Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Examiner
September 20, 2007 By Courtney Mabeus, The Examiner
Montgomery County -- A protest by parents who sought to stop an Army recruiter from talking with students at a Montgomery County high school will not deter future visits by military representatives pitching a career in the armed services, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.
Earlier this week, parents at Winston Churchill High expressed anger that a student had received a postcard from a recruiter who said he planned to visit the school Tuesday.
One parent wrote an e-mail to local recruiters provided to The Examiner warning that they would be met by protesters.
The recruiter did not visit the school Tuesday because of a scheduling conflict, local Army officials said.
But Army recruiters, who said they realize they might be unpopular visitors among some students and parents, added they have every right to visit Montgomery schools.
Because the county receives federal money to run its 200 schools, it is required under No Child Left Behind laws to allow military recruiters access to students.
“It’s presented to them [students] on a voluntary basis that we and our Congress feel is important to our youth,” said Christopher Arendt, deputy director of accession policy for the Pentagon.
Pat Elder, a leader of PeaceAction Montgomery, which led Tuesday’s demonstration, said the group would continue to protest.
“It’s one thing for colleges to attempt to recruit 16- or 17-year-olds,” Elder said. “It’s another for the military to attempt to recruit 16- or 17-year-olds. The difference is the difference between life and death.”
Between 75 and 100 people sign up to serve in the Army from Montgomery County annually, said 1st Sgt. John Hinkley, who oversees all recruitment efforts for the region, which includes Howard and Anne Arundel counties.
But few Montgomery enlistments come from high schoolers, said Sgt. Michael Basler, who oversees recruitment for eight of the county’s 25 high schools. Four students, including one each from Wheaton, Walker Johnson, Rockville and Sherwood high schools, have signed up during fiscal 2007, which ends Sept. 30. There were three from his district last year, he said.
“There’s not really an abundance [of recruits] out of every school across the board,” Basler said.
September 20, 2007 By Courtney Mabeus, The Examiner
Montgomery County -- A protest by parents who sought to stop an Army recruiter from talking with students at a Montgomery County high school will not deter future visits by military representatives pitching a career in the armed services, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.
Earlier this week, parents at Winston Churchill High expressed anger that a student had received a postcard from a recruiter who said he planned to visit the school Tuesday.
One parent wrote an e-mail to local recruiters provided to The Examiner warning that they would be met by protesters.
The recruiter did not visit the school Tuesday because of a scheduling conflict, local Army officials said.
But Army recruiters, who said they realize they might be unpopular visitors among some students and parents, added they have every right to visit Montgomery schools.
Because the county receives federal money to run its 200 schools, it is required under No Child Left Behind laws to allow military recruiters access to students.
“It’s presented to them [students] on a voluntary basis that we and our Congress feel is important to our youth,” said Christopher Arendt, deputy director of accession policy for the Pentagon.
Pat Elder, a leader of PeaceAction Montgomery, which led Tuesday’s demonstration, said the group would continue to protest.
“It’s one thing for colleges to attempt to recruit 16- or 17-year-olds,” Elder said. “It’s another for the military to attempt to recruit 16- or 17-year-olds. The difference is the difference between life and death.”
Between 75 and 100 people sign up to serve in the Army from Montgomery County annually, said 1st Sgt. John Hinkley, who oversees all recruitment efforts for the region, which includes Howard and Anne Arundel counties.
But few Montgomery enlistments come from high schoolers, said Sgt. Michael Basler, who oversees recruitment for eight of the county’s 25 high schools. Four students, including one each from Wheaton, Walker Johnson, Rockville and Sherwood high schools, have signed up during fiscal 2007, which ends Sept. 30. There were three from his district last year, he said.
“There’s not really an abundance [of recruits] out of every school across the board,” Basler said.