the severe budget crisis facing LAUSD. Arlene Inouye, May 2008 JROTC in LAUSD It was reported in 2003 by Lt. Col. Ted McDonald, JROTC Coordinator, that 5,521 students were enrolled at 29 high schools taught by 73 military personnel. Retired military personnel are given a special JROTC teaching credential that does not even require a college degree. JROTC is a nonacademic elective course, not for college preparation. LAUSD contributes more than half the funding-- last year more than $2 million of the $4-million program. The JROTC programs are at 16 out of the 19 most severely overcrowded campuses. JROTC is disproportionately represented in working class or impoverished areas such as the Central and East Los Angeles communities with none west of Fairfax High School. Because of contractual conditions imposed by the military, JROTC is more expensive than a regular elective or the physical education classes taken as a substitute. If JROTC was eliminated, it would free up extra funds even after hiring the necessary staff to support JROTC students in other classes. Latinos are now 13.5% of the U.S. population (2002 U.S. census update), but only about 10% of enlisted ranks. Latinos are about 10% of the Army and 14% of the Marines (2001 DOD). But the important thing to note is that in combat-related military occupations, Latinos jump to 25% of the Army, and 20% of the Marines. Blacks and Latinos are much more likely to receive penalties and incarceration in the brig while in the military, and to get less than honorable discharges upon separation, which damage life-chances for employment after leaving the military. JROTC (Junior Reserves Officer Training Core) A Military-run training program for high school students. The goal is to create favorable attitudes and impressions towards the Services and careers in the Armed Forces (332 Code of Fed Regulations 542.5:3c). Between 1992 to 1997, JROTC programs more than doubled. After General Colin Powell visited South Central L. A. following the riots in 1992. He concluded inner city youth needed more discipline and structure. JROTC continues to grow to over 3,500 programs nationwide. More than 40% of cadets who complete JROTC eventually join the military, the vast majority as enlisted personnel. Here is the Enlistment Agreement you sign when you join up. Recruiters will try an hurry you to sign this without reading it. Read it here first. Notice that the US military does not have to honor any promises made by the recruiters to you. It's at the bottom of the page. Here is the full US Military School Recruitment Handbook in PDF format. Military Recruitment through JROTC Over the past few months an announcement over the loud speaker at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles has been heard over and over again. Written by Sgt Eason the message is: “Join JROTC and become part of a winning team. An opportunity to develop and improve yourself in many ways: it uses military skills to teach self-discipline, confidence and pride in a job well done and it offers you challenges and opportunities that prepare you for graduation after high school.” This pitch is aimed at the incoming 9th graders who have most likely heard about JROTC in a special 8th grade assembly- all part of a strategy that may appear innocuous to some, but is tailored to shape the minds of students and their parents and especially appeal to the desperation for structure, discipline and support. We urge you to look deeper at what’s really behind JROTC. JROTC sometimes known as military science is taught by retired military officers with public education dollars, and lots of it. Perhaps the heavy advertising is needed since JROTC is a voluntary elective class (although students have been placed by default because there weren’t enough Physical education classes available). The program grows every year. Some like JROTC primarily because they see it as a fix for discipline, self control, and other “problems” that parents and teachers have with youth. However, without addressing the underlying personal and societal and needs of our students, the military uses shame, fear and punishment, which will never work. The bottom line is that JROTC is a military program, with the intent and purpose as stated in the U.S. army policy to “create favorable attitudes and impressions towards the military.” Let’s call it what it is- *an early indoctrination to create future soldiers to fight and* kill in war. And let’s speak of who these soldiers are-low income youth of color in working class communities who are targeted. This is military tracking which the school system perpetrates. JROTC blurs the line between school and military. This was clearly seen at the JROTC awards assembly at Garfield last June, when the Garfield bull dog mascot marched around to the drum beat while wearing a military uniform with the word “Army “ written across. When will we stop the militarization of education and our students!!!! Understanding JROTC by Adele Siegel I genuinely appreciated the extensive coverage you gave February 19, 2007, to the state of "JROTC" in Los Angeles' high schools. There is a battle raging for the hearts and minds of our young people. As someone who has been educating the public about this program for 15 years, I wish to underscore two key points that were not clearly stated. Junior Officers¹ Training Corps" (JROTC) is false advertising. Nothing in this program prepares or qualifies high school students for careers as military officers. JROTC is similar to college-level Reserve Officers' Training Corps ROTC), in that it is a part-time, military-run program. But JROTC graduates are only eligible to enter the armed forces as enlisted men or women, just like young people who never participated in JROTC. Second, any