Posted on 07/25/2005 7:52:47 PM PDT by Flavius
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The head of the US armed forces, which face a sharp decline in new recruitment, called for more Americans to enlist in the military to defend their country from the dangers of global extremism. ADVERTISEMENT
General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, called recruitment "a national issue" at a press conference in Washington.
More than two years after the US invasion of Iraq, the military is comfortable with its record of retaining currently active and reserve soldiers, who total 2.4 million.
But recruiting new soldiers for what Myers called "very noble work" is a real problem for the Pentagon and the country, he said.
Despite a slight improvement in June, for instance, figures for new army recruits have fallen behind the overall target of 80,000 this year.
Pointing to the recent bombing attacks in London and Egypt, Myers stressed that the US is still engaged in a dangerous war "where the stakes are very, very high."
"Violent extremists can affect us just by creating fear which has the impact to change our way of life," he said.
"I think it's incumbent upon the leadership in this nation to continually remind people that we are a nation at war, that the United States military is heavily engaged."
Myers noted that the military has redoubled recruitment efforts by expanding advertising budgets, adding recruiters, and increasing bonuses and benefits offered to enlistees.
He said the Congress and the White House are both reviewing other proposals to enhance the Pentagon's search for new soldiers.
"It's a national effort to try to appeal to people during our time of need, to get people to raise their right hand and swear to support and defend the Constitution of this great country," he said.
"I would hope people would be attracted to that noble effort when the nation is in trouble," he said.
"I think it's a very fulfilling way to go through life."
Sure you will.
Close the borders then maybe people would actually think you were serioius about the War on Terror, and perhaps join.
Hey, do you think jane Fonda would do a Recruitment video?
Uh, I forgot...she's doing a bus tour this summer.
The only branch that was short was Army. And it wasn't that bad, and in fact may already have been made up.
Marines ahead of quota, as were the others.
Don't these news services do ANY fact-checking?
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