Truth In Recruitment

Truth in Recruitment (TIR) is a student advocacy group under the auspices of the Santa Barbara Friends Meeting (Quakers), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit. Our mission is to work with students, families, teachers, veterans, community organizations, and school districts to clarify the consequences of military careers, to provide alternative options so that students can make educated choices about their future, to inform families of their children’s privacy rights, and to advocate for policies regulating recruiter presence on campuses. In 2011, Santa Barbara High School students spoke out against the prevalence of military recruiters as guest speakers in classes and their casual presence on campus. In 2014, as a culmination of our two-year campaign, the Santa Barbara School Board passed a district policy regulating recruiter access to students. The policy includes these guidelines: recruiters are limited to 2 visits a year with no more than 3 recruiters at a time; no solicitation of student contact information directly from students; no simulated weapons displays; a requirement that an opt out form barring release of student directory information be distributed; no disruption of normal school activities such as recruiting during class-time. In Santa Maria, we have put together an organization that includes students and families, to begin a similar push to regulate recruiter access in Santa Maria schools, and for equal access for TIR in schools. Make a difference: Spread the word—tell friends, family and the community at large. Go to TIR’s website truthinrecruitment.org and click on “How You Can Help” and learn how you can volunteer, advocate and donate. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram,@truthinrecruitment. We are funded by donations from individuals and grants from the McCune Foundation and the Fund of Santa Barbara.