Army will offer up to $40,000 to some recruits

[cmd]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

The old patriotic reasons aren't quite pulling in recruits for the Army as well as they used to. So the Army is adding a new financial incentive to the college tuition benefits and bonuses it already offers.

Starting in January, recruiters will offer new enlistees up to $40,000 toward their mortgage or to start a business. The $40,000 requires a five-year commitment, though enlistees can receive lesser amounts for shorter terms. The money is available after finishing the term.

Cleveland is one of five markets where the new benefit, called the Army Advantage Program, will be tested before offering it nationwide. Recruits coming through the Cleveland recruiting battalion, which covers the northern part of the state including Toledo and Akron, will be eligible for the benefit.

The rest of the state is not eligible.

Read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2007/12/army_will_offer_up_to_40000_to.html

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I can almost imagine the thinking that went into this. "Let's recruit in the cities where the unemployment and poverty rate is way above the national average."
It will always be the poor who pay the price for this war.

[rusty quoin]

1. At a young age, with few alternatives, and a family,

a $40,000 bonus is a strong incentive. It's wrong, but it works.

[rocktivity]

7. No amount of money could make me gamble my life on the Bush monarchy

And if I did live, I'd have to worry about overpaid mercenaries, extended deployments and reduced veterans' benefits. It's the commander-in-chief, stupid!

:headbang:
rocknation

[provis99]

2. at what point do they cease being enlistees doing their patriotic duty

and become mercenaries, motivated by money, instead?

[calimary]

3. Wonder what happens to that 40 grand if the recruit is killed before

that five-year enlistment is up.

Considering the track record, kinda makes me want to :scared:

[thunder rising]

17. And, would this be motive for ensuring a short career

Hey, somebody has to be point, put the money guy up there.

[valerief]

4. Everything I read is that they never deliver what they promise. NEVER. nt

[rocktivity]

9. Well, the real point is that they can change their minds

so nothing they promise is binding anyway.

:headbang:
rocknation

[BlueIris]

11. Yep. Talk to those who've been screwed if you want to know more.

[rocktivity]

5. I wouldn't be caught dead gambling my life on the current commander-in-chief

because I would be caught dead gambling my life on the current commander-in-chief!

x(
rocknation

[Nederland]

6. This is why there will never be a draft

Its just too easy to bribe people to join the military. Do the math. Want to increase the military by 100,000 people? Offer people $100,000 to join up. Multiple the two and you see it only comes to 10 billion dollars--chicken feed in the big picture of this war.

[Vickers]

8. That's more than I made during my first hitch.

:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:

[gratuitous]

10. The discerning reader will note that it says "offer", not "pay"

But then, 17- and 18-year-olds often aren't very discerning. But our country would never e-e-e-ever take advantage of young people's gullibility, would it?

[Hulk]

12. What good is $40K in a body bag?

Why do I get a feeling this is like the suicide bombers that have their families receive a financial reward for them blowing themselves up for Allah? This whole thing is insane.

There are thousands upon thousands of neocon, God loving, flag waving, "save our troops", "support our troops", "bring democracy to Iraq" types that are ready to volunteer to fight for "OUR freedoms" by bringing democracy to Iraq so they don't follow us home. They are just waiting for george the chimp to give the order, and they will drop their BMW keys on the counter and join the marines and army to take the fight to them.

Let bloody kristol, vannity, bor, limpballs, she-man, in-grams, and all the other neocon flag wavers lead the charge to the enlistment offices. Go!! Get 'em. It's YOUR F*CKIN' cause, so go get 'em!

[MetaTrope]

19. Pays for the funeral

Oh, except for that plot of ground...real estate is too valuable now...ashes will be scattered over a vat of plastic for children's toys.

[sakabatou]

13. How much is a human worth?

Apparently $40k.

[DetlefK]

14. Enlist, get 40k, lose a limb, pay back 35k

[unhappycamper]

15. Looks like they're rolling out this new program just in time for the holidays.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Army+Advantage+Program%22&btnG=Google+Search


"The money is available after finishing the term." = if you die or are injured - tough shit. The chances of surviving five years without serious physical or mental injury are nil.

[sss1977]

16. Can we get that in Euros?

[OzarkDem]

18. Bush and the GOP destroyed Cleveland's housing and job market

its one more step towards destroying the state's Democratic base. Probably the same reason they're offering the deal elsewhere.

[cmd]

20. You can be certain that they aren't doing it to help others

I think you are right.

[cmd]

21. The Wall Street Journal says.......

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119630736305707558-gWe93gulzQMij6wZmE_A5BsQ4K0_20071228.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

For the Army, it's out with "Be all you can be" and in with "Buy all you can buy."

The Army has been enlisting youths for decades by promising them money for college. Starting in January, it will try out a different sort of pitch in selected cities: offering up to $40,000 toward the purchase of a home or the creation of a business.

The Army's new plan is to win over "influencers" of potential recruits.
The new recruitment program, dubbed the "Army Advantage Fund," is meant to show parents and other adult "influencers" that Army service offers tangible benefits to young Americans. As the Iraq war continues, the Army is struggling to recruit enough new soldiers -- and such influencers are less and less likely to recommend military service to youths.

"If you want to get a soldier, you have to go through mom, and moms want to know what kind of future their children will have when they leave the Army," said Lt. Col. Jeff Sterling, the program's architect. "This is meant to answer that question in a tangible, concrete way."

more........