Heh … based on my experiences in the US Army during the mid to late 90s, I would say that yes, the vast majority of young people entering into the military really are blind as to what they’re getting themselves into.
By that, I mean that very few of them do any more investigation about their potential choices and opportunities beyond signing any form given to them by the recruitment center.
It’s a damn shame, too, because there’s a large amount of resentment over how the military “screwed them” because no one ever shouted at them to at least ask a few questions before they just accepted what they were given.
I’ve known some good recruiters over the years, but the sad truth is that most of them are used car salesmen, out to get their quota no matter what they have to say or “promise” to potential recruits.
Of course, things don’t get much better even when they’re in. If you ever visit the area around most military bases, you’ll see hundreds of businesses designed to seperate the new soldiers from their money as quickly as possible.
You think there are a large number of “payday advance loan” stores near you? There’s four times as many near my brother’s base. And plenty of shady car dealerships that specially advertise to the lower rank enlisted soldiers about their “great” deals on fast cars for them to spend their enlistment bonus on. And we won’t get into the number of local civilians looking to get their hooks into a young soldier, particularly young ladies who deliberately get themselves pregnant in order to win a free meal ticket.
Sure, there’s financial counselling within the military for young recruits, but in most cases it’s a matter of too little, too late.
I am eternally glad for my time within the Army and have always been more than willing to talk about the real and positive opportunities it can provide for someone willing to put the effort into it. However, I also have absolutely no reservation about stating that there is no shortage of shady people, civilian and military side, that are on the lookout to screw any recruit without the experience and willpower to avoid such fates.
To turn what has been mentioned previously around, if there’s truely nothing to question here, why did the government feel the need to sneak the full release of a student’s school records to recruiters? After all, shouldn’t a simple address from the Selective Service be enough?
Recruiters shouldn’t be given records that will allow them to cherry pick those students who are doing poorly, have chosen not to go to a college and come from a poor family as ripe targets for extra attention, all thanks to the kind of student records most schools keep these days.
