Military Recruiting in High Schools, Essay Example

There has been tremendous economic progress over the last few decades, thanks to globalization but unfortunately our world has not become any safer. Some might have expected U.S. to reduce the scale of the military operations after the end of the Cold War but the rise of the stateless terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda soon dampened any such hopes. Military draft is not compulsory in the U.S. anymore, thus, the military has to adopt other strategies to meet its human resources (HR) needs. While military recruiting on college campuses has been a long tradition, military recruiting in high schools is a relatively new tactic. As with any other issues, there are both supporters and opponents of military recruiting in high school. But military recruiting should be allowed in high school because the benefits to the students and the nation exceed the potential costs.

Military should be allowed to recruit in high schools because it is a matter of fairness. If other private and public organizations can target high school students, it would be unfair to deprive military of the same right. Military doesn’t forcibly recruit high school students but merely provide them information of various opportunities it offers and reminds high school students that a career in military is one option for them(Karlinsky). Allowing military to recruit in high school provides the military with a fair opportunity to compete with other organizations for human resources.

Military should be allowed to recruit in high schools because they can help students, especially those from low-income groups, avoid life on the streets. Certain students are at greater risk of ending up on the streets and engaging in a life of crime and a career in military can help such students build a better future for themselves. Not only military can help these high-risk students avoid a life of crime but may also encourage them to further advance their education. There is a reason why Thomas Gregory, a father, is grateful for military recruiting in high schools because if it were not for the program, his son would have ended up on the streets (Williams). This also explains why schools with high percentage of students from low-income groups are more welcoming of military recruiters. Terry D’Italia, spokesman for Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut, considers military recruiting programs a blessing because not only poor students learn valuable skills but also earn college tuition assistance (Vlahos).

One cannot overstate the importance of college education towards a bright future but not everyone has the resources to afford 4-year college. Thus, allowing military to recruit in high schools may help improve the ratio of high school students who go on to complete their college degree. In fact, many high school students may join the military due to the benefits that come with it such as college tuition assistance. At least this was the case with Chris Sanchez who graduated a semester late and then joined the National Guard. After joining the National Guard, Sanchez started his National Guard-funded college career at Montgomery College (Boston). In addition to assistance with college tuition, individuals also learn soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, discipline, and organization during their time with the military that increase their prospects of success in the real world.

Military should also be allowed to recruit in high schools because they have few other options due to the fact that the U.S. has an all-volunteer military(Smith), unlike some other countries. Military seeks young people and starting recruiting process at high school level makes it easier for the military to achieve its recruitment objectives. If military is banned from recruiting in high schools, it will make it significantly difficult for the military to achieve its recruitment objectives which would in turn have potentially adverse consequences for national security.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, public schools are required to provide students’ contact information to military recruiters. Those who oppose military recruiting in high school consider provision of students’ personal information to military recruiters an invasion of privacy. But the opponents should keep in mind that the law requires parents to be informed and also gives parents the choice to opt out which means the personal information of their children will not be provided to military recruiters(Vlahos).

The opposition to military recruiting is also sometimes fueled by the belief that military primarily recruits for combat positions when in reality, there are numerous career choices in the military including engineering, medicine, construction, linguistics, and food service. In addition to wide career choices within the military, individuals also learn values that help them become responsible citizens of the society.

Military recruiting in high school, like many other issues of public interest, is controversial but sometimes the opposition is due to erroneous beliefs or lack of knowledge. Parents can opt their children out of the program that provides personal information to military recruiters and individuals have wide career choices within the military. Military, like any other private and public organization, needs manpower and, thus, should have equal access to high school students like other organizations. Military recruiting in high schools may especially turn out to be a blessing for students from low income backgrounds as their chances of ending up on the streets decline and their probability of obtaining college education increases.

Works Cited

Boston, Claire. Pro/con: Should military recruiters be allowed to promote enlistment in high schools? 16 December 2010. 14 June 2014 <http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/story/10544>.

Karlinsky, Neal. Military Recruiters, Parents Battle at High School. 30 October 2005. 14 June 2014 <http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/IraqCoverage/story?id=1258600>.

Smith, S. Douglas. Should Military Recruiters Be Allowed in High Schools? 2006. 14 June 2014 <http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=10852>.

Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar. Heavy Military Recruitment at High Schools Irks Some Parents. 23 June 2005. 14 June 2014 <http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/06/23/heavy-military-recruitment-at-high-schools-irks-some-parents/>.

Williams, Juliet. Debate over recruiters for military in schools. 28 April 2009. 14 June 2014 <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/28/debate-over-recruiters-for-military-in-schools/?page=all>.