If the answer to the above is no, this is the time for parents to act. Under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, Farmingdale High sends the names, addresses and phone numbers of high school students to the Department of Defense for use by military recruiters, unless a written statement from the parent or guardian requests that the child's name be left off.

Once military recruiters receive the information, they can be relentless in efforts to sign up your child. The Department of Defense relies heavily upon high school students to fill their quota of recruits. Students can be signed up in the Delayed Enlistment Program (before age 18 and before graduation) and then take the official enlistment step after graduation. Recruiters have a quota to meet and contact with your child can be made when you are not home.

To prevent your child from being approached by recruiters, parents should send a note to the school principal saying they do not want personal information about their child given to the military, but are willing to have it released to non-military colleges and for other school-related purposes.

The time to act is right now, since Farmingdale High will be sending this information around the end of September.

Eleanor Krebs