In many schools in Passaic, seeing military recruiters in your building is a widespread experience. Whether you got caught up in a conversation with them out of curiosity or to get a free lanyard, hydro flask, or pencil, when you look into why many military recruiters' target audiences are cities like Passaic, it's easy to become critical of their efforts and, ultimately, what their goals for students in cities like Passaic are.
The disparities existing in military recruitment especially became apparent to me last year, when users on TikTok would post videos poking fun at the different methods military recruiters would use to get the attention of high schoolers. Lifting weights, using pull-up bars, watching inspirational videos, participating in anti-bullying campaigns (or other intriguing performances), receiving free merchandise, or participating in push-up competitions were among the methods used. Other videos mentioned the methods that are utilized in conversation, such as mentioning how the military would be a perfect alternative for a student who does not have the best GPA, does not see college in their immediate future, or, more commonly, finds it difficult to afford a higher education after high school. This last reason constitutes the reasoning for why experiences with military recruiters are more common amongst low-income students, because although it may be said that low-income cities are not the primary ones being visited, the fact that we are disproportionately targeted has been well supported, with the assumption that young people in places like Passaic are less likely to receive a higher education being a driving force in this targeting.
Interested in the lack of military recruitment visits in areas that were not low-income, I decided to get more perspective on what WAS seen in these areas (and while serving), especially being that the inability to pay for college for most students in these areas was/is absent. To understand this, I spoke to one of my history teachers, Mr.Fitz, who I know has spent some time in the navy and attended a high school much different than those that military recruiters spend their time in.
When looking up LaSalle College High School in Pennsylvania, an in-depth Google search isn't required to get an idea of the type of demographic that makes up the school. The all-boys school has a student body of 1,000–1,100, with some of the following demographics: 88% white, 5% black, and 3% Hispanic/Latinx. This is drastically different from the demographics of Passaic, which are 71% Hispanic or Latinx, 13% white, and 11% black. I feel that it is also important to add that LaSalle College High School also has a current tuition of $25,550, while public high schools in Passaic do not require any form of tuition.
When asked if there were any pressures to join the Navy, such as financial or family pressures, Mr. Fitz said there were none. In actuality, the idea of "serving my country" and it simply being something of interest led to the decision. This differs from some of the motivations Passaic students (and others of low-income backgrounds) have for joining the military (or some of its other branches), being that the military provides a sense of assurance for a future beyond high school with the mention of bonuses such as covering college tuition costs, affordable healthcare, or paid vacation. Given the presence of militarism in the Latin American countries of some of our parents, the military as a plan b becomes even more promising because of the pride that figures in authority positions have instilled in them (an example being Dominican parents being fond of the violent efforts Dominican law enforcement has put forward to remove Haitians out of the DR). In addition to this force is the traditional immigrant mindset, which believes that one must be resourceful above all and believe fondly in the idea that nothing is owed to you and that you must work for everything (even if the work is not ideal). The fact that our parents are also vulnerable to the idea of such a big decision simply being an alternative, in my opinion, is another reason why I feel that it is important for us to take a closer look at what is being promised.
During this interview, Mr.Fitz mentioned that Passaic recruiters did not go to his high school, supporting the preexisting idea that there is some reasoning behind this occurrence. Similar to my writing, Seth Kershner and Scott Harding make a comparison between two schools of different incomes in their 2015 article titled, "Do Military Recruiters Belong in Schools?" In this article, a comparison is made between "two similarly sized high schools in two Hartford suburbs: Avon and Bloomfield," where only 5% of students at Avon High qualified for free or reduced lunch and were visited four times, whereas nearly half of students at Bloomfield High qualified for such and were visited more than ten times by army recruiters for the 2011-2012 school year. Ultimately, the article asks an essential question for these visits, "If we are serious about promoting higher education to all students, why do some youths see far more khaki and camouflage than college brochures?" The fact that some students understand joining the military as a financial obligation while others see it as an outlet to become one with something they believe is "cool" or what their country would want from them is extremely telling.
A positive Mr.Fitz mentions in his experience, though, was being exposed to diversity (which has its own socioeconomic and historical reasons) and getting insight into the reasons people have for joining. Although this may be one of the positives that could come out of a military experience, the fact that it is the first time that those who have been sheltered in very white, suburban areas are coming into contact with diverse groups of people is rather problematic, because it shows the work still left to do in desegregating housing and schools. In other words, the fact that a life-changing decision like joining the military is often the first time many people interact with ethnic groups other than their own highlights the failures of American lawmakers to address residential segregation. The military should not be the first place where diversity occurs, and its being showcased as an "upside" to the military becomes an issue when people should have already been introduced to others outside of their own groups long ago.
An issue that many have been taking note of is mental health during and after the military. After researching many of the recruitment methods mentioned prior that students themselves have heard about, none of the benefits really included easily accessible mental health programs or support groups. Some of the common trends that Mr.Fitz took note of during his experience were sleeplessness and the feeling of always being on edge. Despite the fact that these things may appear small from the outside, thinking about how someone who was constantly in this state could adjust back into civilian life can put things into perspective, especially when taking into consideration disorders such as PTSD, suicide, depression, or substance use disorders. The chances of those who have served developing these mental disorders become very likely when learning that many of the promises used to convince young people to join are not maintained, and many become homeless. Lack of support networks and full benefits being some of the leading causes of veteran homelessness stresses the importance of securing support systems even after the military, which is difficult to obtain when poverty is at hand, despite what is being advertised.
