Posted on 10/19/2009 5:22:36 PM PDT by Libloather
Armed Forces hits recruiting goals
Military Recruitment Hits 35 Year High
10-19-09 Last Update: 7:47 pm
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - For the first time in 35 years, all branches of the military met their recruiting goals for 2009.
The Army had more than 70,000 people sign up; the Navy had close to 36,000; the Marine Corps got 31,000 new recruits and the Air Force came in with close to 32,000.
The high unemployment rate, coupled with increased education costs, is at the heart of the successful recruiting campaign.
Recruiting tactics haven't changed. Recruiters still work hard to reach people, especially at high schools and job fairs.
So why are more people coming in to these centers? Truthfully, the Navy says they don't know; they haven't changed their standards -- if anything, they've made them tighter.
“I think a lot has to do with college repayment. People see how much college is costing, it keeps going up and up and up … the economy is down, and the increase in college funding [has continued],” says Capt. James Kehoe.
The demographics of who goes into recruitment centers have changed, shifting toward college graduates. In the past, 10 percent of new recruits had some college experience; now, it's up to almost a quarter.
“They're graduating from college, but they're not getting that job and all of a sudden they'll have that payment and some are quite sizeable … we'll pay back up to $65,000 over a three-year period,” says Sgt. First Class Daniel Gonci.
Between incentives like that and the new post-9/11 GI Bill, people are finding security in the ranks.
Even though all military branches have hit 100-percent recruiting, they aren't turning anyone away. The difference is, instead of leaving for training in 30 days, it may be a few months.
I’m sure this is being driven by a poor job market due to the recession
It’s either that or they want 0bama as their CinC...
...Obama’s Fault.
One thing they had to compromise a bit on was WEIGHT —lots more kids now are obese.
It is the bad economy, no other reason.
so where are all the war protestors from last year?
The cuts in manpower are part of a £97 million package of spending reductions forced on the Army this year. Training for Territorial Army soldiers and the renovation of soldiers’ housing have also been cut to save money.
The reductions in training and recruiting have raised concerns about the impact on the Army’s future capabilities.
The squeeze on the Army’s budget has emerged in the same week that Gordon Brown announced he will send another 500 British troops to Afghanistan.
Ministers have insisted that the Armed Forces are properly funded, but an Army document drawn up this week shows that Army recruitment has been cut by 500 from January to relieve “pressure” on the manpower budget.
The MoD paper, dated October 13, is titled “ABN 57/09 In Year Savings Measures”. It outlines cuts drawn up by General Sir David Richards, the Chief of the General Staff and approved by Bob Ainsworth, the defence secretary.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6345008/British-Army-recruitment-reduced-in-97-million-cuts-package.html
I spent six months trying to get an officers slot in the Navy in 1982. They had none. My score on the entrance exam was the highest in the region at the time. My college grades were fair. After going back, and going back, and going back I finally got an aviator slot. After having to lose weight, gain weight, and deal with blood pressure that was too low, they disqualified me for the aviation slot. I said I would take ANYTHING.
At the time they had no surface warfare officers, or any other slots for up to a year. They had MBA’s and PhD’s ahead of me in the line.
That was the last time the economy was this bad. Yes, I believe that the economy has a real lot to do with it.
They're VERY depressed. Hopeless? by Cindy Sheehan - Oct. 18, 2009
"I attended a march and rally in San Francisco today that had about 400 people in attendance. The numbers were low and so were the spirits."
Yes, it is.
One of the few positive effects.
You forgot to put up your sarcasim alert flag on your reply....even though I didn’t need it.
You forgot to put up your sarcasim alert flag on your reply....even though I didn’t need it.
I’m just not believing that this headline is true. After 9/11 recruiting exploded, and for a few years. I think they’ve been hitting their targets for a while now.
The only difference between when you were trying to get in and now is that the military is taking almost anyone. Restrictions have been loosened so much that drugs and gangs are almost worse in the military than most US cities.
So they’ve made their quotas this year, but check back this time next year and see how many members (military-wide) got kicked out or washed out or put into the brig, or all the above.
Making the numbers is easy to do when their’s no restriction on how too....just ask ACORN.
I was proud of my son for joining after 9-11.
Today, I would try to talk him out of it, with the Demander In Chief we have today.
Your prayers for my son-in-law are greatly appreciated. He is leaving for Afghanistan in January, his 5th deployment to the WOT since 2001. He’s a lifer, no matter who’s the CiC. He has his buddies backs.
I’m an Army mom, most of the soldiers I meet say, the CIC changes, but their oath is sacred. Some who’ve been through i42 are still there and will be there for life, their support is our country and the people, not the government. They take an oath to the constitution, not the CIC. If push comes to shove, our boys will protect us, we the people, not they the government. Many of the soldiers I’ve met said, they can’t let their buddies fight alone, so the re-up. Many have struggled through the re-enlistment process, most feel their allegiance to their country and families outweighs zero, they’re true to their oath. I’ll tell you one thing, knowing many soldiers, we don’t have to worry about socialism. Our military has our backs. I hope so :)
How they comin’ with that “Civilian National Security Force” that Dear Leader was talkin’ ‘bout last year?!
Money for college and the fact that it’s at least a job is something that draws many.
there is a reason why the military is made up of many minority and poor people....
I AM NOT meaning this in a derogatory meaning as the left would, but it is a fact.
