Spring Break
Ailing military recruitment targets Black youth
Askia Muhammad/Special to the NNPA
Issue date: 12/9/07 Section: Cover
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In response, the military has lowered its standards on age, education, physical fitness, and acceptable past criminal record. The Army has also raised its enlistment bonuses, highlighted its offer to provide college tuition money, and has gone on a recruitment and advertising offensive in high schools. One advertisement features a young Black man convincing his parents that enlistment is a good choice.
The Pentagon has increased its waivers to new recruits with criminal backgrounds by 65 percent in the last three years. More than 8,000 wavers were issued in 2006, up from fewer than 5,000 in 2003. "The data is crystal clear," said Rep. Martin Meehan, Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight earlier this year, "our armed forces are under incredible strain and the only way they can fill their recruiting quotas is by lowering their standards."
Among high school youth, the influence of some adult role models such as parents, coaches, or other mentors, makes them less likely to choose military service, according to Pentagon surveys. Of all groups, Black adults are the least likely to suggest military enlistment, according to the surveys.
At Oxon Hill High School however, located in Washington's wealthy, predominantly Black suburban neighbor, Prince George's County, guidance counselor Kabir Tompkins is also an Army National Guard sergeant who was wounded in Iraq. He tells interested students the Army can lead to better life: a good salary, health benefits, and tens of thousands of dollars for college. But their parents, he said, are harder to convince.
"They see it from the aspect of 'I don't care about the benefits, I don't care about the money, I don't care about nothing. I don't want my child going to Iraq,'" Mr. Tompkins told Boston.com.
In neighboring Montgomery County, where Blacks are the minority population, parents and civic groups have organized to aggressively oppose military recruitment in their schools. A coalition of 180 parents called the Montgomery Coalition on Recruitment Issues joined members of Peace Action Montgomery and took their concerns to a Montgomery County Board of Education meeting in March, complaining that school policies give preferential treatment to military recruiters over college and corporate recruiters.
"The school board took pretty strong stance, claiming that they give equal access to military recruiters and college recruiters," coalition member Pat Elder said in a broadcast interview. "Yet, several people with our groups testified that their children are routinely approached by military recruiters as they enter the cafeteria at lunch time. But college recruiters have to set up camp in the guidance office and students are required to make appointments to see college recruiters. We certainly don't think that's equal access."
The Pentagon has increased its waivers to new recruits with criminal backgrounds by 65 percent in the last three years. More than 8,000 wavers were issued in 2006, up from fewer than 5,000 in 2003. "The data is crystal clear," said Rep. Martin Meehan, Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight earlier this year, "our armed forces are under incredible strain and the only way they can fill their recruiting quotas is by lowering their standards."
Among high school youth, the influence of some adult role models such as parents, coaches, or other mentors, makes them less likely to choose military service, according to Pentagon surveys. Of all groups, Black adults are the least likely to suggest military enlistment, according to the surveys.
At Oxon Hill High School however, located in Washington's wealthy, predominantly Black suburban neighbor, Prince George's County, guidance counselor Kabir Tompkins is also an Army National Guard sergeant who was wounded in Iraq. He tells interested students the Army can lead to better life: a good salary, health benefits, and tens of thousands of dollars for college. But their parents, he said, are harder to convince.
"They see it from the aspect of 'I don't care about the benefits, I don't care about the money, I don't care about nothing. I don't want my child going to Iraq,'" Mr. Tompkins told Boston.com.
In neighboring Montgomery County, where Blacks are the minority population, parents and civic groups have organized to aggressively oppose military recruitment in their schools. A coalition of 180 parents called the Montgomery Coalition on Recruitment Issues joined members of Peace Action Montgomery and took their concerns to a Montgomery County Board of Education meeting in March, complaining that school policies give preferential treatment to military recruiters over college and corporate recruiters.
"The school board took pretty strong stance, claiming that they give equal access to military recruiters and college recruiters," coalition member Pat Elder said in a broadcast interview. "Yet, several people with our groups testified that their children are routinely approached by military recruiters as they enter the cafeteria at lunch time. But college recruiters have to set up camp in the guidance office and students are required to make appointments to see college recruiters. We certainly don't think that's equal access."
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