Lower the age restriction....you would have more than enough "old farts" to make up for it.
This will be a lib talking point for the next year. It is sad that they have to be so jubilant about anything that looks bad for the US.
Conscripts...
This will give libs something to cheer about. From my perspective, I think this is a temporary problem -- there are a number of ways to deal with it. So while I hate to take away some good cheer from our friends on the left, I really don't think it's a big deal.
The stop-loss orders have hurt. A lot of young people want to serve - but no one wants to make an open-ended committment.
USA Today could have noted a flip side to this news -- for young people with patriotism and spirit, there's never been a better time to join up. They can get some good bonuses, good job choices, and some great promotion opportunities right now.
The CIA Factbook reports that over 2.1 million Americans reach 18 ("military age") annually.
The idea that less than 4% of them will become soldiers is distressing.
It would be easy to raise the recruiting numbers by relaxing those standards a little.
From a military point of view, I don't know that it's a great idea -- for the War on Terrorism, I'd rather have few people of the highest possible caliber.
Might be time for us Freepers to do what we can. Let's make it a point to talk to any high school seniors or college students that we know and see if we can get them to at least consider meeting with a recruiter.
We could just continue to send more and more jobs overseas, keep raising college tuitions, and then eventually, the only way someone could earn money, would be to enlist!!
I think the Army is missing its biggest draw. Simply say, "We need you. Your country needs you." I think it would fill the spots. Have commercials showing the documented bravery of our soldiers. Tell the truth, "We're at war, and we our killing those who mean us and our families harm. But we need volunteers to fight."
I thought I heard that re-enlistments were up so much that the drive for new recruits hasn't been very intense.
By Jon R. Anderson, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, March 2, 2005
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps is considering bumping up the maximum bonuses it offers its enlisted troops by $5,000, according to Marine Corps officials.
Under the Corps’ proposed plan, the max bonuses for Marines would go up to $35,000 for those in Zone A and $40,000 for those in Zone B and C, each up $5,000.
Zone A covers those Marines signing their first contract following their initial enlistment.
Zone B includes those with 6 to 10 years of active service, while Zone C covers Marines with 10 to 14 years of active service.
Know why I didn't join the Army? The recruiter. I wanted to have time to think the decision over (as it *is* kind of a big decision, and as a college senior it was hardly my only option), but I was getting calls from him every day, every other day, and eventually I got tired of the hard-sell stuff. Plus, the guy sent my b*llsh*t dectector spinning. It got so bad I could barely trust a word he said.
My grandfather, after coming home from WW2, served as a recruiter for a time, and he came to realize the recruiting system was completely out of whack. With the stress recruiters are under, it's no wonder they never make their quotas.
That's too bad, it can be a good start for someone who doesn't want to go to college right away.
Maybe this is why I keep having the same bad dream that the Army tries to make me go back to active duty after being out of the Guard for 10 years. I was yelling, "but I'm 44 and I've got a bad back!".
I suspect that this is a trend (but hope not). September 11th started a fire then it cooled. The Iraq invasion got it going again but now that's cooled. The war is not looming large on too many teen-aged radar screens.
Righty_McRight
Since Feb 19, 2005
CAREFUL!
Quit putting soldiers on trial for actions in combat that tick off some reporter.
It can't possibly have anything to do with the threat of prosecution for shooting a terrorist or making him wear panties on his head, can it?