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ROTC War Games Disrupted

By VVAW

On April 1, VVAW joined with the Revolutionary Student Brigade and other students and vets disrupted "ROTC DAY" on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. "ROTC Day" was the army's attempt to recruit officers and win support for the ruling class's future rich man's wars by putting on a big show of helicopters, marching cadets, mock battle actions, repelling down walls, and weaponry.

Recruiters are everywhere--in the highs schools and colleges, at the unemployment offices, on the street corners and on TV, trying to take advantage of unemployment and other economic attacks on the working class by offering youth another "choice" besides McDonalds or jail. At the same time, the GI Bill and other vets benefits are being cut back or eliminated, and the cost of education is soaring with everything else. ROTC is trying to suck in students with offers of financial aid and jobs after graduation. But just like the military's promise of vets benefits, like the GI Bill, this sugar-coated poison isn't being swallowed.

For one thing, even before ROTC Day, enrollment in Army ROTC was at an all-time low. An ex-cadet who spoke against ROTC at the protest said that 70 out of 100 freshmen in the Air Force ROTC have already quite since October.

The protest on April 1st took the actions of many individuals against the ROTC and brought them together in one united statement. The lies of ROTC were totally exposed by members of VVAW who told it like it really was, speaking from their experiences in war. The vets tried to get ROTC cadets to see that Vietnam was no accident. It was the direct result of the unquenchable thirst of the US ruling class for more markets, ever more resources, ever more reserves to invest their capital in, for profits.

"I'm just in it for the cash," said one cadet.

"You think Uncle Sam won't get his pound of flesh? He'll have you fighting in Angola, the Middle East, or Europe soon--all to protect his class and his position," answered a vet.

Most students were angry as hell at the ROTC "war games," shouting and mocking them. Members of the RSB and VVAW marched right onto the field where they were going on, disrupting exercises. Students and veterans played an important part in opposing the Vietnam war, and action like this one against ROTC can help oppose the capitalists' preparations for a new war.