as some of you may be aware. . .

[stellanoir]

I counsel kids at after the graduation and after the prom parties this time of year. Yes indeed I confess, I most surprisingly am the distraction from kids getting drunk and losing their virginity for at least a few hours.

The hours, the driving, and the sleep deprivation are becoming increasingly brutal and the compensation sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. However the kids are generally wonderful and totally inspiring.

I did my last gig of the season last night and am still up but soon to retire. I've a lot to say about last night as it was one of my most harrowing gigs ever, mostly because a RW nut got furious at me for discussing unwanted pregnancies and various precautions with kids that were clearly sexually active. I may just rant about that later.

But one kid blew my mind. I sensed that he had done something that was outrageously impulsive in the not too distant past. He confirmed through his precocious eyes of innocence, that he had enlisted. There were several kids who had enlisted at this particular event but this one startled me. When I asked him of his motivation for enlisting, he didn't speak of patriotism, or protecting the homeland, or defeating the terrorists, or anything like that.

He said he did it 'cause the recruiters gave him a free tee shirt.

I looked at him with intense increduality and didn't say a word. It was simply too late. I usually tell kids who've enlisted to specialize in high tech stuff to keep them somewhat out of harm's way. This one had me dumbstruck though. He was willing to sacrifice his health and well being and perhaps even his life, for a free tee shirt. He thought it was funny and I'm sure did it to irk his parents immensely.

Go figure.

Please excuse any typos (I can't even pick up a dictionary at this point) or lack of immediate responses as I'm about to go to sleep but does anyone else find this mind blowing or is it only sleep deprivation that is compelling me to sense that this is far beyond the pale? What do you guys think?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I hate hearing stories llike this...

as a GI Rights hotline counselor, I get them all the time when they realize what they got themselves into.

We get calls from frantic parents, too.

[stellanoir]

2. Well I ended up staying up long enough to read your response

after all. Though I didn't mean to bum you out, I appreciate your confirmation that this was not an isolated incident. Makes my very sad as well. That kid was completely clueless.

Sometimes I have opportunity to suggest to the kids who are considering enlistment, that they first talk to some Iraq veterans or visit a military hospital, but for those who have already signed up, I can only hope they come back relatively unscathed.

This whole endeavor is so misguided.

Thanks so much for helping out on the GI rights hotline and on DU.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. If you still have a chance to talk to this kid...

and if he'll listen, he probably signed up on the Delayed Enlistment Program, which means he has up to a year before he has to show up.

The rules change all the time, but so far there is nothing forcing him to show up, no matter what the recruiter says. He can simply send a letter to the recruiting officer's commander saying he changed his mind.

And, if he is under 18, both parents must sign his enlistment papers or they are void.

[NMMNG]

3. Un-freaking-believable

If that kid ends up going to Iraq and getting killed I can see his funeral announcement now: "Went to Iraq and got killed for Chimpy's immoral war--but he got a really cool t-shirt!"

[China_cat]

5. Might be worth asking him

if that's what he wants to be buried in.

[BlueIris]

6. Well, that has my shitty night beat by a mile.

Damn. Thanks for the perspective anyway.