MILITARY RECRUITING | THE IRAQ FACTOR: Enlistees becoming tougher to find

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Dec. 26, 2003

MILITARY RECRUITING | THE IRAQ FACTOR
Enlistees becoming tougher to find
The U.S. military looks for new recruits at a time when service seems a perilous career
BY SARA OLKON
[e-mail]


(snip) The Pentagon says it's too early to know whether extended conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will make it harder to attract and retain troops. Some early numbers show cause for concern.

= <100.0> = <100.0> The Army National Guard fell 10 percent short of its recruiting goals this year, even though more than the expected number of guard troops stayed on. The Army Reserves missed its retention goal by 6.7 percent over the same period.

Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, Florida Guard spokesman, said he suspects that as time goes on some guard troops and reservists will find service too ''economically challenging.'' Some small business owners, for example, had to close up shop because of their deployments.
(snip)

(snip) Enrollment in the training program for college students was up 19 percent nationwide from May 2001 to May 2003. And recruitment of enlisted personnel has remained steady, said Army Commander Sgt. Major Robert Jones, who heads recruiting efforts in South Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/7571897.htm

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hence why it is incrasingly getting drafty

oh and it is not too early to tell.. anecdotally they are using
fuzzy math to meet quotas

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. It's Sure Getting Drafty In Here

They already got their lists via the NCLB Act, why don't they just get it over with?

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Canada plans on beefing up it's military, "trained" personnel welcome ! !

.
.
. :evilgrin:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I heard this on CBC the other day

(The National) Now I wonder if Canada is gettng ready for us yanks

[aquart]

6. Not before the election, sweets.

The day after, maybe.

[catmandu57]

10. He may not be able to wait

that long. Events have a way of spinning out of control, and we've seen the planning ability of this pack of geniuses. At this point in time there is very little if any wiggle room left to them.

[leftchick]

14. We lost many today in Iraq, to death and wounding....

I don't know how long this will last before a draft....

[mmm]

22. That's a good point

eventually, the dead and wounded will become a factor.
It's not just a matter of attrition thru low sign up
and re-enlisment.

[mmm]

23. That's a good point

eventually, the dead and wounded will become a factor.
It's not just a matter of attrition thru low sign up
and re-enlistment.

[Deesh]

5. Richard Perle

Have the recruiters knock on Richard Perle's door. Perle's real gung-ho about this war -- I'm sure he'd sign on at the drop of a hat.

And I believe the Southern Baptists strongly endorsed Bush's assault on Iraq, didn't they? Send some recruitment brochures to them at once. "Kill an A-rab for Jesus!"

[ldoolin]

7. As well it should

If the US was truly in danger people would voluntarily flock to enlist.

If US troops are instead being used for pointless crusades, young people will know better and stay well away when the recruiters (or heaven forbid, the draft) come calling, just as in Vietnam.

Spread the word among draft age/enlistment age young adults: www.objector.org and www.nisbco.org - these sites will come in handy once Bush tries to reinstate the draft. I suspect Shrub wants to put it off until after the 2004 elections but he may not be able to at this rate.

[Nile]

8. It is easy to understand why enlistments are down.

It is not a free ride anymore if you join. You will be expected to actually do something to earn the benefits.

[patricia92243]

9. Now that Saddam is captured, all will be safe and fuzzy - so why not join

[rocktivity]

13. Originally posted by Nile

You will be expected to actually do something to earn (military) benefits.

Yeah...die.


rocknation

[Dr Fate]

17. But that does not explain why all the young Republicans refuse to serve...

Why do all the smart, tough, no-nonsense. god-fearing, war-supporting, patriotic young Republicans refuse to serve???

They supported sending off "those other people" who you say were merely looking for "free rides"- so why do the majority of Young Republicans themselves refuse to serve? This is what I wonder about all the time.

At my college, a group of 18 yearold children held a "pro-war rally". They made "funny" signs, jokes about anti-war movement, etc. I asked the organizer if he was enlisted, or if they would be enlisting people at their rally. He got really mad at me and said "look, we are just having a good time and making a point, you Liberals take yourselves too seriously..."

Ever since that happened, I always think of their "jokes" and "good times" every time I hear about an American dying in Iraq.

[tabasco]

21. ALL Republicans under age 55 - report for induction!

Where's all the "true patriots" when you need them ??????

[TheLastMohican]

35. Yeah, send the freepers over there

That would make a freaking brigade of willing-to-die zealots in support of Bush. I wonder why isn't anyone of them enlisting? Probably enjoying someone else spilling the blood.

[tabasco]

20. The military busts it's ass even in peacetime.

Free ride? That's funny. Peacetime military is one of the toughest and lowest compensated jobs out there. Only the veteran benefits make it worthwhile (esp. college funds). An ongoing, endless war is sure to decrease reenlistment and induction. But peacetime military service is no cakewalk.

[moondust]

40. Dangerous, too.

Training accidents all the time, heavy machines everywhere, working in the dark of night, always an idiot doing something wrong. Sometimes private contractors doing half-assed work to increase their profits. Etc.

