This looks interesting.
When I was in high school, we were told we were required to take the ASVAB test. Being the uppity pinko militant peacenik that I was, I refused. There was no way in hell I wanted our military knowing any more about me than absolutely necessary. Our school counselor and the vice principal informed me that the test was required. My ass, I replied. I told them that I wouldn’t be attending school on the day the ASVAB was given. If they scheduled a make-up exam, I would not attend on that day, either. I thought it was pretty damned funny that they thought they could force me to take a test. If it actually came down to it, I was perfectly happy take the test, but mark down incorrect answers. And, I let them know that, too.
Now, why on earth the military would have thought it was worthwhile to wast their time trying to test and recruit a kid who was rabidly anti-military was–even then–beyond me. Asstrumpets.
They also weren’t particularly up-front about what the ASVAB actually was. I expect most kids, back then when it wasn’t possible to hop online and go a-Googling, had no idea it was an armed services aptitude test. Sneaky bastards. I may have fallen for it, if I hadn’t been terminally inquisitive and more than a little suspicious of authority. “You’re telling me I have to take this test? I don’t effing think so.” When I asked what, exactly, the test was, the school counselor was a little vague. “It’s an aptitude test.” Yeah, well, I’d already taken the state-required academic aptitude test, so I wasn’t buying that one. When she finally copped that it was for the military, I said, “No, thank you, ma’am.” I was assured that I could opt out of being recruited (yeah, right). What she didn’t understand was that I was pissed off about the test itself, and how it had been presented to us. Recruitment officers, I could deal with. Being manipulated, not so much.
The funny (cuz it’s true) thing was that friends of mine who gave in and took the ASVAB were recruited, even though they had opted out of it. Yeah, manipulated and lied to.
So, I’m all for telling kids the truth and helping them develop the skills they need to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, that means giving them the tools to stand up for themselves against our own military.
red paper boat 