program that offers small classes, extra staff, personal attention, and less than challenging curriculum to high school students is likely to earn the loyalty of its participants. Undeniably JROTC has many "happy campers." But JROTC sucks money from general school districts budgets. In many cases local funds cover over half of JROTC program expenditures. Our limited education dollars could be spent much more effectively teaching non-violent strategies, conflict resolution techniques, and preparing students for either college or civilian trades, than enticing them to risk their lives and future, fighting for no reason in a war that can't be won. POVERTY DRAFT The term “Poverty Draft” was coined to describe the economic disparities and disproportionate number of youth of color recruited and enlisted into the armed services. In this case if you follow the “lack of money” into the poor rural areas and inner cities of America, you will find youth who have very few options, where military enlistment is marketed as a positive choice. American Indian, Latino, African American and Asian American youth are especially targeted for recruitment. Young men and women of color are over-represented in the armed forces and under represented on college campuses. In particular the numbers of females of color has dramatically increased in the Iraq War to more than 160,000 (“The Women’s War,” New York Times, March 18, 2007) and comprise 51% of all women serving in the military. The Poverty Draft raises many issues including who pays the cost for war and who benefits, and the inequities in education and post education opportunities. The military recruitment of youth is a peace and justice issue. The territories of the United States such as Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico face even greater “poverty draft” conditions than the US. But we also are inspired by the activism in the Puerto Rico and their resistance. Below are student voices and articles about the Poverty Draft. Both students gave permission for us to print these articles. Thinking About Joining the Navy By Carlos Cortez, Senior at Roosevelt High School, East Los Angeles Rough Riders December 2006 We face many difficult decisions all the time, whether deciding on what college to go to, choosing a career, where to work, etc…Making decisions in life is normal but it can be very frustrating. I am in a situation where I have to make a decision that will determine my future. I was thinking about joining the Navy or go to school full time. Of course my number one priority is to attend school full time, but I haven’t received an acceptance letter from a college. If I do get accepted to a college I’m going to take advantage of the offer. I don’t know if my financial aid will be enough to pay my tuition, books, and accessories. What I do know is that if I join the Navy, the will my whole tuition and I’ll be getting paid monthly while I go to school. It sounds good to me because instead of me paying the school, I have the Navy paying for it. It only takes four years to serve and within those four years I can b e traveling, getting my college degree, and receive hands on training. Making my decision is hard because when I ask for advice people tell me that I should go to college instead of joining the military. Some people tell me that I’m ignorant for thinking of joining a military force because of the war that is going on in Iraq. The navy deals with water, while eh war is being fought on land. The thing that is preventing me from my decision is leaving everything behind like: friends, family, and hobbies. I have talked to some people that are actually on service with the Navy, and they tell me that It’s going pretty good and they’re going to college. That could be me, but what if it doesn’t go well and I start regretting it. I have set a ship date, basically a day when I decide to leave. My ship date is August 6, 2007, but I haven’t signed a contract, that’s the good thing. I still have enough time to think things through and decide what’s best for me. A response was written for the January issue of Rough Rider by Arlene Inouye, who has also interacted with Carlos about his concerns. He has decided to get out of the DEP Delayed Entry Program and actively pursue money for college. Other Student voices from Roosevelt High School A male Roosevelt senior said” the military recruiter’s are always calling, and they don’t hang up.” A female who was waiting to hear if she got accepted to college said “He (army recruiter) called me and pretended he was a friend saying stuff like, you better go to college or I’ll come and get you. It made me scared.” “They just come to poor neighborhoods because they think we are stupid.” (female, 11th grader) Military Recruitment at school will mean enlisting By Maria Perez #1659 Roosevelt High School Rough Riders The military is recruiting in school. Figure out how the military is in reality before you are recruited or enlisted. For years the military recruiters have gone around thinking you didn’t even notice them. Mr. Castillo and an article have indicated that there is a paper (an active form) that your parents have to sign which requests not to give out personal information. What this means is that if you didn’t sign the form your information might be given to the military recruiter. A provision of the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, Bush’s education bill, requires that school districts release private student directory information like names, addresses, and telephone numbers. That is why Mr. Castillo’s does not agree with the school giving military recruiters the information of students and that the student information should not be used for that purpose. This means risking the loss of federal