National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth

The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth, commonly known as NNOMY, is a United States-based network of peace organizations and community groups opposed to the militarization of schools and young people. Rather than operating as a conventional centralized nonprofit brand, NNOMY functions as a decentralized and flexible coordinating structure. Its role is to connect national, regional, and local activists; circulate information; support collaboration; and promote public education about military recruitment, military-linked curricula, and the presence of armed-forces institutions in educational settings. NNOMY emerged in 2004 after the national counter-recruitment conference “Stopping War Where it Begins,” held in Philadelphia. The network was created in the context of growing concern among peace activists about military recruitment in high schools, Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs, school-based marksmanship facilities, and the influence of military priorities on public education. Its initial steering committee included the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, CHOICES, the Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft, the Human Rights Committee of the United Teachers Los Angeles, Madison Area Peace Coalition, the National Youth & Militarism Program of the American Friends Service Committee, Not in Our Name, Project YANO, Resource Center for Non Violence, and Teen Peace. Veterans for Peace, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Youth Activists/Youth Allies, and the Los Angeles Coalition Opposed to Militarism in Our Schools were also identified as participating groups. Alliance for Global Justice and the War Resisters League have sponsored network actions. The network's work combines counter-recruitment, research, public advocacy, youth education, and direct campaigning. Its projects have challenged the normalization of military service as a default pathway for young people and have sought to expand awareness of civilian education, employment, community-service, and other alternatives. NNOMY has also criticized the use of public schools as venues for military preparation and has supported students, parents, educators, veterans, and local organizers seeking to alter or remove military-linked programs. Among its campaigns, NNOMY promoted the “Save Our Civilian Public Education” call, which opposed military and corporate influence over K–12 schools and public universities. It also worked with Project YANO on efforts to end involuntary placement in JROTC, reduce Marine Corps JROTC participation, and remove school shooting ranges. A related campaign reported the closure of JROTC firing ranges at 11 high schools in 2009, with later successes in Hawaii and Maryland. Other initiatives included “Winning The Peace,” a national leaflet effort explaining the realities of military enlistment and presenting alternatives; collaboration with Veterans for Peace to bring veterans' experiences into counter-recruitment work; and “Divest Your Body from the War Machine,” organized with CODEPINK to encourage divestment from companies associated with militarization. NNOMY has also participated in broader public demonstrations, including the Women's March on the Pentagon in October 2018, where military influence on youth programs such as JROTC, Young Marines, DoD STARBASE, and DoD STEM was among the concerns raised. In 2023, the network received the US Peace Prize from the US Peace Memorial Foundation for national efforts to stop US military influence on young people and for work framed as saving lives in the United States and abroad. Its continuing identity is that of a coalition and advocacy network rather than a commercial product brand, with influence derived from partner organizations, campaign materials, local organizing, and public education.

NNOMY was established in 2004 in the aftermath of the Philadelphia counter-recruitment conference “Stopping War Where it Begins.” Its formation reflected a desire among peace and youth-advocacy organizations to coordinate opposition to military recruitment and other forms of militarization in schools without creating a rigid national bureaucracy. The network therefore developed as a flexible, decentralized structure through which local and national groups could share information, organize actions, and produce educational materials. The network's early participants represented several strands of the US peace movement, including conscientious-objector advocacy, anti-draft organizing, youth and militarism programs, teacher and labor activism, veterans' organizations, and local campaigns against military programs in schools. The initial steering committee included the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, CHOICES, the Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft, the Human Rights Committee of the United Teachers Los Angeles, Madison Area Peace Coalition, the National Youth & Militarism Program of the American Friends Service Committee, Not in Our Name, Project YANO, Resource Center for Non Violence, and Teen Peace. Veterans for Peace, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Youth Activists/Youth Allies, and the Los Angeles Coalition Opposed to Militarism in Our Schools also participated, while Alliance for Global Justice and the War Resisters League sponsored network actions. NNOMY's advocacy has focused on the idea that schools should provide civilian education and opportunity rather than function as extensions of military recruitment or preparation. Its campaigns have addressed JROTC, school shooting ranges, military recruiters, and Defense Department-linked programs. Through the “Save Our Civilian Public Education” campaign, the network opposed military and corporate influence over K–12 and higher education. The campaign's reported results included the closure of JROTC firing ranges at 11 high schools in 2009, followed by similar victories in Hawaii and Maryland. Working with Project YANO, NNOMY also promoted the removal of school marksmanship programs and argued against involuntary assignment of students to JROTC. The campaign reported an end to involuntary placement in some settings, a reduction in Marine Corps JROTC enrollment, and the removal of shooting ranges from 11 San Diego schools. Other work expanded the network's message beyond institutional policy: “Winning The Peace” used national leafleting to explain the realities of military enlistment and identify alternatives, while work with Veterans for Peace brought personal testimony from veterans and activists into public discussions of Pentagon recruitment efforts. NNOMY collaborated with CODEPINK on “Divest Your Body from the War Machine,” a project that connected financial divestment from military suppliers with the search for broader civilian opportunities for young people. In October 2018, the network took part in the Women's March on the Pentagon, which highlighted concerns about programs such as JROTC, Young Marines, DoD STARBASE, and DoD STEM. In 2023, the US Peace Memorial Foundation recognized NNOMY with the US Peace Prize for its national efforts to oppose US military influence on young people. The available material does not identify a conventional corporate headquarters, chief executive, commercial revenue, or listed-company structure; NNOMY is best understood as a coalition-based advocacy network.

