SHAPE America and the Marine Corps Partnership

Throughout our journey in life, we inevitably encounter numerous valuable lessons that shape us as individuals. As we navigate the highs and lows, both triumphs and missteps contribute to our growth as human beings. Among these valuable insights, one stands out as the most important: the significance of being critical—of ourselves, others, and the world around us. In this pursuit, introspection becomes a powerful tool to examine our beliefs and behaviors, and how well they align with each other.

Just as a sports team reviews game films to engage in honest conversations on how to improve, we must adopt a similar mindset when reflecting on our actions, decisions, and interactions. This concept of criticality extends beyond our individual lives and should permeate into our professional endeavors and the organizations we associate with.

Taking a critical lens to our profession can make meaningful change. We have witnessed the pendulum swing towards a more just and inclusive health and physical education field. Notably, we observe positive shifts in areas such as elementary school fitness testing, the reconsideration of dodgeball, and the adoption of skills-based health education. These changes reflect our collective commitment to evolving and ensuring equitable opportunities for all learners.

In this thought-provoking guest blog, we delve into the partnership between SHAPE America and the Marine Corps. As we advocate for criticality in all aspects of our lives, it becomes crucial to apply this lens to such collaborations because we genuinely care about the betterment of our profession. Who better to scrutinize this partnership than an individual who occupies both worlds—an esteemed educator in health and physical education, as well as a veteran?

Therefore, I invite you to engage with this blog using the same critical lens that we apply to ourselves and our teaching practices. Embracing this perspective prompts meaningful conversations, enabling us to introspect, challenge prevailing notions, and drive positive change within ourselves, our professional community, and SHAPE America. By undertaking this journey of self-reflection together, we contribute to an ongoing dialogue that shapes the future of our field.

Thank you for dedicating your time to exploring this guest blog, and my gratitude extends to the author who penned these insightful words. Let us embark on this conversation together, fostering growth and development within ourselves, our profession, and our shared aspirations.

Guest Post:

One of the best things about being an independent organization is that we can influence change from the outside. And that’s exactly what this blog post aims to do. Today, we delve into the partnership between SHAPE America and the US Marine Corps. While collaborations between organizations can bring about positive outcomes, particularly in terms of financial support, it is crucial to examine the implications and alignment of such partnerships with the values and goals of SHAPE America. 

From the Marine Corps perspective, the objective of this partnership is to legitimize, normalize, and increase military recruiters in schools. While I have no problem with people joining the military (I’m proud of my service), I don’t believe we should be trying to influence children along that path. They are more easily influenced and don’t fully understand the complexity of military service. Personally, I didn’t enlist until I was 22 years old. While I was not a wise old man, I certainly understood the world better than high school students did. It really is a “grown up” decision.

And maybe it wouldn’t be as bad IF recruiters were open and honest about issues in the military and veteran care. It is essential for recruiters to openly discuss both the advantages AND disadvantages of military service with students, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future. As someone who went through the enlistment process and even assisted recruiters after completing Marine Corps boot camp, I have first-hand knowledge that this is not what happens. There is a lot of misleading and lying by omission.

And schools are not the only environment where recruiters attempt to influence children. Recently the Army tried using esports to help desensitize young individuals to the realities of war. Fortunately this initiative faced a significant backlash from the youth who continuously questioned the morality of warfare and our country’s history. The result? The US Army retreated from Twitch as their recruitment drive backfired. 

More alarming is that recruiters target low-income areas, capitalizing on the financial insecurities faced by high school students. This raises ethical questions about the recruitment practices used and whether they exploit vulnerable individuals.

So how does the Marine Corps’ goals of this partnership align with SHAPE America’s stated goals and values? Our profession advocates for social justice and health, making it imperative to scrutinize whether this collaboration serves these principles. And this is not the only partnership that should be evaluated. I think we as a profession should think about what inclusion and exclusion criteria we want for ALL partnerships. What are the desires and expectations of SHAPE America’s members? Are we willing to bend our values if it lowers membership and conference rates?

In conclusion, this blog post attempted to shed light on the partnership between SHAPE America and the Marine Corps, highlighting the concerns surrounding military recruitment practices. As an independent organization SHAPE America has the power to influence change and shape the future of health and physical education. It is essential for us to engage in open and critical discussions about the alignment of partnerships with our values and goals, ensuring that we prioritize social justice, health, and the well-being of young individuals.