funds. The only way to prevent the military recruiters from getting personal information is for the student or parent to sign. The Assistant Principal was the person who agreed to this policy in January of 2003. This introduced a policy on military recruitment to the Student Council. This was the first time a formal policy that specified what was and was not allowed for military recruiters on campus was given. Many students and teachers don’t know what the army is. Mr. Castillo has an issue with the military being in the school because he thinks that, for example, the JROTC is on campus to give an opportunity and a favorable positive view of the military. However, the students might think that ”the military is the only thing that they could do good at if they don’t do good in school,” said Castillo, “They are trying to recruit them in to the military service.” In reality what is the military? Students often don’t know the reality of being in the military. Being in the military forces you to lose your basic rights. “For instance if you leave your work without permission, you can be arrested. Any disobedience can result in criminal punishment. You can be punished without the right to see a lawyer or have a trial. Your right to say what you think when and how you want will be restricted. Individual expression through the way you dress and wear you hair won’t be tolerated. You will be subject to routine urine tests for drugs. In the military you can have an unexpected experiences like sexual harassment and rape, which is a real threat to the women in the military. Another example is that discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals is not only intense within the military, it is an official policy,” from article. Many people might think that the military will give discipline and decent living conditions in return for enlisting. You are aware the in the enlisting agreement says that your status, pay, benefits and responsibilities in the military can change without warning and regardless of any promises in your agreement. There are myths about the military. One of the two most common is the military job training myth and the easy money for college myth. The first myth is job training. Many people join the military expecting to receive job training. Military training is designed for military jobs, not to help you get a civilian job later. Even in the technically oriented Air Force, most jobs require particular military skills that won’t do you much good in the civilian world. If you get the training you were promised for a particular military occupation, you still might not get any experience in the job because the military doesn’t have to use you in the field you requested. Therefore some people were satisfied in the 2002 SOF Survey. Only 54% of all military members including officers said they were satisfied with their training and professional development, and only 39% were satisfied with the total compensation they received for their work. As said by Richard Cheney when he was Secretary of Defense, “The military is not a social welfare agency: it’s not a jobs program.” The second myth is the easy money for college. Recruiters might promise you tens of thousands of free dollars for college, but it’s not free; you must work for it. Unless you qualify for special jobs or sign up for an extra long term, you’ll never see the higher amounts of money. To qualify for any aid at all, you pay a $1200 non-refundable deposit to the military. If you receive a less than honorable discharge, and 1 out of 4 people do, or leave the military early, as 1 out of 3, or later decide no to go to college, the military will keep your deposit and give you nothing. According to the Veterans Affairs Dept., only about half of eligible veterans are using their educational benefits, which means the military takes in a lot of money that will not be paid back. In other words, it’s really the military that profits, not veterans. Colleges can help you find aid if you need it, and it pays to investigate these options before agreeing to give away years of your life to the military. Once you complete school, you can start earning the higher wages of a college graduate right away. Also, what would happen if you were enlisted to go to the army? Many of the U.S. soldiers, who fought in the Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and the Persian Gulf, never expected they would be the ones to see action in the war. Many of the Reserve and National Guard soldiers were sent to fight in emergencies, but the main purpose of the military is to fight in wars, and if you enlist you will have no choice if you are ordered to fight for something you don’t believe in. Like protecting a foreign dictator or oil industry profits. After enlisting, if you discover that you religious, moral or ethical beliefs won’t allow you to kill, it will be hard for you to get a discharge as a conscientious objector. For example, hundreds of U.S. soldiers were imprisoned when the objected to the Persian Gulf War. Therefore do not enlist before you know the reality and the danger of the military life that lie in its advertising. Many people not agree with the military recruiting students. Mr. Castillo said that he thinks that many teachers as well as students do not want the military to be recruiting because of No Child Left Behind. The military can effect the military recruitment by the atmosphere they are in. It can affect them because of what the students viewing and hearing the positive sites of the military and that it will improve their future. In Mr. Castillo’s opinion, the military is not doing anything that will have power towards them. In the past the military used to be in the school at all times, including lunch, between classes, and