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Guidance for Grown-Ups
January 2007
Are YOU the one the Military wants?
Thinking critically about who the U.S. military recruits and WHY!
(link back to feature)
This Discussion Guide contains the following Activity Sections:
- The Answers to Your Questions
- Problem Solving: Exploring Options, Giving Advice
- Make a Historical and Global Connection: Changing Options
I. The Answers to Your Questions
The purpose of this activity is to invite teens to think critically about who the United States military recruits and why.
- Provide the teens with sample recruitment ads from one or more divisions of the U.S. armed forces. You could request a package of information in advance, clip print ads from teen magazines, or find examples on a military website (see below). Lead a group discussion to examine whom the ads are trying to recruit. Possible questions include: Who is the ideal candidate? What age? Female or Male? What racial or ethnic background? What socioeconomic status? Are other factors apparent in the ad, such as level of education, parental involvement in the military, religious affiliation, or political preference?
- Now that the teens have done some thinking on their own, ask them to read the perspective of Teen Voices' contributors Oyinkansola Ayobiojo, and Ingrid Noj in "Attention: Why The Army Wants You!"
- Each division of the U.S. military has a website devoted to recruitment and a main site. Ask the teens to compare and contrast the sites from one division. How are the sites different? Why are two sites needed for each division? What clues can you find about whom the recruitment site wants to sign on?
- Critical thinking about advertisements and whom they target is an important skill for teens. To further develop those skills, have each teen select an advertisement of her choice and make a short presentation. Ask the teens to explain what is being sold, who is the target market, and what assumptions are made in the ad. Does the ad rely on or challenge stereotypes?
II. Problem Solving: Exploring Options, Giving Advice
The purpose of this activity is to compare and contrast what the military promises and what it delivers.
- Teen Voices' contributors want readers to know what the recruiters don't tell you. Read their bullet points on the topic as well as the additional facts they uncovered for "Did you know?"
- Women's role in the U.S. military has been expanding and changing. Ask the teens to consider the benefits of this evolving history as well as the realities and risks women, in particular, face when choosing to serve. Can the teens find an article (or other type of resource) not authored by the U.S. military that reports on women at war?
- Do the teens know anyone who is serving or has served in the military? Do they know any women who have served? Ask the teens to gain insight into the pros and cons firsthand by conducting an interview. They can prep questions in pairs or as a group and report back their findings.
Resources
- Feminist news journal Off Our Backs devoted an entire issue to women in the military. Learn more at www.offourbacks.org.
- The following article summarizes press coverage of a report that stated military recruitment was down overall, particularly for blacks and women. Though a few years old, it provides interesting data for teens to consider: "Blacks, women avoiding U.S. Army," by Tom Regan for The Christian Science Monitor, March 9, 2005, www.csmonitor.com
Films
*Please note, the following films are intended for mature audiences. Teen Voices suggests that adults preview all films before screening to youth.
- The War Tapes
This film puts cameras directly into the hands of soldiers serving in Iraq for the Army National Guard. The soldiers (in this case, all men) express a range of opinions about the U.S.'s presence in Iraq and what they think and feel about the experience. The film's website includes additional commentary posted by viewers, the director, and the soldiers with cameras. 2006. 97 min. Not Rated. Directed by Deborah Scranton. Available at www.thewartapes.com.
- Fahrenheit 9/11
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore examines the Bush administration's actions in the aftermath of September 11th. Includes a compelling scene with military recruiters. Free teacher's guide available online, with special section, "No Child Left Unrecruited." 2004. 122 min. Rated R. Directed by Michael Moore. Available at www.fahrenheit911.com
III. Make a Historical and Global Connection: Changing Options
The purpose of this activity is to gain a deeper understanding about the presence of the U.S. military abroad and to consider additional ways to serve one's country.
- How much do the teens know about the current activities of the U.S. military, especially in Iraq? Where do the teens turn for accurate reporting on this topic? Ask the teens to brainstorm a list of news sources. Then ask them to find reporting on the same event or topic (related to the Iraq war) by each news source. Ask them to summarize their findings to the group.
- How does the scope of the U.S. armed forces compare to that of other countries with similar geographic size or population? What countries devote similar resources to their military? Can the teens find out how those countries recruit? What is the role of women?
- What other ways do Americans choose to serve their country?
Websites
- International Committee of the Red Cross has a special section of reports and videos devoted to women and war. Learn more at www.icrc.org.
- U.S. Military spending versus the rest of the world, according to Global Issues, www.globalissues.org.
- Military statistics according to Nation Master, www.nationmaster.com.
Non-military Alternatives to Service
- AmeriCorps and its related programs, AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC, offer educational stipends for community service. Visit www.americorps.org.
- Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (YANO) has several resources on this topic at www.projectyano.org
Have you used Guidance for Grown-ups with your class or teen group? Tell us which ones you used and what kind of success you had with it. Did you put your own spin on it? Let us know.
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