When Dong Nguyen graduated this year from Fremont High School in Oakland, he made a life-changing decision to go to college instead of joining the army.

Nguyen, 17, decided against military service because he was scared to go to Iraq. He knew if he joined the army he could possibly be harmed, so Nguyen instead turned to college.

Although it was difficult for Nguyen to admit he was afraid, he said if there was a draft, he would serve.

“Now is not the right time to join the army," said Nguyen. "Some of my partners (will be) sent out to Iraq very soon. (The military) needs people."

Nguyen strongly opposes military recruitment of any high school students.

“They should ban military recruiters completely from schools,” said Nguyen. “The kids have no idea what they are doing yet. Recruiters tell you there isn’t anything left for you, and they try to (investigate) your background. I thought about going because I wanted to get out of this place. But they don’t give you enough time to go to school.”

San Francisco area activists also would like to see the military removed from high schools. However, schools that prevent recruiters from entering their campus can lose federal funds provided by the No Child Left Behind program. San Francisco Unified School District alone could lose $36 million in No Child Left Behind funding, according to news reports. The No Child Left Behind program maintains that school districts must allow the military to have access to their campuses.

A recent CNN report claims the war in Iraq has killed 1,729 Americans and wounded 13,074 American soldiers. Recruiters find themselves facing the dilemma of not meeting their full quota of new recruits, according to the report.

In the San Francisco Unified School District, an overall survey of 22,280 students in the last two years showed that one-third of the students chose not to release their personal information to the army.

On Oct. 14, 2003, San Francisco's Board of Education passed a demand stating that students and parents must be notified of their right to withold personal information from military recruiters. Information must be sent home, including FAQ’s and information about alternatives to the military.

Sergeant Peter Schell, an army recruiter at Stonestown Galleria Mall in San Francisco, said the army makes you “well rounded” and helps lead to better careers.

“There are over 200 job fields to choose from,” Schell said. “And the army gives you the training it takes to map a career path. You will be proud when you hand in your job application, and the job will know that your four-year degree in the army has backing in discipline.”

Bob Herbert, an opinions/editorial columnist for the New York Times, stated in his June 13 article "They Won't Go" that “the Army is so desperate for even lukewarm bodies that it is reluctant to release even problem soldiers, troops who are seriously out of shape, pregnant or abusing alcohol or drugs. It is lowering the standards for admission to the junior officer ranks.”

The Army missed its recruitment target by 25 percent this year. As a result, they lowered their expected recruitment numbers from 8,050 to 6,700, according to reports in the June 8 edition of the New York Times.

Sergeant Trey Gamble of the U.S. Marine Core volunteered to go to Iraq twice.

“Iraq helped me to appreciate myself as an American. It helped me to put forth an effort to help others,” said Gamble.

Going to the military and dealing with war can effect soldiers in different ways.

The San Francisco Chronicle ran a front-page article on soldiers and post-traumatic stress disorder in its June 22 edition. One in every six soldiers and marines acknowledge symptoms of severe depression. Eight to 10 percent of active-duty and retired military women who served in Iraq suffer from the stress disorder, according to the article.

Steve Morse speaks out frequently about how tours of duty affect soldiers psychologically. Morse is a spokesman for the Central Committee of Conscientious Objectors, a program designed to aid in the resistance of military recruiters.

“Soldiers that come out of Iraq are traumatized and experience harassment and abuse," Morse said. "Ninety percent of women report sexual harassment. They keep sending people back there over and over after duty.”