most of all access to classroom, which negatively impacted academic achievement. Therefore Mr. Castillo said, ”There is something that says that the military should have equal access, so we can’t tell them to get out, but if you are going to come here there are rules that they have to follow.” Also they can bring any kind of instruments, meaning tanks or even weapons. We used to be the number one school in the country for Marine recruitment because of the students reputation in education. “I think that Roosevelt was number one in Marine Recruitment because a lot of students weren’t going to college, some how they were available to get the students convinced. Students had a twisted view of the military as well as a positive view about what they were seeing. It was also it was an influence to the public. “Marines would have many things that interested them (cool) with fancy presentations and just falling in love with it just looking at it. Another thing is that it was heard that the Marines were better. It is why it became the number one in Marine Recruitment,” said Mr. Castillo. For many years in the past it has been said that teachers weren’t aware what the recruitment would lead to. Teachers from before didn’t know what the military was really about but it gave them a positive view about the military. As the years went by, in the last 10 years, many teachers started realizing what the military was about, saying that the military is bad in ways because it could lead to greater danger than just recruiting for the students. Getting informed and hearing different things about the military changes people’s state of mind about recruitment and the military. In opinion of ISG Harrington and SFC Bergeron it was said do to the military that there are jobs that don’t guarantee you a job, but many other jobs by involving programming with the computer would get you a civilian job as technologist, programming or something related. It is not only negative views from the military, but there are positive views that we don’t know of. The military recruits people with an education, not the people that get bad grades. For example if they get some one with a lower education that person wouldn’t know what was going on and wouldn’t understand. The other person with higher or more education would know what was going on, understand what they need to do, and what they were being ordered to do. More information can be found at www.projactyano.org. Also look at www.yclusa.org, which has an article by Arlene Inouye. You can also check out www.militaryfreeschools.org. ASVAB ALERT ASVAB BREAKTHROUGH: LAUSD TO PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY The Military’s Stealth Test: School districts are beginning to keep the results of a dodgy student aptitude test out of the hands of military recruiters By Megan Tady December 7, 2007 from In These Times One thing is different this year about an aptitude test given to high school juniors and seniors in a Los Angeles school district: The test results won’t be going to military recruiters. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) adopted a policy in May to keep aptitude test results out of the hands of military recruiters, and notified the district’s career counselors of the change last month. LAUSD is the second largest school system in the country. Last year, another major school district, Montgomery Public Schools in Maryland, also enforced this policy. Faced with questions of the future, every year high school juniors and seniors shade-in oval, numbered bubbles on aptitude tests. The test results may tell a student whether she’s well suited to work with people or has the mind for mechanics or engineering. But one of these aptitude tests isn't’t just designed to help guide faltering students to career enlightenment. Written by the Department of Defense and marketed by the military as a “career exploration” test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) informs military recruiters of which students to target for enlistment. Unless schools opt out, students are required to sign a privacy waiver before taking the test, allowing recruiters to mine their test results for possible recruits. Often, students and parents are unaware of the test’s true intentions, and at many schools, this test is mandatory. Fourteen thousands schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations give the ASVAB each year. Privacy rights advocates and anti-war activists call ASVAB a devious military recruitment strategy and an assault on children’s privacy. They have been pressuring schools to either drop the test, or enforce a little-known policy that keeps test results out of the hands of recruiters, called Option 8. They’re also lobbying schools to get parental consent before their children sit for the ASVAB and sign the privacy waiver. Schools can choose between several options to administer the test. Option 8 allows schools to still give the test for career placement purposes without releasing the results to recruiters. Cash-strapped schools often use the ASVAB as an aptitude test because it is provided for free. “If school administrators feel there is no suitable alternative and are truly interested in the alleged career exploration benefits of the test, they shouldn’t be opposed to requiring parental consent and selecting Option 8 to protect student privacy,” says Pat Elder, a member of Peace Action Montgomery, who helped petition the Maryland school district to adopt Option 8. The LAUSD’s decision to adopt Option 8 came after strong demands from groups like the L.A. chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, and the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth. The National Lawyers Guild, in a legal memorandum submitted to the