Thursday, May 17, 2007

“Know All You Can Know” Before You Enlist!

What are we telling young people? You wouldn’t buy a car without taking a look at its record for reliability and safety. If you are considering military service, it is important to understand what you are signing up for. The military is a job you cannot quit. Joining the military is a serious decision, and we urge people making choices about the next stage of their lives to be informed and careful.

Who are we to criticize the military? We believe that if the military is a volunteer force, everyone who joins should be a true volunteer. No one should join the military without deciding that he or she is willing to kill and die in a war. SEATIR encourages people thinking about joining the military to research, ask questions, take time and know all they can know before making a decision to enlist.

Where do we get our information? Our sources include, among others, the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and newspapers such as the Army Times, as well as academic studies. The information is gathered by organizations including the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Veterans for Peace, the War Resisters League and the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO). This year, the CCCO estimates it has received about 10,000 calls from personnel who want to get out of the military.