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Democracy Now! - Army Recruiters Threaten Jail if Teens Don’t Join

By Manila Ryce
Published Friday, August 8th, 2008, 7:00 am
Filed under: War, Videos: Political, Society/Culture: Law/Order, World Issues, Videos, Society/Culture, US Politics

18-year-old High school student Irving Gonzalez signed up for the Army’s Delayed Entry Program (DEP), a non-binding contract that left him free to change his mind before basic training. However, when Gonzalez decided he wanted to go to college rather than the Army, the recruiter, Sgt. Glenn Marquette, told Irving Gonzalez that he would be sent to jail if he didn’t join. DEP regulations state “under no circumstances will any (recruiter) threaten, coerce, manipulate, or intimidate (future soldiers), nor may they obstruct separation requests.” Democracy Now! plays the recording of their conversation, questions a spokesman for the US Military Recruiting Command, and talks with a Texas Congressman who is calling for an investigation.

This isn’t the first time teenagers have been intimidated into joining the military by recruiters from the Greenspoint Recruiting Station in Houston. Three years ago Sgt. Thomas Kelt left a message threatening a teenager with arrest if he did not keep an appointment. Rather than punishing Kelt, the Army promoted him to the role of station commander two months later to supervise and train other recruiters.

The sound is a bit off on these videos, so just listen to the audio if that kinda shit annoys you like it does me.

Part 1 of 5

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Part 2 of 5

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Part 3 of 5

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Part 4 of 5

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Part 5 of 5

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2 Responses to “Democracy Now! - Army Recruiters Threaten Jail if Teens Don’t Join”

  1. They may have you arrested for posting this type of terrorist abetting propaganda.

    Dr. Monkey
    08/8/08 at 7:08 am

  2. In 1981, I took an oath to join the Navy standing in the captain’s quarters of the USS Guam. I was the first squid in 175+ years to sign up on board a ship (not re-upping). The Captain (Allen Weselesky), who was a well-know Navy Cross recipient and a hero to many, was a friend of my mom’s (I understand very GOOD friends, if you know what I mean) gave me the treatment on the ship.

    He personally took me on the tour of the ship and allowed me to sit in The Captain’s chair (which can only be done by invitation, even by a commanding officer).

    I had steak in the captain’s quarters. He showed me the good side, but normal squids have no good side (he failed to mention that).

    The wait for my actual boot camp was about a year (I was to be AW: Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator), so I left New Orleans and moved back home to wait until my time.

    During that summer, my dad and little brother (Anthony, 5 years old) died in a private plane crash and it freaked me out over flying, so I decided I wouldn’t go.

    I had the recruiter try everything. Threats of law suits, jail time and physical harm (if he had to drive up and get me… 7 hour drive).

    I told him to do what he had to do.

    He and another humongous dude came to get me and coerced me into going back to avoid jail. I was allowed to change to ET Nuke (the height of the nuclear age of subs was upon us). This is really strange because I went from hunting subs in helicopters to riding in a sub to be hunted).

    Dumbass.

    I went and it was the worst time of my life. Bar none.

    BuelahMan
    08/8/08 at 9:11 am

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