Barbara Goldberg is a founder of the Humboldt Committee for Conscientious Objectors (HCCO) and of the local branch of the G.I. Rights Hotline. She is a long-time draft and military counselor and advocate for those struggling for human rights and justice, and a faculty member at Humboldt State University. The following information was gleaned from her speech at CLMP's Annual Forum of September 2004. [Synopsis by Suzelle]

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND legislation requires schools who wish to maintain their federal funding to release to the military all contact information including unlisted phone numbers of juniors and seniors, and to allow military recruiter access to students in the schools. The school districts must notify parents each year that they will be releasing this information to the military. Parents can opt out of this program, each year, by sending back an opt-out form to the school district. [Note: Marie Mills, board member of Leggett Valley Unified School District and CLMP, reports that School Districts in New York, Santa Cruz, and Leggett send out a form that gives parents an opportunity to "opt in" to their children's contact information going to the Military. This complies with the spirit of the NCLB legislation yet is less likely to be inadvertent.]

An APTITUDE TEST CALLED ASVAB is provided to our schools at no cost (replacing costly tests that districts used formerly). It is designed from the military point-of-view to determine what specialties juniors and seniors might be particularly well suited for when they are recruited. Sometimes, military personnel give this test (freeing teachers for much needed prep time). There is a place on the test where the test-taker must check if they do not want their contact information to be released to the military. Military recruiters have access to DMV records, and school ring companies have been known to sell contact information they have collected to recruiters.

A DELAYED-ENTRY PROGRAM (DEP) is in practice that allows children to sign up for the military while they are still minors, up to a year in advance of departure. It is important to know that the DEP contract is not binding. To void the contract one must simply write a letter to the commander of the recruiting station saying that a decision has been made to not be in the military (for any reason).

GI RIGHTS HOTLINE receives calls from DEP members who ARE BEING LIED TO by recruiters. They report that they have been scared by threats of being considered AWOL and so could be shot as deserters. They have been told that they will have a mark on their record and never be able to get into a college, or get financial aid, or get a job. Some are told that in order to back-out of their commitment they must report to the MEPC and swear in, then they can inform the sergeant that they wish to be discharged. However, it is only after taking the oath that they are in the military, and then it is not as easy to get out of the military as simply writing a letter.

The TARGET GROUP OF MILITARY RECRUITERS is children from nonaffluent families and children of color, who may have less opportunity to get into colleges, less awareness of other possible life choices, and who may not realize what military life entails. And many of the volunteers now serving joined-up for an eight-year commitment at a time when we were not at war, hoping to enhance their career opportunities. People in the RESERVES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD make up 40% of the force that is being deployed in the current WAR ON TERROR.

STOP LOSS is a mechanism introduced by the Bush-administrated war that freezes the leaving date of someone who is currently being deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. There are people who are about to complete their military service commitment who have been deployed indefinitely. GI RIGHTS HOTLINE has received calls from reservists who have been given a choice to either reenlist or be shifted over to another unit that will probably soon be deployed to Iraq. Also, people have been promised huge bonuses and special training as incentives to re-enlist, and then after they re-enlist they are informed that they don't really qualify for these.

Injured and mentally distressed soldiers who come home report that they are being held, sometimes for months, without getting any sort of medical assistance. Many of these returning soldiers are suffering from POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. When finally released, many of these afflicted veterans are not awarded any disability benefits; they receive only a small stipend, and no continuing medical care.

Women GI's have reported that they have been raped (and many more do not report rape when it happens). Gays in the military complain that they are denied personal positive self-identity with the DON'T ASK DON'T TELL policy. Criminal charges can be brought against someone for any outward expression of homosexuality (even holding hands).

GI RIGHTS HOTLINE has served about 9700 people in the little over two years they've been open. They welcome assistance from anyone who is interested. GI RIGHTS HOTLINE # IS (800) 394-9544; or (707) 826-0165, 1040 H St. in Arcata, 95521; www.girights.org