Professor at a private college in New York City, December 2024
“Several of my students said, in their course evaluations, that the most eye-opening moment of the semester was your visit with We Are Not Your Soldiers. One of them wrote: ‘Hearing veterans share their stories of disillusionment and psychological trauma opened my eyes to the raw realities of military service and its personal consequences. It was unexpected but incredibly powerful. It reminded me how important it is to question the narratives we’re given and to seek out voices that challenge us to think differently.‘”
Professor of graduate students in Paris, France, November 2024
“Thank you so much for your time yesterday. It was such an insightful discussion! My students expressed how much they appreciated hearing from you. They also mentioned that in their course work, they spend all of their time discussing things like strategy; so it was really a good experience to have the balance of being reminded of the human cost of military intervention.”
A professor at a college in Manhattan, November 2024
“Thank you and Brian so much for taking the time to join us in person(!) and for such an interesting and thought-provoking conversation.”
A professor at a NYC community college, November 2024
“Thank you to We Are Not Your Soldiers. It was such a privilege to have you, Joe and Shaniyat come to our school this semester. I know the students got a lot out of the experience. For some, I expect it will be one of the most meaningful moments of their semester.
Joe, I know that a lot of my students really appreciated your frank storytelling about your time in the military, and your critical discussion of the actual motivations behind so many of the U.S. military interventions of the past 50 years. We all valued your direct style and your insistence that we consider the moral questions underlying U.S. wars.
Shaniyat, In the debrief conversation we had some days after your presentation, students shared that they felt you gave them a dose of reality about what day to day life is actually like as a soldier. Many said that they’d previously had no idea about what was actually happening in places like Iraq and Afghanistan during the years of U.S. military intervention ? and this sparked more conversations in which the facts could be divulged and considered. One student said she was sobered by your depiction of U.S. soldiers as expendable, as pawns in a global game of power and empire-making. This resonated for a lot of students, who I suspect had not previously thought critically about the military and its ubiquitous recruitment apparatus.”
A professor at a public college in Manhattan, November 2023
“Thank you so much for today, and huge, huge thanks to John. That was so awesome and powerful. It was great to have his insight and reflections. It’s such a different perspective for the students and it gets through to them in such a different way hearing it from John directly. Just last week we had military recruitment set up in the dining hall.”
Brooklyn middle school teacher, November 2023
“Always a pleasure partnering with We Are Not Your Soldiers. I like how real the presentations have been over the past two years. We started with a viewing of a short film of a drone pilot who was grappling with the morality of his job. It was great that John, the presenter, was able to answer questions that were posed by the class in an authentic manner, being so vulnerable and authentic when speaking with our 8th graders.”
College professor on Long Island NY, November 2022
“Just want to thank you and Joy for the session with my class yesterday. The students were really moved by her honesty and strength considering all she experienced… I’m ever thankful for the work you are doing to teach young people the other side of the story they rarely get to hear. That needs to change!”
Community college professor in NC, November 2022
“A wholehearted thank you to both you and Will for bringing us an excellent presentation… The students enjoyed and appreciated Will’s genuine and evidence-based presentation.”
Special education teacher in NYC alternative high school, November 2022
“One student in particular said it was his favorite thing we’ve done this school year. Thank you so much! We appreciate your work!! Would love to continue the partnership.”
Two NYC high school co-teachers, April 2022
“We cannot thank you both enough for visiting with our students again this year! Thank you for your boundless energy, your valuable time and – most of all – for your commitment to truth and honesty. This world is a better place for our young people because of you and your work.”
NYC high school teacher, February 2022
“How do I put into words how grateful we are for all your hard work, warmth, fierce intellect, and openness today? You are both bodhisattvas in my book and are not just changing lives but actually saving lives. My co-teacher and I cannot thank you enough! Peace, always, and thanks beyond words.”
Two NYC alternative high school teachers, January 2022
“Thank you so much for giving us your time, sharing your experiences with our students, and encouraging them all to ask questions, question everything, and do their own research.”
Four NYC middle school teachers, May 2021
“Thanks again for giving our students the chance to hear a perspective they rarely, if ever, encounter in their schooling. We greatly appreciate Joy’s candor and vulnerability, and the continued partnership between our school and We Are Not Your Soldiers.”
A NYC high school teacher, March 2021
” Thank you so much for coming to our classes. I learned so much and had a very busy weekend trying to further educate myself. I imagine that it is really draining to speak about your experiences and I appreciate your honesty and openness. The students were so moved by your work.”
A teacher at a Philadelphia high school, February 2020
“Thank you so much for coming to speak with our students on Tuesday! I really saw my students paying attention and thinking deep. I also especially appreciated the way you were open to answering all their questions and letting the conversation meander at times driven by their curiosity. Thanks again for sharing such a powerful message with our young people! I really appreciate you all more than I can say.”
A teacher at a small alternative NYC high school, January 2020
“I thought the visit was fantastic and the impact on my students was significant and lasting. As our discussions of Tim O’Brien developed, students frequently referred back to what they had learned from Will Griffin. When we discussed the end of the story we had been reading, where the main character is sitting on a boat 20 feet from the Canadian border and is paralyzed—can’t jump in and swim to Canada to avoid the draft, even though he is opposed to the Vietnam War—I asked students what they would do, would they jump? Many many referred back to Will’s stories: it was clear that they got a vivid understanding of the realities of war.”
Two co-teachers at a large NYC high school, November 2019
“We cannot thank you enough for spending your time, energy and efforts with us and our students. Your dedication and hard work are changing and shaping minds, young and old, every day. ”
Teacher from a small high school for recent immigrants in New York City, October 2018
“I want to reach out to you, Miles Megaciph, to give you a heartfelt thank you for honoring our students with your stories, spoken word and discussion on your experiences in the military and why you don’t support recruiters targeting high school students. The students were inspired by your involvement with various social activist movements through peaceful protest and rap. The discussions and reflections we had in class were even richer after your talk with us. I wish you could’ve heard! One student said, ‘I was definitely planning on joining the military because my aunties are in the military, but after hearing him speak about boot camp, nah, I don’t want to.’ Other students thought it was so cool that you trusted them enough to speak from your heart and be vulnerable in front of them. Adults don’t do that, they said…. Your teaching will continue throughout the year and beyond.”
Teacher from an alternative high school in New York City, May 2018
“Thank you so much for the incredible work you do to bring awareness of what is happening with the military. It’s so important.”
A teacher from a large traditional New York City high school, April 2018
“Just wanted to thank you AGAIN for spending a truly engaging, thought-provoking day with us. The work you do is incredibly vital for young people like my students, all of whom were enthusiastic, moved, and grateful in their responses when I asked them for their thoughts on your visit in class the next day. I’m constantly trying to raise consciousness (and consciences…), but it is often a tough, uphill trek, so I’m happy to have your help in the mission. I would love to have you back next year sometime to meet a new batch of students!
In the meantime, please keep doing the work you’re doing — I know how exhausting it is but I promise you it is worth it!”
From a college professor in NYC, November 2017
“Thank you so much for coming. I received a lot of positive feedback from my students. Many of them said the class really opened their eyes to realities they never thought about before.”
From a New York City high school teacher, April 2017
“Thank you so much for your visit. It was instrumental in helping the students develop a more critical understanding of the armed forces. Many have told me that they no longer want to enlist, which is what I was hoping for! We enjoyed hosting you and hope you’ll come back again.”
A Philadephia high school teacher speaks after a visit to her class in November 2012
