1. Do not make a quick decision by enlisting the first time you see a recruiter or when you are upset. A recruiter is a salesperson who will give only a positive, one-sided picture of life in the military. Don’t make this important decision when you are depressed, hard up for work, confused or unsure about your future, or pressured by your family. This decision affects many years of your life; don’t make it lightly.

2. Take a witness with you when you speak with a recruiter. There is a lot of information to take in. A friend can take notes and help you ask questions.

3. Talk to veterans. Veterans can give you their view of military life, good and bad.

4. Consider your moral feelings about going to war. The mission of the military is to prepare for and wage war. If you cannot in good conscience engage in war or in killing, you should not consider enlisting. If you become opposed to war after you join, you have the right to seek a discharge, but it is a long, difficult and uncertain process.

5. Get a copy of the enlistment agreement. Read the fine print carefully, especially the part about what the military can order you to do. You do have a right to take this home, look it over and ask others about it.

6. There is no “period of adjustment” during which you may request and receive an immediate honorable discharge. Once you have left for basic training, you must fulfill the full number of years (usually eight, with some of these in the Reserves) on your enlistment contract. You cannot leave of your own free will. The military, however, may decide you are “unsuitable” and discharge you without your consent.

7. Get all your recruiter’s promises in writing but also remember that the military can change the terms (such as pay, job or benefits) of your work. Though there are no guarantees, a written statement may offer you (as a service member) some protection if promises are not met. However, the contract is more binding on you than on the military. You are ultimately responsible for information on the form, so don’t tell lies, even if pressured.

8. There are no job guarantees in the military. The military is not required to keep you in the job you trained for on a full-time or permanent basis. In fact, most recruiters were involuntarily reassigned to their jobs. Placements are mostly dependent on what the military perceives it needs. Most military jobs are in areas that account for only a small percentage of civilian jobs.

9. Military personnel cannot exercise all of the civil liberties enjoyed by civilians. You do not have the same constitutional rights. Your rights to free speech, assembly, petition and exercise of individual expression (such as clothing or hairstyle) are restricted. You must follow all orders given to you, whether or not you agree with them and consider them right or fair.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a faith-based organization working internationally for peace, justice and reconciliation. To learn more, visit www.afsc.org or call (415) 565-0201 or (510) 238-8080.