Enlisting in the Military
If you’re thinking of enlisting in the military, get all the facts first. Read the entire enlistment contract, and learn some important questions to ask the recruiters by following the links at the bottom of this page.
Once you’re actually serving in the military it’s very difficult to make changes, to protest harassment or to leave. In the military you are no longer a civilian living under civilian law. The moment you enlist you are subject to military objectives, policy, discipline, law, courts and imprisonment — very strict, very harsh.
Carefully read all of the military contract before you sign it. Click here or on the image below to see the form the recruiters use:
Take the contract home and study it before signing.
Pay special attention to section 9.b. It allows the military to change your assignment, pay and benefits any time they want without notice to you and “regardless of the provisions” of the contract. That is, recruiters cannot, repeat, cannot make promises — even if they are written in the contract!
In section 10.a you promise to serve for eight (8) years. While you may only do 2 or 3 years of active duty, you are contracted, and may be called up any time, for eight (8) years! There is a good chance you will have extended combat-type duty. Reserve call-ups support today’s wars.
The following web sites have more information that you should consider.
Questions to Ask the Recruiters:
- What you should know before enlisting (American Friends Service Committee)
- Truth in recruiting (Quaker House)
- Advice to Those Considering Enlistment (Center on Conscience & War)
Literature You Can Download:
- Project YANO literature on enlistment
- Literature from the Center on Conscience & War
- Advice from veterans (PDF) (Veterans for Peace, Humboldt Bay)
Immigrants:
- Thinking of Joining the Military to Gain US Citizenship? (PDF) (Project YANO)
College Money without Joining the Military:
- A list of sources for college money (Project YANO)
Finding Work Other Than the Military:
- Alternatives to the military (Center on Conscience & War)
- Job Corps
- Americorps
- California Conservation Corps
[return to the main Military Counseling page]
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