• 2023

  Receives the US Peace Prize

  [1]National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youthen.wikipedia.org

  The US Peace Memorial Foundation recognized NNOMY for national efforts to stop US military influence on young people.

• 2018

  Participation in the Women's March on the Pentagon

  [1]National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youthen.wikipedia.org

  NNOMY joined an action opposing Pentagon influence on young people and school-based military programs.

• 2009

  JROTC firing ranges close at 11 high schools

  [1]National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youthen.wikipedia.org

  Student, parent, and teacher efforts associated with the campaign to protect civilian public education resulted in the closure of firing ranges at 11 high schools.

• 2004

  NNOMY is founded

  [1]National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youthen.wikipedia.org

  The network is formed after the “Stopping War Where it Begins” national counter-recruitment conference in Philadelphia.

A decentralized peace and counter-recruitment network that challenges military influence over educational institutions and promotes informed civilian alternatives for young people.

• Educational and advocacy materials

  Counter-recruitment resources

  NNOMY's principal outputs are informational and organizing resources rather than commercial goods. These materials help students, families, teachers, veterans, and community groups examine military recruitment, understand the consequences of enlistment, and identify civilian education, employment, and service alternatives.

• Campaign coordination

  School militarization campaign support

  The network supports local campaigns concerning JROTC, school marksmanship facilities, involuntary student placement, and Defense Department-linked educational programs. Its coordinating role allows local organizers to share tactics, publicize results, and connect school-level disputes to a broader national discussion.

• 2018Women's March on the Pentagon

  United States

  NNOMY participated in the October 21, 2018 march, which opposed Pentagon influence on youth through programs including JROTC, Young Marines, DoD STARBASE, and DoD STEM.

  Source
• 2009A National Call: Save Our Civilian Public Education

  United States

  A campaign opposing military and corporate influence in K–12 schools and public universities. It supported community efforts to challenge school-based military infrastructure, including JROTC firing ranges.

  Outcome. The campaign was associated with the closure of firing ranges at 11 high schools in 2009, with later successes reported in Hawaii and Maryland.

  Source
• Divest Your Body from the War Machine

  United States

  A collaboration with CODEPINK encouraging divestment from companies that supplied or profited from militarization, while advocating wider civilian opportunities for young people.

  Source
• School Marksmanship Training

  United States

  An effort conducted with Project YANO to remove marksmanship programs and shooting ranges from schools and to oppose involuntary placement of students in JROTC.

  Outcome. Reported outcomes included the end of involuntary JROTC placement in some settings, reduced Marine Corps JROTC enrollment, and removal of shooting ranges from 11 San Diego schools.

  Source
• Winning The Peace

  United States

  A national leafleting campaign designed to inform young people about the realities of military enlistment and alternatives to military service.

  Source
• Veterans for Peace and Counter-recruiting

  United States

  A project using the experiences of veterans and activists to raise public concern about military recruitment and Pentagon influence on youth.

  Source

1. 1National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youthen.wikipedia.org