Did the Military Try to Scout You in Your Senior Year of High School?

In the 1980s, the landscape of military recruitment was different from what it is today. While I didn’t personally experience the direct scouting efforts that some students encounter now, the existence and impact of military recruitment during my senior year are worth exploring.

Recruitment in the 1980s

Back then, military recruitment was not as aggressive as it is today. The selective service was reinstated following the Vietnam War, but the military was not doing much recruiting. However, some creative pranks in high schools involved filling out contact cards from magazines with fictional names and addresses, leading to unexpected and overwhelming calls for those on the receiving end.

My Own Experience

During my senior year in high school, which was 1980, my best friend and I took different paths regarding military involvement. Despite not being scouted myself, the experience of my friend is a fascinating look into the recruitment process during that time.

The Air Force was a well-respected branch of the military, but for my friend, it presented both opportunities and economic benefits. Growing up in a blue-collar town, most adults worked in roles such as the MTA police department, fire department, or as clerks for the Town. There were a few store owners, and a few had managerial positions that might offer some local fame. My friend saw the military as an opportunity not just for service but also for financial benefits that would assist in his education.

Both of us took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test, and my friend scored higher. This caught the attention of recruiters who started to contact him. However, the decision to join the military did not come easily for my friend; he quickly knew what he wanted and signed up. For me, the same opportunity did not resonate as strongly, primarily due to my father’s experience in the Air Force.

My father’s experience with the military had its challenging aspects, which he did not wish for me to face. Our family conversations around this topic made me lean towards other paths. Unlike my friend, who took full advantage of the available resources and attended an ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program at his school, I did not engage in these opportunities at all. Instead, I focused on preparing for SATs and ACTs, tests that would determine my college entrance options.

Special ROTC Courses

My school offered special ROTC courses, which were designed to prepare students for a military career after high school. These courses involved regular visits from military recruiters who set up booths at lunch, inviting interested students to learn more about various branches of the military. Typically, the ROTC students made the most of these opportunities, but for many of us, the allure of ROTC was less compelling, and the lunches continued as usual without much interaction with these booths.

Conclusion

In the 1980s, the world of military recruitment was different from what we see today. While the ASVAB and ROTC courses were available, the decision to join the military was a personal one. For my friend, the benefits and the opportunity to serve were compelling. For me, the legacy of my father's service and the different paths available to me through academic preparation were equally important.

The landscape of military recruitment continues to evolve, with new tests like the ASVAB and programs like ROTC playing a significant role. Understanding the context of the 1980s provides valuable insights into how these factors have shaped the current landscape, and can help educators and policymakers make informed decisions to support young people navigating their own paths into adulthood.