school district in June 2006, accused the school district of violating its legal obligations to protect students’ privacy rights when administering the ASVAB. The LAUSD did not respond to interview requests. The timed ASVAB tests students in arithmetic reasoning, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension and mathematics. Along with the test results, other information made available to recruiters include a student’s name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, sex, ethnic group identification, graduation plans, and academic and extracurricular interests. The National Lawyer’s Guild warned in its memo, “With this sensitive data, military recruiters can then tailor recruiting methods to individual students, enabling the recruiters to mount a barrage of intimate and intimidating attacks on impressionable minors absent parental supervision.” Elder says he is troubled by the way the military veils the ASVAB’s purpose. “The army is touting this as a career exploration program and is hiding the fact that it’s a recruiting program,” he says. Arlene Inouye, a coordinator with the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, says that students and parents aren’t the only ones duped by the ASVAB. “Career counselors that I’ve talked to really haven’t known that it’s a military test,” Inouye says. “It’s really been one of those underground, undercover ways that military recruiters have used to recruit.” The confusion might be because of the way the military markets the ASVAB. The ASVAB website gives scant indication that the test is linked to military recruitment. The description on the site says benignly that the ASVAB is “designed to encourage students to increase their level of self-knowledge and to understand how that information could be linked to civilian and military occupational characteristics.” The site contains no military images. But other military websites and information are more forthcoming about the ASVAB. A 2004 school recruiting handbook says the purpose of the ASVAB, along with career guidance, is to “provide the field recruiter with a source of leads of high school seniors and juniors through the ASVAB for enlistment into the Active Army and Army Reserve.” In the handbook, recruiters are told that one of their “most important responsibilities will be arranging the ASVAB in… schools.” The guide also suggests that recruiters should be present when the test is given. Data from the ASVAB is also used at the Joint Advertising Market Research & Studies (JAMRS), a Department of Defense program that works to bolster the military’s image as a career option, and create slick recruitment campaigns. “There’s no question that the military looks at our high schools as fertile recruiting ground for wars,” Inouye says. As the military becomes increasingly strained, advocacy groups, parents and students are growing more concerned about recruiting tactics in schools. “[The Army says], ‘Look, we have this wonderful dream,’ ” Inouye says. “And it’s an illusion and our young people are dying. I just feel very strongly that it’s unconscionable that our society allows the recruitment of minors.” New LAUSD Policy Protects Student Privacy ASVAB- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery October 27, 2007 The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), arguably the military's most valuable recruiting tool, is a grueling half-day examination of 9 individual tests given to 900,000 students in 13,000 high schools and post-secondary schools every year. The ASVAB is promoted as a voluntary "career exploration program" administered to juniors and seniors through a collaborative effort between the Department of Education and the Department of Defense. Many schools across the country, however, make it mandatory for students to take the test and others coerce them to do so. The test represents an egregious constitutional violation of the federal government's meddling in state-supported educational institutions. All children who sit for the ASVAB are required to sign a "Privacy Statement" that gives permission to the military to use private information and test results for recruiting purposes. Most states, however, have laws that restrict minors from relinquishing private information without the consent of their parents. .Unless a school district or high school selects option 8, the data from the ASVAB is forwarded to recruiters and to the military's Joint Advertising Market Research and Studies Program, a massive database that collects information on approximately 30 million US citizens from 16 to 24 years of age. The military has done an excellent job in keeping Option 8 a secret. Most high school principals and central office administrators across the country are ignorant of the ASVAB option that allows the test to be administered without the results being forwarded to recruiting services, but the military has even more in its favor than the ignorance of high school officials. Options aside, ardent militarists have managed to implement mandatory ASVAB testing in high schools throughout the country. LAUSD Bulletin 2067.1 Military Access to Schools, May 7, 2007 Los Angeles Unified School District has established a policy with regard to military access to schools on October 21, 2005, and revised on May 17, 2007. The policy bulletin states that the District is committed to protecting the rights of its students as well as providing as many options and opportunities as possible. It establishes guidelines for military recruiters in the schools, rights and responsibilities of students and families, the role of the school and responsibility of Military Representatives. The revision of the policy bulletin applies solely to the ASVAB section on page 3 that states: To ensure