More than 50 people gathered at St. John's Episcopal Church June 3 to discuss military recruitment methods and rights of military personnel.

But military officers weren't presiding over this meeting - only concerned civilians.

"Their priorities have been getting people signed up, " said Paul Sheridan, board member of West Virginia Patriots for Peace. "So you've created the conditions for abuse."

West Virginia Patriots for Peace and The Center on Conscience and War sponsored the forum to discuss the alleged abuse and provide information for how to support conscientious objecting and rights of those in the armed services.

Bill Gavin, the Center's counseling coordinator, led the discussion. Gavin said he's been traveling to different communities for five years on behalf of the Center, a Washington-based group that aims to defend the rights of military personnel whose personal beliefs come into conflict with their work.

"I want to have a network of people in West Virginia and the rest of the nation who are informed in these issues and help young people in the community getting through the military," Gavin said.

Gavin said recruiters are pressured to become deceitful when they are required to fill a certain quota of recruits.

Touching the nerves of some attendants, he also discussed how the No Child Left Behind Act required schools with federal funding to release student names to recruiters.

"I have a 15 year old and I'm going to make sure his personal information is not given to recruiters," said Jenny Martin, 49, of Charleston.

Martin's reaction is what the West Virginia Patriots for Peace, a local organization that actively speaks out against the Iraq War, hoped for. They collaborated with the Center so local citizens like Martin could be informed about certain tactics and know how to take a stand against recruitment methods.

"We're concerned young people don't know where to get information so they know what is accurate about the service," Robin Godrey, president of West Virginia Patriots for Peace.

Even though West Virginia Patriots for Peace works for different issues, the organization wanted Gavin to speak because of his shared interest in controversial recruitment methods.

But Gavin also wasn't hesitant to discuss his beliefs on the overall goals of the armed services.

"The purpose of the military is about fighting wars. It's not about funding your education or training you," he said. "The GI bill is not about getting people in the college. It's about getting people into the military."

Gavin will speak directly to those in contact with youth during a six-hour seminar today at St. John's Episcopal Church.

To contact staff writer Christine Simmons, use e-mail or call 348-5100.

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