mun2 to air ‘For My Country? Young Latinos in the Military’.

mun2 will air an in-depth and compelling special report entitled “For My Country? Young Latinos in the Military” on November 18 at 10PM.

The special telecast exposes the trend of Latinos as the fastest growing ethnic group in the military and takes a close look at the options young Latinos in the U.S. face upon graduating high school, with an emphasis on the military and pros and cons of enlistment. The one-hour report chronicles the personal experiences of Mexican-born Diego Sosa since the 21 year-old former high school student enlisted in the Marine Corps, received disablement retirement after undergoing over 50 operations to his leg, and became a purple-heart recipient.

“Considering the ongoing U.S. military campaigns and that young Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in the military, it’s important for us to take a close look at this issue and how it affects our viewers and the community which we represent,” said Alex Pels, General Manager, mun2. “In this special, we hope to shed some light on the choices that young Latinos face when deciding whether to join the military, and at the outcomes of that decision, both good and bad.”

In the piece, Diego shares powerful war stories from the front line and speaks candidly about the psychological toll of war, brotherhood in the military, the support of his family and the benefits received by the government for his service, including obtaining citizenship for his family.

Additional interviews with principals, teachers, career counselors, activists and students help shed light on current and relevant trends of Latinos in the armed forces, including the economic and social factors that drive them to enlist, the recruitment versus counter-recruitment controversy on high school campuses and Latino-targeted recruitment. The documentary-styled piece also offers viewers a realistic comparison of the costs of war in contrast to the benefits offered to new recruits joining the armed forces.

“For My Country? Young Latinos in the Military” is the second installment in a series of news specials created by the network. The first special, entitled “mun2 News Special: Immigration,” debuted on June 10, 2006 and introduced viewers to Fermin, an undocumented high school student from El Salvador trying to secure a future for himself by lobbying legislators.