Counter Recruiters: America the Beautiful?

You have probably witnessed them firsthand or read about them in the news. I am writing about “Counter Recruiters.” Counter recruiters are a small group of people who not only oppose the Iraq war, but also oppose legitimate military recruiters.

Their positions and goals are ironic: the purpose behind Counter Recruiters is to convince recruits not to enter the military—the very military that gives them the freedom to condemn it.

Here is how one Counter Recruiter named Jim Murphy put its: “I don’t tell kids not to join the military. I tell them, ‘Have a plan for your future, because if you don’t, the military has a plan for you.’”

As a proud member of the Armed Forces, I learned the hard way that freedom comes with an expensive price tag. For three decades America has fielded an all-volunteer military. I don’t know of one soldier who was forced to join the military. The US military is the finest the world has ever witnessed—and it is an all-volunteer force.

Anti-war activists such as Murphy claim recruiters make promises they can’t guarantee. If you are considering joining the military, your recruiter will provide you in writing exactly what the US armed services have promised you. There is no gun pointed at your head forcing you to sign any document. Of course anything you sign—whether renting an apartment, buying a car, or enlisting in the military—should be read carefully and completely. Ask questions about anything you do not understand.

According to Murphy, high school graduates don’t need to join the military to learn a skill, pay for college, see the world, or learn discipline. Although vague and generalized, his statement is correct. You can do all those things without joining the military. When I joined the military I was well-educated with three degrees (two Bachelors’ and a Master’s degree). I had never visited another country, was about $20,000 in debt with school loans, and was competing with hundreds of other people for every job I applied for. After joining the Army Reserves and serving in Iraq, my college is being paid for and I have visited five different countries. Let me tell you firsthand that the discipline I obtained from graduate school or publishing a thesis doesn’t compare to the discipline I obtained from the military. It has entirely changed my life. Applying for jobs is easier, too. As I explain in my book The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp (www.UltimateBasicTraining.com), employers love to see military experience on a resume. They know that experience means you have been tested and made the grade. Military experience translates into dedicated workers.

So what does all this boil down to? Should you come across a Counter Recruiter like Jim Murphy, be proud your country allows its civilians to speak out, even against itself. And of course, be polite and respectful. But don’t let their generalized statements and occasional flat-out lies influence your decision to join the military.