Pocatello Navy Recruiter Told To Remove Facebook Posts
The U.S. Navy said they’re calling Facebook posts a local recruiter put on the website regarding Monday’s student walkouts inappropriate.
The Navy said while recruiters are trained to use social media to recruit, the context of his post is wrong. Students in American Falls are on the fence and said Monday wasn’t about being absent from class while others say it’s an abuse of power by a recruiter.
On Monday hundreds of Idaho students statewide walked out of class in protest of Tom Luna?s education reform. Some students were excused while others not. Navy Petty Officer Aaron Cavin posted this on Facebook: ?Talking with a recruiter is also an excused absence. If your parents won’t give you a note, just hit one of us up,? said Cavin.
“None of the students responded to it, none of us took it. Most of us on the page understand civil disobedience and we know exactly the rules behind it and none of us were going to accept it,? said Madai Montes, senior at American Falls High School.
“I think he was taking advantage of his position and ability to excuse absences for students,? said ?Joe,? a senior at American Falls High School.
Both students for and against Luna?s plan were aware of the officer’s post after it was posted several other times on other Facebook pages.
The Navy issued a statement:
“Our recruiters are trained to use social media to proactively communicate with future Sailors and others who may be interested in serving in the Navy. After reviewing the recruiter’s comment on the future Sailor’s Facebook posts, our local Recruiter in Charge determined that it was not appropriate. The recruiter was asked to remove the posts and he did so,? said Dan Puleio, NRD Denver Public Affairs.
“I can assure you the Navy take these matters very seriously, however, the disposition of Petty Officer Cavin is an internal Navy matter,? said Dan Puleio, NRD Denver Public Affairs.
“This is what really starts to get people angry at recruiters. When actions like this come out, it makes everyone look bad. In reality, I think 99.99% of military recruiters are actually very legit,? said ?Joe.?
“I don’t know what he was thinking or what he was doing. I just know that he posted on my page and that he was supporting us,? said Montes.
According to IdahoReporter.com, the student attendance office at American Falls High School said no students took advantage of Cavin’s offer. Even if they would have, all excused absent notes from recruiters must be cleared through the central office.
In another post on Facebook, Cavin hinted that the Pocatello branch of the Navy supported the walk out. He posted “the watery wing of the federal government (Pocatello branch) sides with the students of our nation.? That post has also been removed.
