What is F.A.M.E. committed to?

• Providing clear and accurate information – so that youth can make informed and consensual decisions about their lives and military service;

• Countering prevalent misinformation about the benefits of joining the military, compared to civilian opportunities; and

• Ending the “economic draft” by helping youth find educational and employment resources

Winter Soldier Investigation NEW

The Iraq Veterans Against the War are having a "Winter Soldier" investigation in Washington, DC March 13-15. Information available at www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier and their regular website is www.ivaw.org

Speak For Peace Tour coming to Detroit NEW

U.S. Veterans & Iraqis Creating the Way Forward, Thursday February 28, 2008 At 7:30pm, University of Detroit Mercy: McNichols Campus 4001 W. McNichols Rd., Life Sciences Bldg, Room 115, in Detroit.

Sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, Michigan Coalition on Human Rights, F.A.M.E: Finding Alternatives to Military Enlistment, Detroit Friends Meeting (Quakers), and Jewish Voice for Peace. Download the PDF Flyer HERE

Racism

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has received hundreds of complaints of racism in the military. Their report says discrimination haunts African-Americans, Latinos and women in the military. In 2000, 37.5% of the enlisted personnel were people of color, but only 16.2% of the officers were. Latinos in the Marine Corps, for example, made up 13.5% of the enlisted ranks, but only 5.8% of the officers. When the Los Angeles Times investigated the Ft. Leavenworth military prison in 1994, it found that 50% of all the inmates, and 83% of those under a military death sentence, were people of color.

From an interview with a veteran, Aiden Delgado, published by blackcommentator.com

Q: In the 1980s the U.S. military made a lot of reforms. It is widely believed that racism in the military is now a thing of the past.

DELGADO: I have two answers.

First, have we overcome racism in the sense that blacks and whites are banded together in the hatred of Arabs? That’s not progress.

Second, we had an incident in our unit with a black specialist. He was a nice guy, really popular in the unit. There was no physical fight, but there was a dispute over him dating this white girl, having a relationship with a white girl. Two white guys took a piece of rope, tied a noose, and put a hangman’s noose on his bed. He found out who it was and went to his black sergeant.

They went to the equal opportunity representative. The issue was effectively stifled. Full article ...

Money for College?

You've seen the ads on TV, "Up to $70 Thousand Dollars for Education" , have you wondered if it's really true?
It's not...

The military recruiters promise money for college, but to qualify for any college aid at all, you have to pay a $1200 non-refundable deposit to the military.

If you receive a less-than-honorable discharge (as about one in four people do), leave the military early (as one in three do), or later decide not to go to college, the military will keep your deposit and give you nothing.

According to the VA less than half of eligible veterans use their educational benefits. continued...

"I knew that getting my loans paid off would be a huge benefit for myself and my parents,"
But his family found out that his loans would not be repaid by the U.S. government. Not one cent.
continued ...

Returning veterans get good jobs because of all the training they get in the military, right? Well, maybe not, click on this chart for unemployment rates nearly double for vets as compared to non-vets.
continued ...

Will the Military take care of you financially if you are wounded? Not completely. Robert Loria said, "I was shocked, after everything that went on, they still had the nerve to ask me for money. I don't know how much you want from me. I already gave you one arm and a part of a leg."
continued ...

Emiliano Santiago

How long is an 8 year committment? 8 years or 35 years? Emiliano served his 8 years, and had his term of duty extended to December 2031. continued...

Jimmy Massey, Marine Recruiter speaks out. If you were young and tough and wanted a challenge, Jimmy Massey was the man to see. He was gung ho. He was Semper Fi. He was the strutting, cussing, tobacco-chewing Marine recruiter. The staff sergeant won scores of recruits in Waynesville North Carolina and other patriotic mountain towns by talking courage, honor, commitment. Then, following his own adage — "you gotta walk the walk" — he went to Iraq.
Read more ....

QUIZ

If you sign up for a 15 month enlistment, how long can the military keep you in service?

a. Fifteen months
b. Eight years
c. As long as 35 years

The incredible never ending enlistment contract; the correct answer is C. They can keep you as long as they want to. continued...

Spc. David Qualls

David signed up for the National Guard "Try One" program. Is it one year, or 28.5 years? The correct answer is 28.5 years, his separation date is now the same as Emiliano Santiago, Christmas Eve 2031 !
continued...
and another...