Posted on 06/13/2005 10:19:29 PM PDT by churchillbuff
The United States will "have to face" a painful dilemma on restoring the military draft as rising casualties result in persistent shortfalls in US army recruitment, a top US senator warned yesterday. . Senator Joseph Biden, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the prediction after new data released by the Pentagon showed the US Army (picture) failing to meet its recruitment targets for four straight months. "We're going to have to face that question," Mr Biden said on an NBC television show when asked if it was realistic to expect restoration of the draft. . "The truth of the matter is, it is going to become a subject if, in fact, there's a 40 per cent shortfall in recruitment. It's just a reality," he said. . The comment came after the Department of Defence announced on Friday that the army had missed its recruiting goal for May by 1,661 recruits or 75 per cent. Similar losses have been reported by army officials every month since February. . However, experts said even that figure was misleading because the army has quietly lowered its May recruitment target from 8,050 to 6,700 people. . That has prompted charges that the real shortfall was closer to 40 per cent, which in turn has led to questions about the future viability of the army as a force, if it continues to be plagued by lack of new recruits. . Since October, the army has recruited more than 8,000 fewer people that it had hoped to, which amounts to a loss of about a modern brigade. . The army, navy and Marine Corps reserves also fell short of their monthly goals by 18 per cent, 6 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, according to the figures. . Recruitment at the Army National Guard was down 29 per cent, while the Air National Guard fell short 22 per cent. — AFP Senator's prediction follows recruitment shortfalls
WASHINGTON — The United States will "have to face" a painful dilemma on restoring the military draft as rising casualties result in persistent shortfalls in US army recruitment, a top US senator warned yesterday. . Senator Joseph Biden, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the prediction after new data released by the Pentagon showed the US Army (picture) failing to meet its recruitment targets for four straight months. "We're going to have to face that question," Mr Biden said on an NBC television show when asked if it was realistic to expect restoration of the draft. . "The truth of the matter is, it is going to become a subject if, in fact, there's a 40 per cent shortfall in recruitment. It's just a reality," he said. . The comment came after the Department of Defence announced on Friday that the army had missed its recruiting goal for May by 1,661 recruits or 75 per cent. Similar losses have been reported by army officials every month since February. . However, experts said even that figure was misleading because the army has quietly lowered its May recruitment target from 8,050 to 6,700 people. . That has prompted charges that the real shortfall was closer to 40 per cent, which in turn has led to questions about the future viability of the army as a force, if it continues to be plagued by lack of new recruits. . Since October, the army has recruited more than 8,000 fewer people that it had hoped to, which amounts to a loss of about a modern brigade. . The army, navy and Marine Corps reserves also fell short of their monthly goals by 18 per cent, 6 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, according to the figures. . Recruitment at the Army National Guard was down 29 per cent, while the Air National Guard fell short 22 per cent. — AFP Senator's prediction follows recruitment shortfalls
WASHINGTON — The United States will "have to face" a painful dilemma on restoring the military draft as rising casualties result in persistent shortfalls in US army recruitment, a top US senator warned yesterday. . Senator Joseph Biden, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the prediction after new data released by the Pentagon showed the US Army (picture) failing to meet its recruitment targets for four straight months. "We're going to have to face that question," Mr Biden said on an NBC television show when asked if it was realistic to expect restoration of the draft. . "The truth of the matter is, it is going to become a subject if, in fact, there's a 40 per cent shortfall in recruitment. It's just a reality," he said. . The comment came after the Department of Defence announced on Friday that the army had missed its recruiting goal for May by 1,661 recruits or 75 per cent. Similar losses have been reported by army officials every month since February. . However, experts said even that figure was misleading because the army has quietly lowered its May recruitment target from 8,050 to 6,700 people. . That has prompted charges that the real shortfall was closer to 40 per cent, which in turn has led to questions about the future viability of the army as a force, if it continues to be plagued by lack of new recruits. . Since October, the army has recruited more than 8,000 fewer people that it had hoped to, which amounts to a loss of about a modern brigade. . The army, navy and Marine Corps reserves also fell short of their monthly goals by 18 per cent, 6 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, according to the figures. . Recruitment at the Army National Guard was down 29 per cent, while the Air National Guard fell short 22 per cent. — AFP
Found yet another article detrimental to our military, I see.
You should be ashamed of the way you trash the guys who are out protecting your right to post this drivel.
My rights come from God, not any man. Thanks!
How does this article "trash" anyone? Please be specific. If you're implying that the Army is lying about not meeting its recruiting goals - then it's you who's trashing the military.
So do mine - - and that includes the right to post an article that points out that reports that the Army isn't meeting its recruitment goals. If the Army isn't telling the truth, please someone let us know. But if the Army IS telling the truth, then that raises major policy issues - where will the troops be procured if we intend to stay in Iraq?
Good point that it's Democrats who historically have started drafts. But what do we do if the Army is falling short of recruitment goals, and we intend to stay in Iraq?
You said it, people forget that! There isn't going to be a draft. There should be limits as to how long one is away from home (i.e. someone signs up for a year or two etc.. and that is it).
Ah, but that's the ONLY kind of articles you post!
You're 100% correct. Besides, check the source - no doubt the best "inside track" on the US military that one could find. Yeah, right.
What's the matter, church - Pravda didn't have anything new? Or was it all too positive toward the US for your taste?
I can think of at least a half dozen things that could be done before we institute a Democrat led draft. I am sure you could as well, if you wanted to.
But those rights are protected by the people who are fighting and dying to preserve them. Just as Howlin' stated. God gave us many things, but man can take them away if we don,t fight for them.
You are correct. What is the problem with having a national service requirement? Perhaps then we would have the man power to fight the GWORI effectively and with illegal imm. problem.
LOL! :-)
Why is the info here detrmimental to the military? The US military functioned most of its existence under a draft.
Churchillbluff spends all his time looking for articles to undermine the military.
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