There are a number of ways in which you can take action and they're all very important.
1. Sign a Petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Stop-Military-Recruiter-Abuse
2. Spread the word: Post this story on every relevant blog and comments section. Forward the petition and story to friends, family and colleagues and encourage them to take action.
3. If you, a friend or family member had a similar incident with a recruiter, it is important that you document it, publicize it and report it to your local representatives and the GAO. If you work with an organization that counsels recruits and high school students, please help them document their experiences and report them to Congress and the Government Accountability Office.
4. If you work or volunteer with a group or organization discuss ways in which you can bring more attention to this issue and develop campaigns. Form your own organization if it's not already formed. Plan direct action events to include protest, sit-ins and creative, peaceful resistance at your local Congressional Rep's office.
5. Individuals and Organizations can join the Not Even One Coalition to coordinate actions, stay connected and learn the latest updates.
6. Contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators via phone, email and letter asking them to call for a Congressional Hearing and Investigation. You can find out who represents you by visiting this website: www.votesmart.org.
Currently we are asking individuals and organizations to contact their local reps and request the following:

  • An investigation into whether or not recruiters are trained or instructed to use the tactics used by both Corp. Diaz and Sgt. Marquette because there are documented stories across the country of recruiters using almost identical tactics.

  • That Congress and the GAO investigate whether the Delayed Enlistment Program Contract is intentionally misleading to recruits as suggested by Rep. Ted Poe in his CBS KHOU-11 interview that aired July, 28 2008.

  • That Congress as part of their investigation hold a public hearing where students who were threatened can testify as to their experience, as well as Veterans and Active Duty Soldiers who joined because of similar threats.

  • That Congress seriously examine The No Child Left Behind Act which has provisions that permit recruiters unfettered access to high school students. Since Congress passed this law they should be held accountable for its detrimental impacts.

  • That because the U.S. Military has shown that they are not able to regulate their own behavior and at times encourage certain forms of recruiter abuse.

  • Stress that it is unacceptable for any branch of government to lie to its citizens, it is especially troublesome when the government is lying to and threatening teenagers some of which are underage and rely on the government to protect their rights.

  • You can specifically reference the following news stories that have emerged over the past few years and believe that they are only the tip of the iceberg:

    • CBS Evening News- Recruiter Caught On Tape
    Army Recruiters Do It Again- KHOU 11
    2006 AP Study Finds Recruiters Sexually Abuse Recruits
    Hardball Recruiter Gets Promoted

  • Share any personal story of recruiter abuse.

WHO TO CONTACT:
A) Contact the Government Accountability Office contact@gao.gov
youngc1@gao.gov Chuck Young- Public Affairs, (202) 512-6000
CongRel@gao.gov Ralph Dawn- Congressional Relations, (202) 512-4400
B) Call your own Representative and Senator. To find out who represents you, visit www.projectvotesmart.org
C) Call or write Rep.Gene Green and encourage him to urge a Congressional Investigation:

2335 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-1688 tel

(202) 225-9903 fax


256 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E., Suite 29

Houston, TX 77060

(281) 999-5879 tel

(281) 999-5716 fax


D) Call, email and write Rep. Ted Poe and encourage him to follow through on his call for an investigation.
Email him by clicking here: http://poe.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm

Write or call Ted Poe at:

(866) 425-6565 toll free

1605 Longworth Building

Washington, D.C. 20515


or

(866) 447-0242 toll free

20202 US Highway 59 North

Suite 105

Humble, TX 77338


E) Call, email and write Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi
Email her at AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

Write or call her at:

(202) 225-4965

235 Cannon HOB

Washington DC, 20515


F) Call, email and write other members of Congress and Senate that have had national prominence such as Rep. Ron Paul, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Senator Chuck Hagel and so on.
G) Contact both the Obama Campaign and McCain Campaig and make them commit to a position.
Talking Points:
1. The Army has been ignoring recommendations from the Government Accountability Office since 1998 and in the KHOU-11 coverage, Republican Congressman Ted Poe suggested that it may be time for a Congressional hearing and investigation into Military recruitment practices. I agree with Ted Poe's assessment and want Congress to act.
2. The No Child Left Behind Act grants recruiters unfettered access to high school students without any oversight. This unfettered access is a growing problem where school districts are giving unqualified adults (recruiters) authority over students in the schools. Congress, school districts and the military are failing to protect the kids from unscrupulous recruiters.
3. The story of Irving Gonzalez and Eric Martinez is not unique; formal admonishments of recruiters have doubled nationwide since 2005. This was after the Army agreed to fix the problem with a National Standown of recruiting offices and instead promoted a recruiter who threatened the young man in 2005. This shows that the Army actually encourages and rewards this behavior and cannot be trusted to fix it. Stories of recruiters across the country using the same tactics and talking points is evidence of a systemic problem, not one bad apple as the Army would have you believe.
4. We have no way to fully know how many men and women have joined the military under threat. This means we have no idea how many of these soliders have died, been injured or emotionally scarred in Afghanistan or Iraq when they had the right to walk away and recruiters denied them that right. How can we have a volunteer military if recruiters are violating their own rules and using fear, coercion and intimidation to force young men and women into the military?