Do you really think who the CIC is matters to the average 18 - 24 year old kid on the street? Do you think he/she can name him? Undoubtedly, there are some that know who he is, and it does matter to them. But I'm saying there's a significant number of kids that don't know and don't care and therefore it makes no difference on whether or not he/she will enlist. While this is sad, it is true.
One thing all these kids do know is that there's a war going on. One thing we know is that the war in Iraq is the #1 reason these kids aren't joining. In peacetime they'd be joining to get the job skills and their college paid for. But this isn't peacetime and they're well aware of it. And who the CIC is doesn't matter either way.
I will reiterate: It mattered GREATLY when I was in.
I was in from 1996 to officially 2002.
The last two years were spent "ING" -inactive national guard.
You do the math.
My entire service was spent during the Clinton years.
It mattered GREATLY to those 17 year olds.
They didn't want to go die in the Balkans because bubba wanted to take attention off of his Hoover vacuum girl.
They wanted to serve HONORABLY.
Clinton, by definition, dishonored the military every chance he got.
YES, it mattered greatly.