I was listening to NPR in the last couple of days and heard a woman talking about her HBO movie about recruiting for the millitary on Think (podcast here)  and was reminded that the time is here to think about the subject, if you're in high school. Somervell County Salon has a section on it, here. Basically, the No Child Left Behind, ironically named in this instance,  requires unless the student specifically opts out, that school records be given to military recruiters, If you believe that you ought to be decide for yourself, when you're 18, and not because recruiters can call you up to try to get you to join the military while still in school, then be sure to give the school an opt-out form right away before the school turns over the records.

Army recruiter threatens students-SAME place they were doing it three years ago. In Houston. Recruiter lied to the guy who was on Delayed Deferrment. (with video at link)

Military does a different pitch to get women to join- out of uniform and no weapons.

Doesn't seem to be working, though.

The military as a whole may need to hone its wartime message, however. The number of females serving in the Armed Forces has fallen every year since 2003, the year of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, according to figures from the Pentagon's Statistical Information Analysis Division.

Guard recruiters in California investigated.

SACRAMENTO -- Dozens of California National Guard recruiters and support staffers were punished or remain under investigation for a variety of offenses that include forging criminal and other enlistment records, The Sacramento Bee has learned.

One recruiter who worked out of the Roseville office told The Bee she was demoted after processing a recruit with a domestic violence conviction and fabricating a physical exam for another applicant. She said she felt pressured to meet quotas and that two other recruiters helped her.

Statewide, 48 recruiters, supervisors and support staff were investigated, and in 27 cases the allegations were deemed to be valid.

Here's what it's like to get processed in at a Dallas center.

Here's an example from North Dakota about recruiter tactics.

It's not something you see every day in our area...a black hawk helicopter...a whole lot of military vehicles....and paintball guns.

It's part of the the Army National Guard's Recruit Training program ...that was this afternoon in Kimball Bottoms....Now the program offered new recruits some unique training for potentially hazardous situations they may ecounter during their time in the guard. It also allowed people who are thinking of joining to learn a bit more about the guard and to participate in a simulated battle. The Black Hawk flew inlanded, 10-person squads jumped out, assembled -and then had to protect one another as volunteers ambushed them...shooting-with paintballs-through the trees. One military recruiter says this type of training provides recruits with an invaluable opportunity.

Top Ten Lies (Some) Recruiters Tell

Texas Town a microcosim for service enlistment.

Military looking at rural America for recruits

P.S. there's a sample Opt Out form on the page at the top.