Military recruitment has long been a controversial issue in America's high schools and colleges. Dating all the way back to the days of the draft, there's been a tension between the nation's need to keep a military, and the desire - and fitness - of young people to serve.
At the tail end of two lengthy wars - recruitment has become even harder, with about 71 percent of 17 to 24 year-olds unable or unfit to serve. So, in order to meet their quotas, recruiters are increasingly turning to controversial methods, including the use of video games - and the denial of federal funding to schools that don't grant military access to campuses.
Documentary producer Kavitha Cardoza went inside schools to learn about the children of the active-duty military. In many ways, the stereotypes of the "army brat" are true - with kids moving from place to place. With that can come the trauma of having parents who come back changed from long deployments.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kenne Dibner - Research Associate at Policy Studies Associates
- Corey Mead - Associate Professor of English at Baruch College in New York, and author of War Play
- KavithaCardoza - Host and Executive Producer of Breaking Ground, WAMU Public Radio
Chion Wolf and Sydney Lauro contributed to this show.
