Please join activists from the DC Antiwar Network and Code Pink
Women for Peace in a peaceful demonstration at the U.S. Armed Forces
Recruiting Center located at 8202 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring,
Maryland this Friday, May 27, from 5:00 pm. to 7:00 pm.

The station is located three blocks from the Silver Spring Metro at
the intersection of Silver Spring Ave. and Georgia Ave. From the
South Side Metro Exit, walk one block east on Bonifant St. to
Georgia Avenue, then right 2 blocks to the recruiting station.
Driving on Georgia Ave. from DC, the recruiting station is on the
left, about two blocks past East-West Highway (Rt. 410).

We are protesting the militarization of our communities and
schools. We are outraged by recent reports in the news detailing
recruiting excesses and improprieties:

- The No Child Left Behind Act is putting young people at risk by
requiring high schools to give military recruiters access to the
names, addresses and phone numbers of students.
At least eight recruiters have been accused of assaulting potential
or new recruits in Indiana, West Virginia, Washington, California,
New York and Maryland since the law took effect in 2002.

- Interviews with recruiters in 10 states reveal routine concealment
of mental-health histories and police records of recruits. A 21-
year-old man in Ohio with bipolar disorder, fresh out of a three-
week stint in a psychiatric hospital was enlisted by recruiters and
was ready to be shipped off to boot camp. The military would not
release him until his parents had their congressman intervene. An
Army investigation found no wrong-doing and the recruiters are still
at their jobs.

- Recruiters across the country are giving children a
special `aptitude' test (ASVAB) without parental consent. The test
is used by recruiters to gain information on potential recruits.

- A Marine recruiter in Oklahoma was recently convicted of
fraudulently enlisting two recruits who had unresolved underage
drinking charges.

- An Army Recruiter from Texas threatened a potential recruit with
arrest if he did not report to the Recruiting Center at the local
mall.

- Throughout the country, military recruiters chaperone high school
proms, referee intramural sports events and sponsor various clubs
then socialize with students after school hours in popular hangouts
like waiting areas of neighborhood restaurants that employ large
numbers of local youth. Recruiting manuals instruct recruiters
to "own the schools" and "penetrate the market."

- The Navy runs newspaper advertisements that say, "Postal worker -
Hiring H.S. Diploma grads, 17-34. No experience needed, will train.
Must relocate. Excellent pay & benefits." Calls to the toll free
number are answered by Navy recruiters.

- A 17 year-old walked into a recruiting station in Colorado and
told the recruiter he was a high school dropout and a pot head.
Actually, he was neither, but the recruiter suggested he draw up a
fake diploma and take certain drugs to hide the marijuana in his
urine.

- The Army inserts promotional literature into the video jackets of
violent and sexually explicit R-rated rentals nationally to target a
select audience.

- Helicopter, tank and Humvee visits to the nation's high schools
are "standard practice" in communities across the nation.

- Recruiters intimidate and lie to high school students about the
Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and other material facts.

Join us this Friday!

Ideas for signs:

Stop the lies!
Tell the truth!


Brochures, Flyers and Articles to help in Counter-Recruiting

Brochure: Do you know enough to enlist? (AFSC)

www.afsc.org/youthmil/Military-Recruitment/Enlist.PDF


Brochure: What you should know before joining the military:
(Project Yano)

comdsd.org/yano_web/NOTJSTJ_B-W_2-05.pdf


Single page flyer: Recruitment Promises and Realty:

www.afsc.org/eyes/recruitment-promises.pdf


Single page flyer: Ten points to consider before you sign a military
enlistment agreement: (AFSC)

www.afsc.org/youthmil/Military-Recruitment/10pts.pdf


This is a quasi-official site sponsored by the Army National Guard
and includes articles with titles like, "What the Recruiter Never
Told You"

usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm

U.S. Army Recruiter's Handbook:

www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/REC_PUBS/p350_2.pdf


"Recruiting Improprieties Policies and Procedures" (USAREC 601-45)
is an 18 page pdf. Pay particular attention to 2-3 h:
(1) "Recruiters will not knowingly mislead or misinform a prospect
or applicant regarding any aspect of processing, entitlements,
benefits or other aspects of the Army so the prospect or applicant
would decide to enlist…Other examples include false promises of cash
bonuses, Army College Fund, Student Loan Repayment Program.."


USAREC 601-25 is a 3 page PDF on prohibited and regulated
activities, like sexual conduct, alcohol use, etc.

To access these sites, simply google, "usarec 601-45" and "usarec
601-25" You'll come to a link on electronic publications. Click on
that and then you can access the two publications.


More resources:

Deceptions in Recruiting:

www.veteransforpeace.org/deceptioninrecruiting.htm


Marketing Enlistment:

www.veteransforpeace.org/In_harm_s_Way.pdf


Before you enlist:

www.objector.org/before-you-enlist/myths.html

Locally:

www.counter-recruitment.org/website/