informedenlistment

Aguayo Informed Enlistment Program

Work Objectives

This year we are also determined to see a minimum of 10,000 teenagers and young adults. Our goal is to provide young adults with an alternative and realistic point of view about military enlistment. As well as showing young people the power of living with conscience. Our message helps students understand that they don't have to join the military to learn valuable skills, find adventure, pay for college or serve others. We want to make a difference by helping young people see a different side to these issues. We want them to have a balanced picture so they can make educated decisions about their future. We encourage them to think critically, search for more information, and then make an informed decision. Our message balances the deliberate misinformation passed off to these students as fact. As former military members we know that low-income students and students of color are being sidetracked away from higher education and into the military. Our mission is to give students the information they need to pursue their goals for job training, higher education and service to others and expose deceptive military advertising.

As a military family with personal experience, we speak of the realities of military life and war. Our experience as a veteran and military family member have given us the tools to teach conscientious objection, the cost of war, and peaceful alternatives for students to create a peaceful world geared towards social justice, change, and a green environment. We organize with teachers/professors to arrange assemblies or classrooms presentations. We also do workshops on Conscientious Objection. We make ourselves available to students for one on one counseling after presentations, as well as provide follow up information.

Your donations make this work possible! So please consider donating.

Benefits of Our Work

When students/young adults hear our message they simply change their minds about the military in their future. Student comments are proof that this work is valuable and needed.

Recent student comments:

"Before your visit to my school I had always thought of joining the army, but after hearing your story, it has opened my eyes and has changed my mind about it."

-- Male, 17, high school student

". . . You helped me see the side effects of the military. . .Everything that you discussed with us, stayed in my head . . .and I was able to bring home all of the information you gave us to discuss with my younger brother. I plan on staying in school."

-- Female, 17, high school student

"I always thought enlisting was a good thing. Now I know I will NEVER join."

-- Female, 20, college student

Some of the Schools where we have had workshops include:

California State University Northridge

UC Riverside

Pierce College

Pasadena City College

Cal State Dominguez Hills

Many Community Colleges and High Schools in L.A. County