Cape Girardeau Army recruiting station giving used computers to area schools

The Cape Girardeau U.S. Army Recruiting Station is giving away surplus computers to school districts in need -- with no recruitment strings attached, according to an Army official.

Beneficiaries in the first round are Perryville, Kelly, Scott City, Oak Ridge and Advance high schools, said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bramlitt, commander of the recruiting station.

The 11 used computers, each about 3 years old, have had their hard drives cleaned up and their memories erased for use in the schools' guidance counseling offices. Instead of auctioning the surplus computers to the highest bidder, Bramlitt said, the recruiting center wants to target the equipment where it would be best used.

"Our intent is to provide computers to schools so they can set up ACT and SAT prep courses online," he said. "We're focusing on the smaller outlying schools that don't have immediate resources for what students need."

The computers come with March 2 Success, a program built and hosted by the U.S. Army and billed as "no obligation software that provides educational content to help anyone improve their knowledge and test scores in the areas of language arts, mathematics and science." March 2 Success, according to the initiative's website, helps improve scores on standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, state exams and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, the entry test for the U.S. armed forces.

Bramlitt said the program does include an option for students to contact a recruiter through the website but isn't "laden with advertisements why you should join." He said the Army has shifted its approach in recruitment and is attempting to dispel the idea that the only goal is to enlist young men and women.

"We're trying to develop better community relations," Bramlitt said. "When it's time for people to join, we end up with better soldiers. We are supporting the future of our teens."

Perryville High School will receive three computers for students to use in the guidance office. Tammie Lukefahr, guidance counselor at the school, said the recruiting station's donation will really help students in pursuit of college and career.

"We do not have the funds to purchase our own computers; therefore, to get these from the Army is a bonus for our students," she said. "This will more than double our availability, specifically for guidance purposes."

Lukefahr said she doesn't see the Army's gift as a marketing tool. She said the school has a good working relationship with all the armed services.

"They are all very respectful," she said. "If students are interested, great, if not they don't harass them."

Bramlitt said the plan is to expand the donation program in the coming weeks to include schools throughout the Cape Girardeau recruiting station's service area in Southeast Missouri and parts of Illinois. The Kansas City Recruiting Battalion, which includes the Cape Girardeau station, has given away hundreds of computers statewide for schools, Bramlitt said.

As for recruiting, Bramlitt said recruitment numbers in general have been solid and that recruitment is up 10 to 15 percent over the same time last year at the Cape Girardeau station. He could not provide specific figures.

"For a long time everybody said the economy" was driving up recruiting figures, Bramlitt said. "I think the reality is, it is the benefits you can get from military service, even in the short term."

Service members can earn tens of thousands of dollars to pay for college.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

3019 William St., Cape Girardeau MO