It has become impossible to step foot into U.S. schools without facing military propaganda. It is so ingrained in our systems, even on an elementary level. The reaction to recruiters in our school is nonchalant and expected. Yearly assemblies pull the student body in for hours, showing how heroic and selfless our soldiers are. Millions, possibly billions, are spent yearly on propaganda targeting the young and impressionable. There is a clear recruitment focus. Financial bonuses for joining even include paying for college, and the majority of recruits are between 17-21. The process for military recruitment starts young in our schools and our classes.
Propaganda in schools has made war feel casual and healthy for our democracy, something to expect and to join just like any other club or activity. Rather than distinctly alien to everyday life, war is shown as relatable and fun, a place to learn and grow. You can see this with previous campaigns depicting soldiers doing activities such as rock climbing and skydiving. One of the more recent and memorable advertisements described by the A.N.S. states it “will give modern youth an idea of how their… identities can be applied to the total force.” This specific campaign targeted at Gen Z was described by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth as being created ‘to appeal to Generation Z’s interest in community and sense of purpose.’ Studies such as the one conducted by Mckinsey have found Gen Z have higher levels of mental stress and mental problems relating to work compared to the previous generations, Just another morally gray aspect of the military’s obsession with the youth.
Incessant messaging and bombardment of coverage on the military is common in our communities. I interviewed Xander King, a senior at CHS, about the military in our schools. When asked about the propaganda he stated, “I know recruitment is down, but preying on people less fortunate is morally questionable.” He added, “a majority of people in school are not of legal age to consent.” He referenced federal drinking age as being 21 years or older, the hypocrisy of a recruitment strategy focused on 17 year olds. Volatile and naive, the already mentally problemed youths of today would be thrust into service Xander says that “can damage their mental health, even the health of those not deployed.” I asked Xander if the propaganda had affected him. His response was, “it has made me think about it as a career path due to the benefits and structure.”
Military propaganda focuses on the young at every point in our lives. We are not safe from military influences at school or at home. We can’t even escape it in our media. I understand the military’s necessity for troops, but their campaigns can only be described as predatory rather than patriotic. They focus on our humanity in advertisements meant to sell the least human aspects of life. In the interview, Xander cited speaking to recruiters as a determining factor in students’ decisions to join the military. Military propaganda in schools is successful in recruitment regardless of the moral implications. We have a healthy military at the cost of our childhood.