[Skittles]

25. excuse me

serving in the military in non-combat roles is NOT a free ride. Unless you've served, you don't know.

[Rainbows]

27. Long hours ...

five 12's somtimes six back in the sixty-seventies. But, any idiot could perform the task, I'm living proof. :-)

[alfredo]

29. The military was never a free ride. If you have served, you'd know.

Goldbricks eventually get a blanket party.

[0007]

32. The military is a free ride?

Your kidding right?!

[aquart]

36. Not only are the benefits being cut...

But once in, you are not allowed to leave.

[MrPrax]

11. Why not enlarge the International recruitment

program...fight an imperialist war, become an American.

There are lots of drifters in foreign western countries that place the American Way of Life above their own countries' efforts...

They should 'target' recruit the Amero-philes and clear them out of the host countries...

[Dr Fate]

16. Sure, and we could build vomitoriums and temples to Jupiter too...

I mean, if we are going to be Rome, let's go all the way.

[rocktivity]

12. Winner of this month's "You call this NEWS?" Award

...28 area educators...hung out with Marine recruits earlier this month on a four-day, all-expense-paid trip to Parris Island, S.C.
Absolutely fabulous, sweetie darling. How were those yummy MREs?

...a biology major at Florida International University isn't taking any chances. The Kendall man said he won't consider ROTC -- despite the economic incentives and his dream of going to medical school. ''When I look at the news and see all the casualties in Iraq?'' he said, shaking his head. "It's a definite downfall.''
Well, he's certainly SMART enough to become a doctor!


rocknation

[Dr Fate]

15. Draftdraftdraftdraftdraftdraftdraftdraft....

I have a feeeling a lot of Young Republicans are going to suddenly be ill or gay when it comes...

I read an interesting stat before the war- 88% of college men "supported" the war in Iraq. Hmmm, but they are having trouble finding the recruitment office I see. I guess Dick "I had other priorities" Cheney REALLY is their hero!!!

[sendero]

18. this country is full...

.... of f*cking chickenhawks. As was pointed out, if this were a real war that needed to be fought, there would be plenty of enlistees.

Even the addle-pated neocon youth know this is a boondoggle, they want no part of it other than to shout "support the troops".

Maggots.

[smirkymonkey]

26. Didn't you know??

Republicans aren't allowed to be gay. At least not publicly. ;)

[wingnut]

38. Gay Republicans

My state congressman is a gay repug named Steve May.

[Ernesto]

19. The God Damned Marine Corps

Is bugging the shit out of my nephew. After personaly enjoing the Vietnam quagmire courtesy of the USMC, I'm telling the kid: NO WAY! Wrong war, guerilla war, no glory here. It ain't very rewarding to blow away the very people that you are supposedly saving from their selves.

[Skittles]

24. COME ON, LOSE AN ARM AND A LEG FOR HALLIBURTON

BE A SPORT

[Rainbows]

28. Come on all of you young strong men ...

Uncle Sam needs your help again,
got himself in a terrible jam,
over yonder in Iraqistan.
So put dow your books
and pick up a gun,
were gonna have a whole lota fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Country Joe McDonald lives on, and on, and on.

[shanti]

30. there are still some young men that are enlisting

matter of fact, my second son is entering air force boot camp (following in his older brother's footsteps) on jan. 13. his cousin, my nephew, got out of navy boot camp a couple of months ago, so there ARE still new enlistees. they both enlisted because of LACK OF WORK.

HOWEVER, i would agree that ARMY enlistments are most likely way down.

[Columbia]

31. Recruiting goals

All the services (with the exception of the Marine Corps) have been consistently failing to meet recruiting goals over the last 10 years. I think it is quite premature to assume that falling even a few thousand people short of recruiting goals is going to lead to any kind of draft.

[tabasco]

33. We haven't been in a prolonged war during the last ten years.

These days units have to be at 100%. During peacetime you can go as low as 75%. BTW - I was a recruiter for the Army and we were NOT that short of goals, even when the economy was booming. Now - not only are people not coming in, they are getting out (or trying to) in droves. I wouldn't be too sure there won't be a draft in 2005, especially considering the Selective Service moves that have been made. Unless there are massive redeployments soon, I think it is unreasonable to think there won't be a draft.

[n0_data]

34. "I was a recruiter"

What age do you reckon they'll be drafting to? 18-24? 18-26?

And what about women?

[aquart]

37. It's gonna be fun.

Let's see the twins in uniform, George. And how about your stalker nephews?

[tabasco]

42. I was a recruiter for about a year.

My best guess on draft age would be the same for Vietnam. 18-26. I am guessing, but I think the military will have an especially serious problem with lieutenants. Getting college people in is always difficult. I'm thinking ROTC is not a popular choice these days, despite really generous scholarships.

[wingnut]

39. what it will lead to

is lower standards. For example, letting in people with lower ASVAB scores, or with only a GED.

Actually, I think the Army already takes GED holders. Maybe they'll waive more felons.

[number6]

41. I propose the Draft a chickenhawk program ...

:thumbsup: :)