Army recruiter calls me a “f * ggot” on campus
So on Monday, I was walking out of the school cafeteria and saw 3 Army Recruiters. One of them was talking to a group of students sitting on a ledge in front of the Hinson Campus Center. I stood behind the recruiters and listened to what they were telling the group. One of the recruiters started to engage me in conversation, but I broke it off quick saying “Oh I’m just listening in.” The recruiter turned back around to talk to the other students.
After a bit, he offered one of the students his business card, and the student refused it saying he wasn’t really interested. The recruiter started to talk to me again, and asked me if I wanted more information. I said “No, but I have a question for you.”
I asked him the question “Is it true that in the Military Enlistment/Reenlistment Document, there is a phrase that allows the government to take away all of your allowances, benefits, and relocate you without even telling you?”
He didn’t believe me and insisted I was making shit up and “Where’d you hear that- CNN?!”
I told the recruiter, “No, it’s on Page 2 of the Enlistment/Reenlistment Document.”
He asked me for hard evidence and kept insisting I was making it up. So I opened my laptop and showed him. I read out loud the phrase:
“b. Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may
change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status,
pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the
Armed Forces REGARDLESS of the provisions of this enlistment/
reenlistment document.”
( See here for full Document )
The group of students still sitting on the ledge were listening. The recruiter started to get mad and was asking me if I was “a liberal,” and “anti-war” – I replied that I am anti-illegal-war and illegal occupation, but that I believed in self-defense.
The recruiter was obviously frustrated, so I got my backpack to walk away.
Right when I turned to walk, I heard the recruiter call out a strong, homophobic word at me.
I turned around in surprise and asked him “What’d you just call me?”
The recruiter was laughing with his 2 friends and replied “I didn’t say nothin’.”
A few of the kids who were sitting next to us had heard what he said.
I notified the President’s Office in the Administration building about what had just happened.
The point I am getting to is that De Anza College should really not be letting these recruiters roam around the campus as they please. Recruiters are unchecked, and their actions are left unaccounted for.
At most college campuses, military recruiters are required to sign in and out with the campus, and are required to remain at, or around a table – Not free to wander the school.
I really do believe that if this recruiter had been sitting at a table, in a more public area in the first place, he would not have verbally assaulted a student.
Thanks for reading.
This type of behavior exhibited by military recruiters is not unusual. Here’s a few links about reported recruiter abuses:
