Posted on 03/18/2010 1:53:16 PM PDT by llevrok
SEATTLE - Since hitting dramatic lows during the depths of the Iraq war five years ago, the U.S. Army's recruting numbers are making a strong comeback.
Numbers from Seattle area recruiting offices show recruiters are successfully enlisting nearly three times the number of applicants as five years ago. The Army says in 2005 local recruiters only reached 32 percent of the goal for new enlistments. That number has grown steadily ever since and so far for 2010 the Seattle area stands at 84 percent of its goal.
This is mirroring a trend across the nation where some states are actually exceeding their recruting goals.
Many experts believe the poor economy is driving more young people to enlist because there are so few decent jobs available. The head of the Army recruiting center in Issaquah says that only tells part of the story.
"We've been seeing the numbers rise well before the start of the recession," says Sergeant First Class Jeffery Crane. Crane believes a combination of stabilization in Iraq and community support efforts across the country have made new recruits feels more secure about signing up.
The increase in recruits is also enabling to Army to toughen up its standards. The force is no longer accepting felons or recent drug abusers -- two conditions that were relaxed several years ago.
More people with better educations are also enlisting. About 90 percent of enlistees now have high school diplomas, nationwide. Locally, offices are seeing people with college diplomas and even post-graduate degrees signing on.
"They're looking for batter ways to serve their families in this economy," says Crane. "But they also want to serve their country."
Does the military count as jobs?
Huh, that’s funny, because I’m signing my OCS contract tomorrow.
“dramatic lows during the depths of the Iraq war”
THAT was not the case nationwide.
Thank you for signing up!
Thank you, soon to be sir/ma'am.!!
Numbers from Seattle area recruiting offices show recruiters are successfully enlisting nearly three times the number of applicants as five years ago....
Heck yes!.....After any time in whack left Seattle, you would want to join the military also!
Good for you.
Seattle has always been a walk in station.
“Army experiences surge in recruiting”
Usually happens in a depression.
This wasn’t supposed to happen with zero as POTUS..
You have to look carefully at these kinds of statistics.
The last time I dug into an article like this, they reported that the army was far short of its recruiting goals, without noting that their goals were dramatically increased over the previous year, recruitment was up dramatically, and it was only in playing with the numbers that you could say that they were “far short” when in fact recruitment was at an all time high.
I do know that they have raised their test scores because they evidently aren’t having any problem meeting their quotas.
Lower enlistments during Iraq. Could that just possibly be due to incessant drumfire from all parts of the US media, condemning Bush, the mission, the war, and this country. The media trumpeted each and every even MINOR boo-boo suffered by our troops, while publicizing the actual body count hourly.
Now the same young Americans are fighting in another 5th world hell-hole, but-—let’s see—WHO and WHAT occupy the seats of government. Where is the thundering criticism of HIM and the rest of the Dems? (Sound of silence)
They will probably have the last remaining good healthcare in our nation (except for the Senate/House and President’s Plan)
But you can bet that he will say due to his retreat, exit from Iraq and proposed change in don't ask/or I will scratch your eyes out, this improved enlistment rate is happening
I surprised anyone in Seattle enlists.
I am surprised anyone in Seattle enlists. They would have to give up their double latte lights.
10% unemployment creates recruits you don’t necessarily want.
The military has become one big jobs program. We are totally dependent on our tech and small special forces units to get the real work done.
This is thanks to our President. Mr. Hussein Obama. He has made jobs so difficult to find that kids are joining the military. I guess it has it’s silver lining.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.