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College students all over the country, including many students at Syracuse University, seem to take the privilege of higher education for granted. Meanwhile, in places like Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, public school students lack the same academic support or resources that are commonplace in wealthier, and consequently, predominantly white areas. Upon moving to Syracuse, I learned that most of my peers didn’t grow up going to school sanctioned career fairs dominated by military recruiters. This contrast highlights the limited career opportunities available to Texan students like me, where many feel pressured to sacrifice their futures to a system that perpetuates poverty rather than pursue their true passions.

Similarly to many students throughout the United States, in Texas, I pledged allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags every morning from pre-K through 12th grade. This regularly scheduled blind allegiance, combined with a curriculum that glosses over the lingering colonial realities of our history, have essentially indoctrinated students into believing that military service is not only honorable, but a duty.

According to the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth, military recruiters purposefully embed themselves in schools to foster a sense of “school ownership.” Military recruiters were omnipresent in my own Texan high school, often stationed near the cafeteria and enticing students with merchandise and “macho tests” like the pull-up bar. This presence, often normalized in Texan high school assemblies and classrooms, conditions students to accept military service as a necessary path.

But that’s not all. The Texas educational system has long failed Latine students; discriminatory practices like segregation and unequal funding limit educational opportunities, pushing many Latine youth into what’s known as the “poverty draft.” Military recruitment doesn’t just prepare Latine youth for service, it also shapes their political identities, often steering them toward conservative voting patterns. This can seem at odds with the needs of their communities, as anti-immigrant rhetoric contradicts Latine culture that is tied to immigrants. Additionally, the realities of a false vision of economic stability that is rooted in relating a conservative government to one that is economically stable for all is deeply rooted in systemic inequities, deep-seated assimilation and educational indoctrination.

For SU students, understanding this dynamic is crucial as we approach the next election. To future policy makers and leaders at SU — especially those studying in Maxwell — it’s important to recognize how such disparities shape the lives of marginalized communities. Our votes and future careers can either reinforce or help dismantle these inequities.

Cole Ross | Digital Design Director

In communities where many people work in law enforcement or oil and gas industries, voting conservative becomes part of an identity shaped by decades of acculturation. Middle-class voters in these fields often align with conservative policies because they perceive them as securing their economic and social stability. These professions foster a culture of discipline, individual responsibility and loyalty, much like the military.

SU, with its historical ties to the military through robust ROTC programs and contributions to national defense leadership, plays a significant role in shaping how students engage with military-related careers and policies. We must understand the deep-rooted impact of early military recruitment, particularly in marginalized communities and how this ties into voting behaviors. Syracuse’s military history makes this all the more relevant to our campus discourse. Understanding military culture is not just theoretical for us; it’s part of the university’s legacy and an important context for our civic responsibilities, especially as we approach election season.

For Latine people in Texas, military recruitment is part of a broader indoctrination process that prioritizes loyalty to the state over critical thinking. This leads to a glorified view of American history and erases the harsh realities of colonization and imperialism. At SU, we’re lucky to have access to a comprehensive education that encourages critical thinking. This privilege should motivate us to vote or at least consider ways to support those who don’t have the same opportunities.

Military recruiters target Latine youth not just out of economic desperation but as part of a calculated strategy. Studies as far back as the Clinton administration identified Latines as an “untapped” source of recruits, and the military has exploited this ever since. The bigoted anti-immigration rhetoric that perpetuates the alienation of Latine individuals from their people is key to maintaining order in a demographic-shifting status quo. Latine youth tend to do well in basic training and stay in the military longer, not because they’re better suited for it, but because they’ve been conditioned to see it as their best option.

It’s also vital to mention another aggressive recruitment effort in high schools that target immigrants and immigrant youth by offering a quick and cheap path to naturalization for the enlisted soldier and their immediate families. This increases the surplus of Latine soldiers that choose to enlist which is, conversely, tied to the national rates dropping due to Trump-era policies that elongate approval times for those who can afford the $800 fee to apply for citizenship. Family is everything for almost all Latines, and when the military shows up at your school more frequently than local colleges, offering a straightforward path to provide for yourself and your family, it creates the illusion that they actually care.

Representation isn’t salvation in systems of inherent injustice. Having diversity and denser demographics of historically marginalized socioeconomic communities within law enforcement and the military isn’t making the racialized system of justice fairer. Rather, it is upholding white supremacy and white nationalism through economic and educational indoctrination, along with predatory military recruitment concentrated in schools on the border and Latine-dense towns such as Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. This is why SU students, many of whom will go on to work in policy or government, must understand the impact of military recruitment on marginalized communities and use their votes to dismantle these structures.

As the upcoming election approaches, it’s more important than ever for the SU community to understand why communities like mine often vote in ways that seem contradictory to their best interests. These shifts are rooted in systemic inequities and indoctrination that benefit white nationalism and limit opportunities for marginalized groups. For SU students, voting isn’t just a personal decision – it’s a chance to uplift those facing systemic barriers and contribute to a more just and equitable society.

Valeria Martinez Gutierrez is a junior majoring in Geography, Sociology and Environment, Sustainability and Policy. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at vmarti10@syr.edu.

Published on September 11, 2024 at 9:42 pm