No. Most students join under the Delayed Entry Program/Future Soldier Program (DEP/FSP). This means “sign up now, go later.” Even though they have signed a contract and taken an oath, students can change their minds. For detailed information on release from the DEP/FSP see http://www.scn.org/ip/sdmcc/dep2.htm, http://www.nlgmltf.org/ or contact the organizations below.

Recruiters may attempt to “resell” students who are having second thoughts, however Army regulations are clear: “Under no circumstances will any member of this command threaten, coerce, manipulate, or intimidate DEP members, nor may they obstruct separation requests. Military regulations prohibit recruiters from threatening, harassing or misleading students who change their minds.”[1] Any violations should be reported immediately to recruitment command and the DOE.

No. The Department of Defense states “There is no way to guarantee that.” [2] The military now stresses that “each Soldier is first a warrior, always on patrol, always ready to engage and kill the enemy and that there is no rear or front line when it comes to the enemies of today...You are a Soldier first – a cook, an administrative clerk or truck driver second.” [3] This directive applies to women as well as men.

Women now make up about 15% of the US military and many Military Occupational Specialties are now open to them. Although women are still banned from direct combat job titles, the Department of Defense states: “In today's types of military engagements, there are no ‘front lines,’ and every Soldier must be ready to defend himself/herself and his/her fellow Soldiers.” [2]

Until recently more than half who signed up for college money received none and many of those who did get college money found that it was too little to cover their expenses. This situation was so egregious that Congress passed a more generous GI Bill. It is hoped that the new bill will provide more adequately for veterans’ academic needs. However, the new GI Bill does not pay for vocational school or flight school.

A primary concern is the extreme backlog in the processing veterans’ benefit checks. The new GI Bill went into effect in August, 2009. Just two months later, the delays are so bad that Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote that “many of our veterans are dropping out of school or having to pay for their own tuition and books because the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was not able to process all the claims in time to send the veterans their benefit checks.” [5]


 

Military training is designed for military jobs. "The reason to have a military is to be prepared to fight and win wars. The military is not a social-welfare agency. It's not a jobs program." -Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney

For those who make the military a career, there is the opportunity for advancement, depending on one's skills and qualifications. However, while some young people are in the military, their peers spend those years in college or trade school or getting work experience. As a result, the unemployment rate for young veterans is twice as high as their peers who did not enlist. [6]

The enlistment contract states: “FOR ALL ENLISTEES: If this is my initial enlistment, I must serve a total of eight (8) years, unless I am sooner discharged or otherwise extended by the appropriate authority. Any part of that service not served on active duty must be served in the Reserve Component of the service in which I have enlisted.... In time of war or of national emergency declared by Congress, I may, without my consent, be ordered to serve on active duty, for the entire period of the war or emergency and for six (6) months after its end.” [7 Section C, paragraph 10(a,c)

No. "Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities…REGARDLESS of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document."[7] Section C, paragraph 9(b).  

Students should be instructed not to sign ANYTHING until they have gone over it with a guidance counselor or another person who can assure they understand all the clauses. For help with interpreting the contract, contact any of the organizations listed below. The enlistment contract can be downloaded at www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/forminfo/forminfopage1.html.

There are several organizations which can help to identify ways for students to meet their goals, including money for college, job training, travel and doing something meaningful to serve their community. Resources available online include: http://yayanetwork.org/alternatives
http://www.afsc.org/Youth&Militarism/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/18301 http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/mideast/iraq/AlternativesToMilitaryGuide.pdf

Report concerns to Michael Battista
Director of Mandated Responsibilities,
Office of School and Youth Development,
52 Chambers Street – Room 218
New York, NY 10007
212-374-6095 or mbattis@schools.nyc.gov
Then contact recruitment command of the appropriate service:
Army and Army Guard & Reserves-718 630-4645     Marines-516 228-5660
Navy-516-683-2500                    Air Force-609 239-4900
To help track and follow up on problems, please also report concerns to the NY Civil Liberties Union,
212 607-3300 and the Ya-Ya Network, 212 239-0022, info@yayanetwork.org

A good article can be found at http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm.
A good short film can be viewed at  http://www.beforeyouenlist.org/
Organizations with good resources include:

The Ya-Ya Network (Youth Activists-Youth Allies)    http://yayanetwork.org    212 239-0022

American Friends Service Committee-Youth & Militarism Program  youth4peace.org      215-241-7176

G.I. Rights Hotline                          www.girightshotline.org      877-447-4487

[1]USAREC Regulation 601-56, Chapter 3 DEP Separation Procedures, Section c.
[2]Military Recruitment Frequently Asked Questions (Version 6.1) nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20060205questions.pdf).
[3]Col. Tom Hayden, U.S. Army Training Center, The US Army Training and Doctrine Command  (TRADOC) News Service, Feb. 11, 2005. http://www.tradoc.army.mil/PAO/training_closeup/022505.htm
[4]"Factors Associated With Women's Risk of Rape in the Military Environment”, American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 43: 262-273, 2003.
[5] “CA Delegation Express Concern Over GI Bill Benefit Delays”, September 29, 2009. http://www.lorettasanchez.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=607&Itemid=79
[6]U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Biennial Employment Situation of Veterans Survey, May 26, 2006.
[7] Military Enlistment/Re-enlistment Contract USAREC 350-15