"As someone who could be targeted to be recruited, I think it is extremely important to know the facts that aren't sugar-coated. The idea of the army is that it is honorable…. Injuries, mentally and physically and death are not mentioned in the commercials and they aren't said by the recruiters. If the people being recruited read … the facts off of these cards I'm sure they would take a longer time to make sure it is what they want or reconsider. … The current information given to the public isn't enough. While it is bad to see constant misery going on, it needs to be shown that there is misery going on. … if someone is … signing up for some form of military they should know ALL the facts."

"I think students entering the military should be shown this. I get the impression from most of fellow students at the school, think that war is fun and exciting to them, and romantic. They do not see what really goes on with the psychological and physiological trauma the soldiers actually go through. I especially know this because I used to be one of those people. When I was reading the card I started to choke up the first time I read it because I could imagine myself there in the heat of combat, seeing the injuries and the soldiers dying. Some people might say that this lesson plan is biased towards a liberal side. I think that this is the most accurate description of war. … The military gives you a glorified side of war. … I think every student should have right to be presented this [lesson plan] … I do not find this biased, these are hard facts of war."

"scary and gruesome … crazy how much money ($4 billion) we are using for recruiting people into the U.S. Military. It makes me question why would the government allow this to happen to their own people? It seems to me that all the soldiers have been affected (physically and mentally) by Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers are losing limbs off their body and dying. Even if soldiers do make it out alive, many have symptoms of post-traumatic stress or psychological problems. … no amount of government money can heal or cover their scars. … Another issue that was among the cards was about the videogames that many people are playing. I don't think that it's a very good thing to have because it doesn't show the reality of war. … this material … should be shown to students in high school … It'll illustrate the reality of war …"

"I was shocked at the graphic details written in those cards. … I knew that war was dangerous, but hearing these stories read by my classmates made the whole 'war scene' real to me. … Picturing hundreds and thousands of military soldiers experiencing the same, or similar, situations as the few we've heard was difficult. … This lesson plan gives everybody a reality check on what war really consists of. I think it's important that everyone consider both pros and cons before jumping in with a decision. War is not just a game, and students should realize that. … The lesson plan was very strong in giving a feeling / glimpse of what it's like to be in a war. I think the time spent reading and discussing it is used wisely."

"When I received multiple letters and packages about the US Army, I was interested … because I found more information concerning college loans being paid off, a chance to experience what 'Team' means and what not. … I wanted to be a part of the US Military. Of course I perceived it in another perspective because the truths and facts were all sugar-coated. Many soldiers' lives are on the line each day and many of them die in a horrifying and tragic way. The commercials that young adults see on television would never show a U.S. military soldier slowly have their arm being blown off, now, would it? I believe that they try to lure young teenagers and adults to join in. They offer many advantages such as paid college tuition, loans, or better yet, a free education. … Many veterans come back distraught and damaged emotionally … Would they have the money to get them back to the previous state … No, money cannot pay off everything."

"I was very appalled. I tried to seek a purpose to their persuasive techniques but all I had in mind was that it was cruel…. After hearing about the very vivid and detailed stories I was further convinced that joining the war is not an option for me because all I would be doing is throwing my life away. I was very sad to hear about the terrible tragedies that the veterans had to go through. … gives me the creeps because I do not want any angry outbursts, flashbacks, nightmares, or hyper vigilance. I do not want to have nightmares at night about me shooting an innocent 7-year old girl who was supposed to be a decoy. I believe there is a lot of propaganda … I consider it brainwashing teenagers who believe they have no future or goal."

"government should not keep the reality of what's going on in the Middle East hidden … the game 'America's Army' is totally unrealistic. You can can play whenever you feel like it, and also die and come back to life however many times. This isn't how wars are like in real life, even if it is simulated. You don't see a lot or if any, gory, disgusting things. … The U.S. government spends some of its time trying to stop violence in videogaming, but yet, it is allowed to create such a game used to recruit people to the military. … I think that learning about these facts or having this lesson at school is a positive thing. There are many peers out there who do not know what to do in their lives, and decide to join the military, but, they have no thought of the negative, dark side of the military."

"… this lesson plan is really important to learn because we need to learn what military really wants us to get into. Yesterday during my commute … I noticed there were a lot of ads to join the National Guard. I never noticed them until now and it would've convinced me if I hadn't learned about this the day before. It showed a woman leading her colleagues to what seemed to be victory. In bold letters it said this can be you … so much to choose from after High School. It is essential … to know the pros and cons … something like this can be very tricky, it can sound good, but are they really ready to die or kill at 18? Can they carry a burden of someone's life on their back? So it is really important they know the truth."

"deeply disturbing as a human being who values life as a precious, fragile gift … I know of many fellow peers that have planned their lives around joining the military. They say it as if it were a mundane thing, as if it was of no severe consequences. Yet hearing the stories and information on those cards undoubtedly confirms that the life of a soldier is cruelly intertwined with injury and destruction. Death drags heavy in my heart as I read the lesson plan to myself. To me, it is unfathomable that joining the military could possibly present enough reward to compensate with the loss of one's life. I understand how defending one's country is an honorable cause, what I do not see is how slaughtering other people could possibly bring peace to our world. Not only do the targeted victims lose their lives, but the soldiers who had taken them suffer immense consequences upon their emotional and mental well-being as well."

"I do respect those who have gone to war, but I also pity them (at least most of them now that I have read these articles). Most of these soldiers are barely out of high school and many are still mentally immature. The mind of an 18 year old is a lot less experienced and rational than a 30 year old. I suspect that many go to war because of the propaganda and fear that has been spread by the media and the Bush Administration. Many people probably join the army expecting to gain glory and a chance to defend their country in a 'noble' cause. They go head on into a war in which they have only seen one side."

"Blood and gore is what I cannot experience. I do play military videogames. In games you die, you respawn. In a real life situation you die, there's no way of coming back. … Teachers don't need to see their students go to war. The lesson wasn't that soldiers are bad … it's the actual recruitment policy. Possible enlister needs to hear both sides…."