About the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY)
The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY) is a U.S.-based coalition of peace and human rights organizations that works to oppose the militarization of schools and the recruitment of young people into the military.
Origins and Purpose
NNOMY was founded in 2004 after the national counter-recruitment conference “Stopping War Where it Begins” in Philadelphia. It was created as a decentralized, flexible network to connect local, regional, and national activists, promoting communication, collaboration, and coordinated action against militarism in education nnomy.org.
Its mission is to:
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Raise awareness about the presence of military recruitment in schools.
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Provide peaceful, viable alternatives to military service for youth.
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Demilitarize schools and protect civilian public education.
Key Campaigns
NNOMY has organized and supported numerous campaigns, including:
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A National Call: Save Our Civilian Public Education – Addressing Pentagon and corporate influence in K–12 and university education, and advocating for the removal of military programs from schools.
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Divest “Your Body” from the War Machine – In partnership with CODEPINK, encouraging communities to divest from companies profiting from militarization and to offer youth alternative service opportunities.
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Campaigns Against JROTC and Marksmanship Training – Working to end involuntary placements in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and remove shooting ranges from schools.
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Winning the Peace – A national leafletting campaign to inform youth about the realities of military enlistment and alternatives.
Notable Achievements
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Shut down JROTC firing ranges at 11 California high schools in 2009, with similar successes in Hawaii and Maryland.
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Significant reductions in Marine Corps JROTC enrollment and removal of shooting ranges from multiple schools.
How to Get Involved
You can join NNOMY by:
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Participating in campaigns such as school counter-recruitment drives, public education efforts, Sharing winningthepeace.org on your social media and websites or joining in on divestment initiatives.
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Sharing information and organizing local events to raise awareness.
NNOMY’s work is rooted in the belief that providing all youth with peaceful, non-military pathways to success is a sign of a civilized society!
