Yes

Our school has seen its fair share of armed force recruiters. Almost every month you can find a group of Navy officers stationed in the  cafeteria. The recruiters’ presence raises an interesting question: should armed forces recruiting be allowed in high schools?

Kaila Lundy-Warner, a junior in the IB program, believes that the armed forces should recruit in schools. As the daughter of two Air Force pilots, Kaila is aware of the benefits afforded to those that enlist. “It opens up a lot of opportunities for different students,” she said. She feels that some dissenters hold a one-dimensional view of the armed forces. “It’s not about being on the front lines or being a field medic. There’s college and money benefits.” The benefits are the major selling points that recruiters promote. For example, those that enlist in the Navy and serve for at least three years can attend certain college with all expenses paid. This is especially beneficial for students that come from under served communities, as enlistment might be the only chance for them to be able to attend and graduate from college debt-free.

While a career in the armed forces can be many things, choosing this life path puts you at risk of physical harm. I myself have once considered service in the Navy in order to obtain higher education at a lower price. Recruitment in schools allows poorer students like myself to learn about the wide range of opportunities available. This is why I argue that recruiting should be allowed in schools. I believe that it is up to the student to consider whether or not they want to exchange their time and potential safety for a chance at a better life.

No

I think armed force recruiters do not belong in schools. Many children are told by these recruiters that going to the military straight after school will grant them free college, free healthcare, and other financial benefits. The recruiters make students believe that they will have a secure future if they simply write their name on the dotted line. In my opinion, there are too many risks involved in putting your life on the line for this country simply because you’ve been given a spiel in the school cafeteria.

My argument is that students 18 and younger are not fully developed and might not completely understand the consequences of enlisting in the military. Unlike college, once you enlist you are not allowed to quit; you are indebted to the country for at least five years.

I think students should not underestimate the reality of service to the country.  Right now, I am studying wars in my IB American History class and it has made me think that war is a real possibility, especially now, as there are war zones all over the world and tensions between America and other world powers. Even without an outright war, troops may be called in to assist other countries.

I work at a food pantry and I can’t tell you how many of the people who line up for food are veterans. When someone serves this country and still needs to wait in line for food, there is something wrong. Until these problems are fixed and students are given the true picture of what joining the military entails, recruiters can leave their cafeteria spiels out of our school.