Military meets, exceeds recruiting goals

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/12/06 | Pauline Jelinek - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Though Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the war in Iraq, the Pentagon said Tuesday it is having success enlisting new troops. The Navy and Air Force met their recruiting goals last month while the Army and Marine Corps exceeded theirs, the Defense Department announced.

The Army, which is bearing the brunt of the work in Iraq, did the best. It signed up 6,485 new recruits in November compared with its target of 6,150 — meaning 105 percent of its goal.

All the services turned in similar performances in October as well, meaning they so far are meeting their goals for the 2007 budget year that began Oct. 1.

"The services are starting off well," said Maj. Stewart Upton, a Pentagon spokesman.

The progress in recruiting comes as U.S. pessimism over the Iraq campaign mounts, according to a recent AP-Ipsos poll. Some 63 percent of Americans said they don't expect a stable, democratic government to be established in Iraq, up from 54 percent who felt that way in June.

Dissatisfaction with President Bush's handling of Iraq has climbed to an all-time high of 71 percent, according to the AP-Ipsos survey this month. A bipartisan commission last week released its recommendations for a new course and the president held a series of meetings this week to hear from his advisers.

According to figures released Tuesday by the Pentagon, the Navy signed up 2,887 recruits last month, or 100 percent of its goal; Marines signed up 2,095, or 104 percent of its 2,012 target and the Air Force signed up all 1,877 it was seeking.

The Army also met its goal in the 2006 budget year after missing its target in fiscal year 2005 for the first time since 1999. It added recruiters and offered recruits bonuses to help attract more to the service.

The Army has been recruiting about 80,000 people a year, setting differing monthly goals depending on the time of the year.

Though the active services are doing well, recruiting has lagged for the Army Reserve and Navy Reserve, officials said.

The Army Reserve last month signed up 1,888, or just 79 percent of its 2,376 goal and the Navy Reserve signed up 687 recruits, or just 91 percent of its 755 goal.

___

On the Net:

Defense Department http://www.defenselink.mil

[Democratshavenobrains]

Recruiting meets its quota-Libs say its because of bad economy and most of the recruits are neo-nazi gang members.

Recruiting doesn't meet its quota-Libs say our military is scared of the big bad Iraqis.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

As we say in Wisconsin, "You're Lawrence Welkum!"

Somehow, traveling the world appealed to me more at age 18 than spending FOUR YEARS in Iowa, LOL!

[Eastbound]

"I feel a major conflict is in the making and we best be prepared for it."

Agree absolutely. I'll go further and say that it's just as vital to elect a retired military professional as our next president. Scouts out! Time's a'waistin'.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Wonder if this has any economic reasons for happening, as in the economy is not really doing as well as some reporting.

OK, 'fess up!

You're either Jon Carry or Charlie Rangel!

[Reagan Man]

>>>> ... the Pentagon said Tuesday it is having success enlisting new troops.

Freedom of choice is a great right.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

TANKS fer the Funi,LOLROF;0)

[Brilliant]

John Kerry: "There sure are a lot of dumb people in America."

Charles Rangel: "Only black people join the military."

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

What, you don't like it when your ideas or thoughts are challenged?

[lawdude]

"Wonder if this has any economic reasons for happening, as in the economy is not really doing as well as some reporting."

What real indications of economic slowdown do you see to support that? I see nothing but positive economic conditions with slowdown on the side.

[RWB Patriot]

I wonder if this will have any effect on my chances of getting in.

[ohioWfan]

Where are you getting your information about the economy? It's doing far better than has been reported.

As for the military, since the war in Iraq began, the ratio of wealthy to poor has increased. In other words, the war has caused more upper middle class enlistments and less poor.

So you're wrong on all counts.

[ohioWfan]

I guess discussing ideas/thoughts are not allowed on this thread. Sorry

LOL! What you said was an 'idea' and what kinghorse said about young people loving their country is not?

How exactly do you make that work?

Defend your hypothesis with some facts, dakine. I'd really like to know what you have to back up your 'idea' that the economy is bad and that people are enlisting because of economic need.

(While research proves quite the opposite).

[ohioWfan]

Here is some information from the Heritage Foundation from 2005 to refute your hypothesis.

There's lots more out there if you need it to further correct your 'idea.'

[MNJohnnie]

Let not kid ourselves, we are at war. It easy to demand perfect standards when you are not at war. Seems to me the people who scream loudest about "The American people need to realize we are at war and make sacrifices" should not also then turn around be the same people trash talking every single issue related to the war.

[MNJohnnie]

Back to the Top

[tang-soo]

It's odd, I don't remember the msm doing this monthly analysis during the clintoon years.

[MNJohnnie]

Don't waste your time. dakine here makes punk comments and runs away. Just another one of those people who finds it amusing to pick fights rather then actually try discussing any issue rationally.

Lower average unemployment rate then the Clinton years. Longest sustained GDP growth since the 1980s, Average wages increasing, highest per capita private home ownership, etc etc etc. But dakine will simply ignore all the Economic facts since that is not what his paymasters at the DNC tell him to scream.

[ohioWfan]

I'm not sure how 'punk' his comments are, but they certainly are uneducated....

THIS article is from today.

Paints a little different picture than dakine is trying to portray.

I always wonder if these naysayers are DNC plants. I seriously do.....

[ohioWfan]

btw, the RATS have to hate the words "BUSH BOOM".

Apparently it sends some of them running...... :)

[antiunion person]

Diana, I praise your loyalty to our country and also praise you for your service to her.

I joined in 1978, seven days after my last drinking binge as a free man and eight days after graduating high school. I was disappointed not to fight in Viet Nam, as strange as that sounds now. I went to school to be a military police officer, airborne, Ranger, and a sniper. I was involved in three operations during my time in the Army. I was wounded in Germany in 1985 and medically discharged in 1987. I loved the lifestyle in the Army. I loved serving my country. I was proud to protect my country and other countries from communism and any other threat to her. I would rejoin today if I could, but my disabilities won't allow me to.
Every time I see a veteran or active duty military person, I go out of my way to go over to them, shake their hand and thank them for their service to a country who, for the most part now, don't want them to WIN in Iraq and Afghanistan. I dislike and distrust any politician that doesn't WANT a victory, i.e: sKerry, Pelois, etc.... I can't understand why Washington won't let the generals do what they are supposed to do. Kill the enemy and win the war.
Lastly, I apologize to FR'ers for me carrying on. God love us and our country. May He help the politicians see what they are doing is wrong and may He protect the service personnel from danger while they do their duty.