It can be pretty appealing to have college completely paid for while you also have some time to ride out the recession.
My wife’s brother signed up and was a SeaBee and went to Iraq twice. Because of his position, he didn’t go into active combat ever, but his base was bombed once. It still was dangerous.
Now he’s out and in college and has lots of money saved up since he didn’t have an opportunity to really spend his tiny military salary.
I have to admit, I’m somewhat jealous with my student loan debt and lack of savings.
Honestly, the military did wonders for him though.....he is so disciplined now and works hard in college when my wife said he didn’t study at all in high school. We’re very proud of him and glad he’s safe.
I hear you.
Wasn’t the military meeting its recruiting goals even when Bush was president?
Or perhaps the recruits realize that the United States is facing more enemies than ever (from within and without), and that Obama is likely to start another war before he leaves office.
I was wondering about that too. If so, I hope they get weeded out.
They are being picky, my son just took his physical at the Mepps station and because of his being diagnosed with ADD as a young child they basically disqualified him for life. We will have to jump through hoops and get a doctor to examine him again at 19 to prove that his ADD is not a problem and get his school transcripts to prove that he was not in developmentally disabled classes. They tripped him up with questions about being on medication which we had the doctor take him off of before he even entered high school because we though they would hurt him developmentally. He is so depressed, he wanted to be a marine. He dreamed of it and was motivated, he goes to JC and we are not econmomically disadvantaged. This pisses me off. IF a kid can master the intricate forms of martial arts to become a blackbelt and figure out the most complex of video games I would say he is qualified. I write complex procedures for military aircraft repair, Marine aircraft!And I’m good at it! I say that if they don’t want him then they don’t want me either! *uck em!
Many good, decent, patriotic folks in the military. And then there is the “diversity is our strength” crowd. It’s just a matter of time...
Sorry about your son being disqualified. How very frustrating for him. And bless him for wanting to serve our country.
I was also very surprised by the questionaire about ADD and ADD medicine. Since ADD is vastly over-diagnosed these days, especially in active boys, IMO the military should not hold that against any recruits. It’s those active boys the military really needs, not the feminized boys that act like girls in the classroom. (I taught for a short time, and while I didn’t really see any feminized boys, I saw a whole lot of those that learned better while in motion. When I gave the class a choice on how to work problems, all the boys and a few girls worked them on the white board. The rest of the girls sat in their chairs.)
Perhaps you can get a doctor to say he was misdiagnosed? It happens all the time. The fact he did well in high school without any medication should back that up. I understand your anger and frustration. But I hope he is willing to try again in another year. And don’t quit your job tomorrow either! ;)
Anyone would be hard-pressed to find someone who loves and respects our military more than I do, but I have to say I have little sympathy for anyone who is injured or killed who enlists under zero.
I know times are tough and many young men are having a very hard time finding work. Small businesses are rapidly becoming extinct, and those are usually the employment venues for young men going into the work force. So I understand why they’re doing it, but I really don’t think they understand the extent to which they’re risking their lives by submitting themselves to this particular CinC.
May God keep them safe. Zero sure won’t.
I don’t consider our youth submitting themselves to this particular CinC to be a positive effect of the economy. I consider them to be cannon fodder.
May God keep him safe.
I doubt that that’s their reason, at least not for 99% of them.
Being weeded out may be their problem in the first place. :)
Bump Dat...
seemed like every kid had ADD during the 80’s and 90’s
.... the quick fix for “ no problem “
80’s and 90’s sold alot of MRI and Sleep Aptnea equipment too
Wow, you may have more in common with the far left than you think. Heard the same sort of stuff the last eight years from the other side.
You should think before you post.
What are you talking about?
I can’t help it. That’s the way I feel. I think it is gravely foolish to enlist under zero. He doesn’t know anything about military matters and doesn’t seem to care. It’s all a political game to him. I don’t want their lives wasted by this anti-American traitor. If they enlist under zero, they’re volunteering to be cannon fodder.
As for the leftist position, they place no value on bravery, courage, loyalty, love of country and initiative. I do.
If I did my arithmatic correctly on my Chinese cafe napkin (more like a kleenex), that’s nearly 169,000 people who have taken or will take a particular very important oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States against ALL enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC.
. . . . or are they still required to take the oath?
Marine to Plead Guilty to Faking War Wounds for Gain
Monday , October 19, 2009
HAGERSTOWN, Md. —
A Marine sergeant charged with faking battle injuries to get freebies intended for wounded warriors will plead guilty, a Marine Corps spokeswoman said Monday.
Sgt. David W. Budwah, 34, of Springhill, La., will enter the plea at a court-martial hearing Wednesday at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va., 1st Lt. Joy Crabaugh wrote in an e-mail.........
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,568585,00.html
This statement classifies you as an asshole to all of us who have sons and daughters serving our Country.
Oh, call me any name you want. You’re obviously a brain-dead asshole who can’t read worth a damn.
It is a fitting name for someone who disrespects our young people in uniform.
You owe many Freepers an apology for your comments.
Its the economy, this occurred in the early 80’s also. I was finding college grads in the enlisted ranks because they couldn’t find work and, it wasn’t as bad as it is now. Military pay and benefits beats Mc D’s et.al., so its no surprise.
Some of us are getting in because we care about our country and consider it an honor to serve in the Armed Forces regardless of the CIC.
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