{"article":{"id":136485,"heading":"Is your twelve year old safe from the military?","author":"richard myers","created":"2005-10-02 16:05:27","modified":"2013-11-11 00:35:36","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 07:35:36","article":"
First, there is this news item:  <\/div>\r\n\r\n Army in Worst Recruiting Slump in Decades \r\n \r\n
By ROBERT BURNS \r\n <\/span>
AP Military \r\nWriter<\/span>
<\/div>\r\n

WASHINGTON —<\/span> \r\n The Army is closing the books on one of the leanest recruiting years since it \r\n became an all-volunteer service three decades ago, missing its enlistment \r\n target by the largest margin since 1979 and raising questions about its plans \r\n for growth. <\/p>\r\n

The Army National Guard and the Army Reserve, \r\n which are smaller than the regular Army, had even worse \r\n results.<\/strong>  <\/p>\r\n \r\n

[ excerpts ]  September 30, 2005 - 8:57 a.m. \r\n MDT<\/p>\r\n

http:\/\/www.ajc.com\/news\/content\/shared-gen\/ap\/National\/Army_Recruiting_Slump.html<\/div>\r\n
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Then, there is Hurricane \r\nKatrina<\/strong>.<\/div>\r\n
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And now because of an event a few miles \r\nnorth of Denver, there is a news story that causes me to be concerned \r\nabout the welfare of my son, a middle school student, and \r\nall of his classmates. <\/div>\r\n
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We must applaud any effort to help the \r\nhurricane victims, and be grateful to those who help the helpers. I volunteered \r\nto support hurricane victims at the decommissioned Lowry Air Force Base in \r\nDenver, and it was a rewarding experience.<\/div>\r\n
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The National Guard from states around the \r\nnation have played a role, and while we might have concerns about response \r\ntimes, policy, and perhaps behavior, some sort of \r\norganized effort has been vital to saving lives.<\/div>\r\n
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And citizens supporting soldiers isn't \r\nanything new. One of the most significant historical accounts of such actions \r\nwas the North Platte Canteen during the second world war.<\/div>\r\n
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But the Longmont Daily Times-Call \r\n<\/em>has published an article that should raise questions, even as it is \r\nrightfully appreciative of the effort to assist hurricane victims. Why? \r\nBecause it involves soldiers and children<\/em>.<\/div>\r\n\r\n
Children showed soldiers \r\n where they would be sleeping . . . [excerpt]<\/div>\r\n
Alert parents should wonder to what \r\nextent the hurricane disaster is being used as a cover for solving military \r\nrecruitment problems by introducing travelling National Guard units to twelve \r\nyear olds.<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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[photo] Tech Sgt. Travis Weitzel of the \r\n Idaho Air National Guard talks with interested Coal Ridge Middle School \r\n students Thursday as the troops settle in for the night at the Firestone \r\n school. Community members provided food and drinks for the soldiers. \r\n Times-Call\/Joshua Buck<\/span><\/div>\r\n
The Times-Call<\/em> article \r\nabout 250 National Guard soldiers visiting a Longmont area middle \r\nschool is a \"puff\" piece, cheering for the \r\narrangement while asking no serious questions. The reporter wasn't interested in \r\nhow this arrangement came about, was apparently incurious about why the soldiers \r\nweren't following expected procedure (staying at one of the many military \r\nbases in Colorado), and apparently saw no possibility of an ulterior motive.<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
We might wonder: were there any parents who \r\nobjected? Is this an isolated incident? Are National Guard units throughout \r\nthe country checking into Middle Schools where they can sow future recruits \r\nby fascinating our children with their military toys? <\/div>\r\n\r\n
middle school students \r\n want[ed] to know everything about them, including what was in their duffel \r\n bags and how heavy their rifles were. [excerpt]<\/div>\r\n
How can a reporter not ask the hard \r\nquestions in the middle of a war that more than half the country no longer \r\nsupports?<\/div>\r\n
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Why didn't the newspaper research how this \r\ncame about, and whether we can anticipate more of the same?<\/div>\r\n
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Did someone know someone, or is this part \r\nof some unpublicized government program? <\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
Who initiated the contact?<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
Is the cheerleading tone of the \r\nfollowing article due to blind patriotism, ignorance, or \r\nnaiveté?<\/div>\r\n\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
Publish Date: 9\/30\/2005 \r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

What a Warm \r\n Welcome<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

School, community provide haven for Idaho troops heading to \r\n Louisiana<\/span> <\/p>\r\n

By Paula Aven \r\n Gladych<\/em><\/span>
The Daily Times-Call<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\r\n

FIRESTONE — They \r\n circled their camouflaged Humvees like wagons before unloading their personal \r\n gear and heading up the American flag-lined driveway to Coal Ridge Middle \r\n School. \r\n