consistency with the opt-out provisions for release of contact information to the military, District schools shall select "Option 8" prior to the administration of the ASVAB at the school. The District employee facilitating the test's administration shall request Option 8 when scheduling the ASVAB test for the school. Prior to this policy, as many as 75% of the high schools in LAUSD, gave the ASVAB. We discovered that students, parents and Career Advisors (who facilitate the test at the local school) were not informed that privacy rights were waived and that military recruiters were receiving student’s contact information along with their ASVAB scores. “I am upset because we returned the Opt Out form and yet were receiving constant calls by the military recruiters,” a parent complained. LAUSD as the second largest school district in the nation has joined the Montgomery County Maryland to institute a blanket Option 8 policy for its 60 high schools. LAUSD has taken an important step to protect student privacy. If you have any questions please contact: Arlene Inouye, CAMS, Military Advisory Committee, LAUSD November 26, 2007 Los Angeles Schools Move to Protect Student Privacy from Military *Growing concern about protecting student data leads to focus on military aptitude testing in secondary schools.* Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest school system, has instituted a new policy to stop the practice of releasing confidential student information to military recruiters under a controversial Department of Defense testing program. LAUSD becomes the second major school system to adopt such a policy, joining Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. Under the DoD testing program, which began in 1968, secondary schools are asked by recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to some or all of their students in grades ten through twelve. The ASVAB test is typically marketed as a general career exploration exam but was designed to screen enlistment applicants specifically for military occupations. It is now administered to 688,016 students in 66% of all high schools nationwide, according to data obtained from the Department of Defense. Rarely is parental permission sought before testing students. Several hundred high schools across the country require all Juniors to take the test. After the test is given, recruiters routinely receive detailed personal information on students, including their gender, race, Social Security number, aptitude data and contact information. Schools have the option of giving the ASVAB test without test results being used for recruiting, but polls of school counselors in places like L.A. have revealed little awareness of the option. As a result, the ASVAB has become a primary tool for getting around restrictions on access to confidential student information. "It's really a way for recruiters to circumvent parents and obtain personal data on students that cannot be legally released through the school system," said Rick Jahnkow of the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities in San Diego. "Students are often not told what the true purpose of the test is, and the vast majority of those tested are age 17 or younger. When they sit down to take it, they are told to sign a privacy act waiver that is of questionable legality." Growing concern over aggressive recruiting has caused parents, students and community activists across the country to give the issue greater attention. This has led to increased scrutiny of high school ASVAB testing and efforts to challenge it in places like Los Angeles. Last year, Montgomery County Public Schools, in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, decided to withhold ASVAB test results from recruiters and require parental consent for all minors taking the military test. The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY) formed in 2004 to bring together organizations doing counter-recruitment work nationally. It maintains a publicly accessible database of such groups on its Web site at www.nnomy.org. CONTACT: Arlene Inouye, Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, L.A., CA 626-483-6160 Pat Elder, Peace Action Montgomery, Bethesda, MD 202-210-3467 James Lafferty, National Lawyers Guild, L.A., CA 323-653-4510 ASVAB TEST (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) An OPTIONAL, free test administered to high school students by the military Purpose is not for determining general occupational aptitudes, but for admissions and placement into U.S. military ~Tests general knowledge in a variety of career possibilities ~Scores determine whether one gets into military ~Scores establish what jobs recruits are allowed to train in ~Used to obtain personal contact information ~You are NOT obligated to join military after taking the test ~You may be pursued at home by military recruiters You do not have to take the ASVAB test. It is an optional test. that means you can just say "No! I don't want to take this test." If you do take the test your name, phone and address go straight to the Pentagon and military recruiters (the Pentagon controls the US military and plans war, and will control you too if you allow them .) ASVAB may be given to you as a Career Placement, or Job, Test. But if you want to find a job you are good at and are having a hard time thinking about that or about what you want to go to college for than make an appointment with your school counselor or talk with your favorite teacher. There are many many things that you can do and careers you can pursue. CAMS has put together a Career Guide for Southern California here and a Guide for Higher Education here. Make sure you tell the counselor or the teacher you talk with the the military is not an option for