Recruitment Bonus Payouts Surge

[unhappycamper]

Recruitment Bonus Payouts Surge
October 03, 2008
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - After seven years at war, the military paid recruits hundreds of millions of dollars over the past year as they answered the call to duty.

According to data obtained by The Associated Press, the Army and Marine Corps doled out nearly $640 million in the fiscal year that ended Tuesday to entice recruits to join up.

The two services continue to bear the brunt of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but recruits were buoyed by incentives that can be as high as $40,000 each. All told, the enlistment incentives coupled with the promise of thousands more for education, increased the costs of Army and Marine bonuses by 25 percent over last year's totals, The Associated Press has learned.

The money - particularly in these shaky economic times - has proved to be a strong recruiting tool, even as the U.S. death toll in Iraq surpasses 4,100 and violence in Afghanistan escalates.

As a result, the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force all met their recruiting goals for the year. The Air Force did not provide bonus data.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/recruitment-bonus-pay-outs-surge.html

[whistle]

1. $40,000 to reenlist? Paid out when?

[unhappycamper]

2. Shit, 40 grand won't even buy 1/2 of one the new Excalibur rounds.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=17168

Earlier this year, some Air Force and Navy pilots were getting 100 grand to reup. You can search thru this forum using the term 'reenlistment or retention' to find out more.

[stillcool]

3. Sad.

[unhappycamper]

4. Your pic reminds me of Peace With Honor.