Does military recruitment have a history in high schools?

This might seem like a weird question, but just trying to feed my curiosity here. Is there a history or significant trends when it comes to military recruiting directly from high schools? Any noticeable shifts or policies over the years? Thanks for any info!

Military recruitment in high schools is a practice that dates back many decades in the United States, showing a significant correlation with historical events and changes in military policies.

Following World War II and during the Cold War, the U.S Armed Forces started visiting high schools to recruit students. In the 1960s and 1970s, during the Vietnam War, military recruitment became more aggressive, leading to protests and debates about whether such recruitment should be allowed in educational institutions.

One significant shift in policy was the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. The Act had a provision where it required high schools to provide student information to military recruiters if they requested it. This included the student's name, telephone number, and address. Schools can decide to opt-out of the provision, but it's a significant policy that has further established the presence of military recruiters in schools.

Moreover, there are also programs like the Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps (JROTC) that have their roots in high schools, often considered a pre-military program. Established in 1916 as part of the National Defense Act, it's still active in many schools today.

In more recent years, the trends in military recruiting from high schools have been influenced by changing national concerns and attitudes towards the military. The military's involvement in overseas conflicts can fluctuate high school students' inclination towards considering a military career.

However, it's important to note that while military recruitment in schools is quite prevalent, it is a choice that each student makes based on their own interests, career goals, and personal circumstances. High schools also offer college counseling, vocational guidance, and other pathways for life after graduation.