Army Recruitment in Schools

The military strategically recruits at certain schools.

The army makes a concerted effort to recruit in schools, finding young, eager men in a place where they are a captive audience. The Defense Department spends more than $2 billion annually on recruitment, according to a 2004 Boston Globe article.

School Criteria

The military targets particular schools for recruitment efforts, focusing on schools where students are less likely to be on a college track. According to the Boston Globe, McLean High School--an affluent Virginia school--is much more welcoming to college visits than army recruiters. At McDonough High, less than 40 miles away, recruiters are welcomed as people who can provide a way out and a career path for students.

Legal Access to School

A little-known segment of the No Child Left Behind Act allows each branch of the military two visits a year to a school. In addition, recruiters are given a list of students' names and contact information.

Persistance

Army recruiters call potential high school prospects repeatedly--up to six times--and track responses carefully in a computer program they call "The Blueprint." The Army also mails brochures to homes, and recruiters hang out where teens do--at malls and convenience stores.

References

• CommonDreams: Boston Globe - Military Recruiters Target Schools Strategically
• Department of Education: Policy Guidance - Access to High School Students and Information on Students by Military Recruiters