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| Fifth Column |
| U Washington prof compares military recruiters with child sex predators |
| 2010-12-03 |
| The UW published this report about Hagopian's research, done with Kathy Barker, PhD. It is presented as a commentary in the January 2011 edition of the American Journal of Public Health, under the title "Should We End Military Recruiting in High Schools as a Matter of Child Protection and Public Health?" Sounds like another example of conclusions in search of supporting data. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #16 Actually, I think she's probably right, but for the wrong reasons. Most kids today are so over-protected they've never experienced any greater trauma than getting turned down for a date - or not asked. They suddenly find themselves in the real world of basic training, and have no experience to how to adjust. Today, college is just high school with more books. There is little or no reality. I witnessed some of this in the military before I retired - a LOT of young kids that came in were shocked, shocked, to learn they'd have to keep their room clean, be on time, keep their uniforms in good order, and adhere to basic hygiene. Throw them into a combat situation and you have instant mental disorders, as they have no base in reality to relate all the demands of combat to life. The MILITARY doesn't "cause" these problems - they're caused by a totally unrealistic childhood lifestyle. You'll note that the kids from "flyover country" - children of ranchers and farmers, small business owners, and "reality-based" jobs have much fewer problems than the blue-state city kids. Amy's got part of the equation right, but the "answer" she came up with isn't based on reality. |
| Posted by: 1 2010-12-03 16:38 |
| #15 "The youngest recruits have the greatest number of mental disorders in the U.S. military, including alcohol abuse, anxiety syndromes, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder." I am going to take an intuitive guess here: Many disorders cannot be properly diagnosed before age 18. Furthermore- the military screens recruits (unlike colleges.) They may very well be the first professionals to take a look at these young adults. Then there is the fact (and I do believe it is a fact) that if you have a poor soul with lurking schizophrenia (for example), one of the BEST ways to 'activate' the disorder (cause a psyche breakdown) is Basic. That is almost by design. |
| Posted by: Free Radical 2010-12-03 13:04 |
| #14 This is almost certainly factually false. Recruits get medical care, dental work, wholesome food and sanitary living conditions when not in the field. The life may be spartan but outside the combat role for which they have trained and for which they bargained the health realm is better inside than outside for the vast majority of enlistees. |
| Posted by: Wintoon 2010-12-03 12:58 |
| #13 Police! Police! My guidance counselor looked at my scholastic briefs! And I saw a college athletic recruiter just hanging out in the gym! That ad for college touched me! |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-12-03 12:52 |
| #12 the comments at the link are great! Amy seems to have few friends and admirers |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-12-03 11:23 |
| #11 Should We End Public High Schools as a Matter of Child Protection and Public Health? Yes. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2010-12-03 10:33 |
| #10 Say what you will about child sex predators, but at least they don't fill your head with Marxist twaddle. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2010-12-03 09:39 |
| #9 Academia are the most provincial people I know. Their lives and experiences are the norm as far as they're concerned. "An unexamined life is a waste." |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2010-12-03 08:51 |
| #8 ...make sure the data reflects from the mid-80s on. The Army, the largest of the services, went through one of the most extensive reforms that any bureaucratic institution has ever done. The Army by 1990, while having the toys and suits similar to that what had gone before, hardly resembled the one from the 70s from the inside. The current version is even further displaced from those old numbers. The selectivity its been able to apply to recruits and the levels of education and training constantly imposed with professional development, not just of officers but the non-commissioned officers beginning with the first steps into leadership, requirements are leagues beyond the older days. May I suggest that the author could have dealt with something much closer to home - "Should We End College Athletic Recruiting in High Schools as a Matter of Child Protection and Public Health?" |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-12-03 08:36 |
| #7 "A review of the medical literature suggests military service is associated with disproportionately poor health for young people." I'll have to access the journal at work (can't do it at home), but I'm going to check the references for that statement. She'll have references, of course, an academic article is supposed to when it makes a statement of claim or fact. This could become entertaining. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2010-12-03 08:18 |
| #6 With the "civilian leadership" and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs now endorsing sodomy in the military, one would thing accademia would have recognized some progress. [sarc off] |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-12-03 07:15 |
| #5 I am sure that most of the enlightened 'ethical elite' in academia have no problem with NAMBLA recruiting in schools. |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-12-03 07:10 |
| #4 I wonder if she's ever considered torching the campus ROTC building? Not much has really changed in accademia in 40 years. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-12-03 06:54 |
| #3 As we used to say in grade school, "It takes one to know one". |
| Posted by: Bobby 2010-12-03 06:21 |
| #2 One saved round: I wouldn't doubt if Hagopian once dated a military guy (or gal - never can tell) and had her little heart broke. Get over it lady - Heart Breaker, Life Taker as Pvt Joker once said... |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2010-12-03 00:29 |
| #1 Hagopian says, "A review of the medical literature suggests military service is associated with disproportionately poor health for young people." -you mean like obesity, binge drinking and anti-social behavior? That would be pretty much American youth in general you f*cking moron...or half the chicks and dudes I knew in frats/sororities. (full disclosure: I was in a frat way back when and know of what I speak) "The youngest recruits have the greatest number of mental disorders in the U.S. military, including alcohol abuse, anxiety syndromes, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder." -don't know where to begin w/this one. You say "recruit" which means to me they haven't completed an elistment term yet - meaning they probably either came in that way or your study is horseshit. I'll choose the latter but for sake of argument, I guess by your analysis or pedo-recruiters prey on these quasi-fuckups? Then how do you account that the vast majority end up as generally excellent citizens 4yrs later after a hitch? Other then the divorce rate in the mil I'll put up my 18-24 yr olds against any of yours at UW you myopic twit. Need to call Cracker Jack and give your PHD back. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2010-12-03 00:26 |