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The Military’s Stealth Test

School districts are beginning to keep the results of a dodgy student aptitude test out of the hands of military recruiters

By Megan Tady

One thing is different this year about an aptitude test given to high school juniors and seniors in a Los Angeles school district: The test results won’t be going to military recruiters. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) adopted a policy in May to keep aptitude test results out of the hands of military recruiters, and notified the district’s… return to article

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    We all know a state cannot choose to secede from the Union… but is there anything to prevent expulsion?

    Why should any state be entitled to U.S. military protection if they see participation in our military or any attempt to recruit as an infringement on individual privacy?

    Who would be preferable as members of our military — high school grads or prison parolees?

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Dec 7, 2007 at 7:54 AM

    Of course, if a State cannot secede from the Union, then the state cannot expel a State from the Union.  Hence, all States are entitled to military protection from the state, regardless of the State’s respective participation in the state’s military maladministration.  Therefore, the preferable members of the military are, as always, the people who believe the lies of their leaders to invade and occupy a country which never threatened their state.  Namely, high school graduates, prison parolees, campus conservatives, and the sons and daughters of the patriotic parents who unequivocally accept the lies of their leadership.  Would you require the state to sacrifice the lives of people who doubt the lies of their legitimate leaders?  Oh, wait.  Since the 2000 and 2004 elections, our fearless leaders are less than legitimate.  How do you expect a state to defend itself when the people who defend it are everyone but the sons and daughters of the people who rule it?

    United States Posted by Major Major on Dec 8, 2007 at 4:24 PM

    Major Major:

    You are hereby stripped of all rank and privileges and reduced to the status of PNC (Private, No Class) in the State of Confusion. 

    WTH :-)

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Dec 9, 2007 at 7:50 AM

    “We all know a state cannot choose to secede from the Union…”

    I think one should research and look into the US Constitution.  Many people believe in the myths that have been circulating without investigating its source.  The last time I looked, states can secede from the union; there was not the required amount of states to ratify the change; thus states CAN secede from the union.  Case in point is Vermont’s issue.  In Hawaii’s case, it would not be secession but deoccupation; which is a fact and not a myth as most believe. 

    Those who choose to enlist will have their reasons and it’s one of their options of choice.  They should not be coerced into enlisting.  Having said that, ASVAB should not be imposed on the schools.  I can see a career day that various careers are exposed to the students which includes the military as educational and informative purposes without active recruiting. 

    The follow up would be those that are interested in entering that field would set up an appointment to discuss such a move.  That would be equitable for the student and the parents to discuss the alternatives that would impact their child’s life choices.  Being cognizant of the various choices without pressures is the most beneficial way to go in setting your child in the right direction.

    United States Posted by Tane on Dec 19, 2007 at 8:00 AM

    Tane,

    A well reasoned approach to the topic posed by this article.

    It seems strange to me how people who would favor free speech and pro choice shift to the “ban it” side when their own view is threatened.

    If it weren’t for all us people, the world would be an OK place.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Dec 25, 2007 at 7:29 AM

    As an Army Education Specialist I am appauled at the blatant bias of this article.  The SASVAB is given as an assessment tool for Counselors, Teachers, Students and parents.  In addition this is a statitically accurate measure of an individuals potential.  Only 3 % of the people taking this test enlist.  Please review your facts before writing anymore articles.  The Military, in general, gets more negative press than any other organization.  Try printing something positive-it might hurt but you can do it.

    Allan Silberstein

    United States Posted by ajsilber on Jan 2, 2008 at 5:39 PM

    As an Army Education Specialist I am appauled at the blatant bias of this article.  The SASVAB is given as an assessment tool for Counselors, Teachers, Students and parents.  In addition this is a statitically accurate measure of an individuals potential.  Only 3 % of the people taking this test enlist.  Please review your facts before writing anymore articles.  The Military, in general, gets more negative press than any other organization.  Try printing something positive-it might hurt but you can do it.

    Allan Silberstein

    ....................................

    As a parent, I can tell you from experience, this article is not biased.  The SASVAB is more directly a tool for the military recruitment.  My children have been “harrassed” with letters and brochures from the military recruitment personnel since they took the test.  That’s its prime objective!  The military recruitment campaign is quite blatant and obvious and that is a fact.  We are all too familiar with the military’s seditous actions who feel they are unaccountable and can do anything they choose.  There is no wonder why there are negative feelings about the military, its industrial complex, corporate control, and its relations with the public.  On that, I am very positive about it.

    United States Posted by Tane on Jan 2, 2008 at 9:00 PM

    Just like any major corperation, the military has its problems. Not everyone will agree on the same thing.  But because of those people in the military, past, present and future, you can choose to voice your opinion as you do. Today military service is all volunteer. I have talked to military recruiters before and they have the most hated job I know of. I have to respect them though for putting up with some of the stuff that they do. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have a choice to join. They could just start the draft. Which I say,"let them.” Freedom doesn’t grow on trees. I tip my hat off to the males and females, young and older who are making the choice to join the service. It’s this simple for those of you who cry about high officials in our government not sending their children to war, military is all volunteer. For now!

    retired service member

    Germany Posted by enoughsaid on Jan 17, 2008 at 8:50 PM

    “...But because of those people in the military, past, present and future, you can choose to voice your opinion as you do...”

    I see you relish in keeping the myth alive.  Remember, the USA is not the only country that had those freedoms.  The other point is that it’s the rich man’s war and the poor man’s fight.  Take a look at what your congresspeople have allowed and you will see your freedoms diminshing; especially freedom of speech.  We all have begun to realize that the wars fought is to preserve the freedoms of the corporations and not that of the US American people.  This has been evident since the US Civil War where one soldier made the remark I have borrowed from.  Some of the old standard rhetoric is meaningless.  Vietnam was not about preserving freedom nor was the invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq, or Hawaii.  The US war economy and aggressive actions prove it is not defending its borders but expanding its capital gains.  It has nothing to do with protecting the freedoms of the US American people; they just pay for it with their taxes and lives for the corporations that control the US government.

    United States Posted by Tane on Jan 18, 2008 at 4:02 AM
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