you. You can resist! You can protest! You can REFUSE TO TAKE THIS TEST for the Pentagon and endless wars. Here is some sample info on ASVAB from the goarmy.com site... the red comments are mine. ASVAB You and your young adult get a say in what Army job he or she has. But several factors are considered when assigning a job or Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): * Current and anticipated needs of the Army * Career aspirations * Skills and qualifications * the current Resource War The final factor is the Soldier's score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which tests your son or daughter's skills and how they apply to jobs in the Army. Paragraph Comprehension - SECTION 4 The Paragraph Comprehension test consists of 15 items measuring your ability to obtain information from written passages. You will find one or more paragraphs of reading material followed by incomplete statements or questions. After you read each paragraph, select the one that best completes the statement or answers the question. Twenty-five percent of all household burglaries can be attributed to unlocked windows or doors. Crime is the result of opportunity plus desire. To prevent crime, it is each individual's responsibility to: A. provide the desire B. provide the opportunity C. prevent the desire D. prevent the opportunity ...but if the military kills civilians is that too a crime? What about torture? What about using chemical weapons like white phosphorous against schoolchildren in Fallujah? Ask your recruiter. What does the ASVAB measure? The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery measures your knowledge and ability in ten different areas; from math to electronics. It is not an IQ test, but the ASVAB is one of the ways to help you decide what job areas in the Army would be best for you. As youth figure out the lies of the military the 'passing' score is dropping so the military can take in more people who do not know better. Warn your fellow students about ASVAB. Tell them they can refuse to take it. Who gives the ASVAB, and where can I take it? The ASVAB is usually given in schools by test administrators from the Federal Government. Schools determine where and when the ASVAB will be given. CAMS Files on ASVAB: ASVAB Information ASVAB Alert Researching ASVAB in your school ASVAB in LAUSD For more information on ASVAB go here. Here is a good example of how students took immediate action and organized to stop ASVAB at their school. GI BENEFITS NO GI benefits for 57%of people who join up! The ad says, “Join the army and earn up to $50,000 for college.” The reality is that 57% of those who sign up for the GI Bill educational benefits do not receive the benefits, and 23% receive only half their maximum benefit. Why? Because the military attaches many strings to eligibility and GI bill benefits. If they are received, don't pay enough to cover costs at even the most inexpensive schools. DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM (DEP) Under the Delayed Entry Program, you sign up now but don't enter the military until up to 12 months later. Some students sign up for DEP because they are not yet 18 years old. If you change your mind, you can get out of DEP, and DO NOT have to join. Women report higher incidences of rape, sexual abuse and harassment than civilians. A 1999 review of Pentagon records found that 50,000 military spouses were victims of domestic violence-5 times the civilian rate. This website had somme good info on DEP letters and responses : http://www.nlg.org/mltf/dep.html info@militaryfreeschool.org CAMS PO Box 3012 South Pasadena, CA. 91031 626-799-9118
Major General Smedley Butler speaks about what he learned while serving in the US military. "Yes, they are getting ready for another war. Why shouldn't they? It pays high dividends. But what does it profit the men who are killed? What does it profit their mothers and sisters, their wives and their sweethearts? What does it profit their children? What does it profit anyone except the very few to whom war means huge profits? "Boys with a normal viewpoint were taken out of the fields and offices and factories and classrooms and put into the ranks. There they were remolded; they were made over; they were made to "about face"; to regard murder as the order of the day. They were put shoulder to shoulder and, through mass psychology, they were entirely changed. We used them for a couple of years and trained them to think nothing at all of killing or of being killed. "Then, suddenly, we discharged them and told them to make another "about face" ! This time they had to do their own readjustment, sans [without] mass psychology, sans officers' aid and advice and sans nation-wide propaganda. We didn't need them any more. So we scattered them about without any "three-minute" or "Liberty Loan" speeches or parades. Many, too many, of these fine young boys are eventually destroyed, mentally, because they could not make that final "about face" alone. "Yes, the soldier pays the greater part of the bill. His family pays too. They pay it in the same heart-break that he does. As he suffers, they suffer. At nights, as he lay in the trenches and watched shrapnel burst about him, they lay home in their beds and tossed sleeplessly – his father, his mother, his wife, his sisters, his brothers, his sons, and his daughters. "When he returned home minus an eye, or minus a leg or with his mind broken, they suffered too – as much as and even sometimes more than he. Yes, and they, too, contributed their dollars to the profits of the munitions makers and bankers and shipbuilders and the manufacturers and the speculators made. "--US Marine Major General Smedley Butler Home \| OptOut \|Conscientious Objector Information \| Who We Are \| Links