As the more than 250 soldiers \r\n attached to the Idaho National Guard hauled their gear into the school, they \r\n were overwhelmed by enthusiastic middle school students wanting to know \r\n everything about them, including what was in their duffel bags and how heavy \r\n their rifles were. \r\n <\/p>

The soldiers also were greeted with a \r\n place to lay their sleeping bags and a common room filled with teachers, \r\n school staff, community volunteers and foods of every description. \r\n <\/p>

It wasn’t the welcome they were \r\n expecting. \r\n <\/p>

The soldiers are traveling through \r\n Colorado on their way to Louisiana, where they will help out those areas \r\n devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. All they asked from the St. Vrain \r\n Valley School District was an indoor place to bed down.<\/p>\r\n

Superintendent Randy Zila and his \r\n staff decided Coal Ridge could handle such a large group. <\/p>\r\n

The staff at the school had two days’ \r\n notice that they would be hosting the soldiers. Like a National Guard unit, \r\n they quickly mobilized, telling the community what was happening and asking \r\n for donations of food to help feed the soldiers when they arrived Thursday \r\n night. \r\n <\/p>

Teachers had students write thank-you \r\n letters for the soldiers, and more than 50 students stayed after school \r\n Thursday to bake cookies, brownies and muffins and to stuff goody bags full of \r\n candy and sweets for the troops to take on the road with them. \r\n <\/p>

“Our teacher told us we were the \r\n third school district they asked. It’s been an awesome experience for us to \r\n thank them for serving our country,” said 13-year-old Christine McCall, a Coal \r\n Ridge eighth-grader. \r\n <\/p>

Principal Paul Talafuse manned a \r\n large grill outside the school, making hamburgers and bratwursts beginning at \r\n around 4 p.m., when the first of five convoys arrived at the school. \r\n <\/p>

Children showed soldiers where they \r\n would be sleeping, while others helped cut up brownies, slice cakes and \r\n organize the potluck foods delivered by teachers and community members \r\n throughout the day. \r\n <\/p>

Numerous businesses and individuals \r\n donated money, food or time to the cause, and the soldiers were overwhelmed. \r\n \r\n <\/p>

“It’s been really hospitable here,” \r\n said Spc. Joseph Ritchey of Boise, Idaho. “The food is excellent, and the \r\n people are so generous.” \r\n <\/p>

Master Sgt. Charles Butterfield said, \r\n “We were happy to have a place indoors to sleep and take showers, but it is \r\n nice to see us supporting our own nation. It’s pretty awesome.” \r\n <\/p>

Ritchey, like many of the soldiers, \r\n said he didn’t know what to expect in Louisiana. \r\n <\/p>

“A lot of cleanup and, hopefully, \r\n helping people out as much as we can,” he said. \r\n <\/p>

Zila told the St. Vrain Valley Board \r\n of Education on Wednesday night that the district was pleased “to provide that \r\n kind of assistance and support” to the National Guard. \r\n <\/p>

“They are going to an area that needs \r\n a lot of help, but they were called to duty from their own jobs,” he said. \r\n \r\n <\/p>

Paula Aven Gladych can be reached at \r\n 303-684-5211 or pavengladych@times-call.com <\/p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\r\n

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http:\/\/www.longmontfyi.com\/Local-Story.asp?ID=3901<\/div>\r\n
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I don't think we should automatically, \r\ncategorically condemn this situation, perhaps there is an explanation that \r\nmakes sense. But the article didn't shed the necessary light, and we won't get \r\nanswers unless we press the issue. And since National Guard units are on the \r\nfront lines in Iraq, every parent should be concerned.<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
If you're feeling a little bit alarmed and \r\nare wondering, as I am, then please request an explanation.<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
The Longmont Daily Times-Call is \r\nhere:<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

The Daily Times-Call
350 Terry Street
Longmont, \r\nCO 80501
(303) 776-2244
news@times-call.com<\/p><\/div>\r\n

 <\/div>\r\n
The reporter, Paula Aven Gladych, is at 303-684-5211 \r\n<\/div>\r\n
or pavengladych@times-call.com <\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
The information for the Superintendent of the \r\nschool is here:<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
ST. VRAIN VALLEY
Randy \r\nZila
Superintendent
395 S. Pratt Parkway
Longmont, CO 80501
Tel: \r\n303-682-7292
randy_zila@stvrain.k12.co.us<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
richard myers<\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\r\n
 <\/div>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"With recruiting targets unmet, 250 National Guard troops visit middle school, mingle with twelve year olds. Is it a recruiting ploy?\r\n","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2005\/10\/136485.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}