Japan Press Weekly

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2014 December 24 - 2015 January 6 [SDF]

SDF desperately trying to recruit high school students

Teachers’ unions have revealed that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have been doggedly recruiting high school students due to graduate in March.

The All Japan Teachers and Staff Union (Zenkyo) and the National Federation of Private School Teachers and Staff Unions (Shikyoren) on December 22 published the results of a survey on the employment situation of graduating students at 443 high schools and schools for the disabled nationwide. According to the survey, the number of SDF violations of an ethical code regarding recruitment reached 13 as of the end of October, tripling from a year ago.

In Japan, there is an agreement among companies to refrain from recruiting high school students until September 15. In defiance of this commonly accepted rule, SDF officials often visited students’ homes before that date to recruit them.

SDF officials have been tenaciously persuading students to enlist. When the SDF requested a high school to encourage students to take the SDF employment examination, the school replied that it will ask the students who want to become firefighters if they are willing to apply for the SDF as well. The following day, although the school authority did not provide the SDF with any personal information about those students, SDF staff members called at their houses to explain the advantages of enlisting.

At another high school, right after a briefing session for job seekers, an SDF officer directly instructed some students to fill in application forms for the SDF.

Representatives of the teachers’ unions demanded that the ministries concerned, including the Defense Ministry, order the SDF to comply with social rules.


Past related articles:
> SDF approach to high school students just after Cabinet decision on collective self-defense stokes public fears [July 5, 2014]
> JCP achieves removal of photos promoting SDF at public schools [October 30, 2014]