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Toxic Problems for Military Recruiters

Gary Ghirardi

Gary Ghirardi, OpEd - A campaign by the Earth Democracy Project of the U.S. Section of the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, has given an additional argument to Truth in Recruitment activists which is the fact of military contamination health risks on U.S. military bases nationally and globally.

The recent movie, “Dark Waters,” increased public visibility to the dangers of PFOA/PFOS chemicals also used in fire suppression foam systems on military bases. A lack of concern for proper containment and disposal by the Pentagon coupled with the careless and rampant training with these foams by national and international military base operations, has caused a massive contamination of ground wells used by base inhabitants and surrounding civilian communities for drinking and general household uses. These cancer causing contaminants have been in use for many years now without the public being aware of the extreme health dangers of these chemicals. But some activist veterans, who have experienced mounting health issues are campaigning aggressively to put pressure on the Pentagon to create public awareness about the problem.

News Advisory: Anti-draft activists call on Congress to end draft registration in response to court case on the Selective Service System and report of National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

Edward Hasbrouck

As Congress prepares to debate the issue of the military draft, anti-draft activists are calling on Congress to enact legislation to end draft registration entirely.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments March 3, 2020 in a case in which a Federal District Court judge has already ruled that the current requirement for men to register with the Selective Service System for a possible military draft is unconstitutional. A decision on that appeal could come at any time. The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service (NCMNPS) will release its recommendations to Congress regarding the Selective Service System on March 25, 2020.

Facing falling enlistment numbers, the U.S. Army takes a new approach to recruitment: Mom and Dad

Nicole Goodkind

Military recruiters

Nicole Goodkind / Fortune - Gone are the days when the United States Army plastered airwaves with recruitment advertisements that includes photographs of younger males parachuting out of Apaches, fording streams, and jogging throughout barren fields over the sober horns of Mark Isham’s “Army Strong.”

Today’s Army is taking a other approach: They’re going after Mom and Dad.

A sequence of new tv recruitment advertisements function moms and fathers in conflict settings, making an attempt to convince their kids no longer to sign up for the Army.

In one advert, titled “Warfighter,” a mom approaches her son who’s decked out in a ghillie swimsuit and aiming a gun. The mom, who’s dressed in a nightgown and housecoat, implores the younger guy to come again house.

“Michael,” she begs. “You can do anything you want. Why this?”

Michael remains robust. He tells his mother that he doesn’t need to be caught in the back of a table.