A lot of what is left out in these promises is the fact that not completing an enlistment term could cost one their education and other benefits that were mentioned initially, or, even worse for those who could not afford college to begin with, they could be forced to pay back any of the bonuses already received (with about 40% of army recruits not finishing their term, Army News Service, 10/23/2014). Another aspect is the mobility that is promised during enlistment, which for many is not the case given the possibility of being under military law for 24 hours a day, even if off duty.
The USAF Reenlistment and Retention Programs: Military Personnel, Volume 1- By United States. Department of the Air Force: Link.
(5) Entitled to receive pay, allowances, and other benefits as provided by law and regulation.
b. Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces REGARDLESS of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document.
As a member of the Ready Reserve I may be required to perform active duty or active duty for training without my consent (other than as provided in item 8 of this document) as follows: (1) in time of national emergency declared by the President of the United States, I may be ordered to active duty (other than for training) for not more than 24 consecutive months.
Even given the promise of "free college," it becomes clear how malleable this common tactic to enlist people is. Behind this promise, there is a lot of work and uncertainty surrounding the benefits that result from it. Despite the fact that the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows for those enlisted in the military to move unused financial aid onto family members, this is only possible if those in the military have been enlisted for ten years and have not received a general charge (or a charge less than an honorable discharge-“the top-most ranking a service member can receive upon leaving the military. This status indicates you have faithfully and patriotically performed your duties, and conducted yourself in a manner of benefit to your branch.”- www.zero8hundred.org). If a charge under an honorable discharge is received (which can occur with small issues with military duties), GI Bill benefits are put at risk and can all be lost.
Post 9/11 GI Bill on Transferability- “The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Service members to transfer unused education benefits to immediate family members. This applies to officer or enlisted, active duty and Selected Reserve. Qualifying immediate family members are spouses and children. The Service member must have at least six years of service and commit to an additional four years in order to transfer benefits. This policy is set by the Department of Defense because this benefit impacts recruiting and retention.”- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Benefits Administration.
The question of whether or not bonuses will be received to begin with often depends on the position one holds during their enlistment, as they are usually given to those with technical skills or are utilized to convince people into difficult jobs within the military, such as bomb disposal. (Rand report, MG950, 2010).
A benefit that is not heavily discussed but is especially important to mention, especially for students in Passaic, is the granting of citizenship. Considering that a lot of Passaic’s students are immigrants or undocumented, the idea that citizenship could be given to them or accelerated through a position in the military becomes a useful tactic to recruit, but not enough is said about the possibility of being turned down even while in the military or of having citizenship revoked for less than honorable discharges.
“A military member whose naturalization was granted on the basis of military service on or after November 24, 2003 may be subject to revocation of naturalization if he or she was separated from the U.S. armed forces under other than honorable conditions before he or she has served honorably for a period or periods totaling at least five years.”
-U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
When I asked Mr. Fitz about his opinion on military recruiters, especially now that he is a teacher in Passaic, he brought attention to the use of the economic draft and the fact that the United States has an overwhelming number of military bases around the world. If the U.S. did not try to be everywhere at once, there is a possibility that the urgency for young men and women to join the forces would not look the way it does today.
Given the truth that lies behind the push-up bars and and anti-bullying campaigns disguised as recruitment efforts in the schools within low-income cities, the purpose for targeting poor, working-class youth are demystified. For students in Passaic and in similar cities whose questions on the following topics come to the fore: soaring college tuition costs, decreasing acceptance rates, food and rent costs, healthcare costs, crime and gang violence in their community, military recruiters with all of the answers to these questions remove the military as a far-fetched alternative for future plans and instead place it at the very front as a strong, reliable option.
In a country that would prefer to send its young people overseas than confront the real fight at home surrounding corporations, lack of incentives, legislation change, and not questioning why those who benefit from U.S. wars abroad are quick to send us to fight while they send their own children to Ivy League universities, it is easy to lose focus on the call that is coming from inside the house.
Additional Sources:
Kershner, Seth, and Scott Harding. “Do Military Recruiters Belong in Schools? (Opinion).” Education Week, Education Week, 26 Aug. 2022, https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-do-military-recruiters-belong-in-schools/2015/10#:~:text=For%20the%20military%2C%20access%20to,can%20be%20found%20five%20days.
“Chapter 7 - Revocation of Naturalization.” USCIS, 15 Apr. 2019, https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-i-chapter-7.
Jehn, Christopher, et al. “Conscription.” Econlib, 18 Aug. 2020, https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Conscription.html.
Asch, Beth J., et al. “Cash Incentives and Military Enlistment, Attrition, and Reenlistment.” RAND Corporation, 14 May 2010, https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG950.html.
“Types of Military Discharges: What Is Dishonorable Discharge?” zero8hundred, https://www.zero8hundred.org/types-of-discharges#:~:text=What%20is%20an%20Honorable%20Discharge,of%20benefit%20to%20your%20branch.