Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents

NYT ^ | June 3 05 | Damien Cave

[churchillbuff]

Two years into the war in Iraq, as the Army and Marines struggle to refill their ranks, parents have become boulders of opposition that recruiters cannot move.

Mothers and fathers around the country said they were terrified that their children would have to be killed - or kill - in a war that many see as unnecessary and without end.

At schools, they are insisting that recruiters be kept away, incensed at the access that they have to adolescents easily dazzled by incentive packages and flashy equipment.

A Department of Defense survey last November, the latest, shows that only 25 percent of parents would recommend military service to their children, down from 42 percent in August 2003.

"Parents," said one recruiter in Ohio who insisted on anonymity because the Army ordered all recruiters not to talk to reporters, "are the biggest hurdle we face."

[churchillbuff]

A neice "in law" of mine is heading to Iraq. I'd feel better about it if some kids of our national political leaders, of either party, were over there in uniform. I suspect a lot of the parents who are hassling recruiters have to wonder the same thing - - why aren't more children of the country's political leadership, in uniform in Iraq? Also, the fact there were no WMDs has to have made a lot of people question this never-ending war. Full disclosure: I've been against the Iraq invasion from the beginning (I was for concentrating more manpower and firepower against al Quada in Afghanistan; when Bush said Osama "dead or alive," I cheered - - but everybody's forgotten about the guy who did 9-11. I suspect a lot of these hostile parents have come around to my way of thinking; they don't want to lose their kids for such a dubious military adventure. AND DON'T TELL ME I'M NOT A CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO THINK THE IRAQ INVASION WAS AND IS A MISTAKE. I WALKED PRECINCTS FOR GOLDWATER, WORKED FOR NIXON CAMPAIGNS, REAGAN AND BOTH BUSHES. NEVER EVER VOTED DEMOCRAT; ALWAYS REPUBLICAN -- But I still think Iraq is a big mistake. A lot of parents agree.

[Kozak]

Already posted

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1415498/posts

[Kozak]

So how long did you serve?

[churchillbuff]

So how long did you serve?"""

You mean you have to be in the military in order to have the freedom to oppose a military policy? Maybe that's true in dictatorial countries, but not in a democracy. I opposed Clinton's Kosovo bombing - - even though I wasn't in the military. Was I not permitted to hold that opinion, either?

[Lord Nelson]

Yeah, but you are not thinking through this Michael Moore logic. What do you want the leaders of the US to do? "Son, I want you to sign up for service to deflect criticism of our war in Iraq." "OK, great idea Dad".

Since when is it up to a parent to force their child to go to war? No Senator can sign their child up for war. It's a volunteer army. It's up to the child.

Where I would agree is that a parent, and a nation, needs to be cautious about recruitment. We should never glamorize war. War is hell, right? Parents should fully explain the benefits and consequences of joining.

[ckilmer]

every time I read articles like the NY Times article you posted...It think...this is good news for the democrats.

the democrats have the viet nam scenario playing in their heads. I don't that this war is going to go by that scenario.

[churchillbuff]

Since when is it up to a parent to force their child to go to war""""

In World War II all our congress, cabinet and presidents had kids or relatives in uniform. Not now. That tells me these elite families either think they're too good for military service - - that it's something for the middle and lower classes -- or they don't view the Iraq war as essential for national security the way our involvement in WWII was (and, of course, it isn't).

[churchillbuff]

Yes, the article's from the NY Times, but it's consistent with everything I've read in recent months from any source. i.e., recruiters are having a tough time, and a lot of parents are putting up resistence. Can you cite an article, from any source, that says recruiting is not in a slump? I'd love to see that article.

[Kozak]

I thought so.

[churchillbuff]

Where and when did you serve in the military, and what branch?

[churchillbuff]

How many relatives of yours are in Iraq? Are any of you children in the military?

[churchillbuff]

I thought so.

[Kozak]

I spent 8 years in the AF.
My nephew is going to Saudi Arabia with the AF next month.

As to your right to an opinion, of course you have a right.
But opinions are like A##holes. Every has one.

[Lord Nelson]

Often sons and daughters join for the fringe benefits afterwards. Richer kids perhaps don't feel they need the military to help them get a start on life. In a way the military is a good thing for poorer people or those with limited opportunities. Most kids are probably too busy worrying about their sex life or God knows what. I don't know. I've never had the urge to join the military myself. Not one for conforming. That's just me.

[churchillbuff]

But opinions are like A##holes. Every has one."""

In a democracy, everybody has a RIGHT to an opinion. I have a right to mine - and it happens to have been borne out as pretty accurate, when you look at the mess that is Iraq today.

[FreedomCalls]

Can you cite an article, from any source, that says recruiting is not in a slump? I'd love to see that article.

Recruiting for the ARMY is in a slump. The Navy and the Air Force are continuing to exceed their goals. The Air Force just in the last year forced out 20,000 airmen because they were overmanned. Retention in the AF is at an all-time high.

[Lord Nelson]

I use to think so. Rather than look at Iraq as a mistake look at it as a battlefield between the values of the West and those of Islamo Fascism. The insurgents are being lead by Zarqawi's Al Queda. International Islam is fighting it's war against the US in Iraq. This is the United State's opportunity to disable much of the terrorist network.

[Kozak]

Lets see, the "mess" just had it's first democratic election in over 30 years. A mad dictator who killed millions is about to meet his Allah. Jihadi's from all over are flocking to the area so that we can kill them, fighting against our military instead of innocent American civilians. People like you have NO conception of history or war. Our occupation of Germany and Japan lasted a DECADE. This war against the Jihadi Islamofacists will last a long time. Unless of course we listen to people like you, who would have us declare defeat now and just surrender.

By the way I answered you question about MY military service and family stake. Now whats YOURS?

[leadpenny]

RE: The Navy and Airforce vs the Army and Marine Corps recruiting.

Does this surprise you?

(I'll check on your reply when I get home later today.)

[churchillbuff]

Lets see, the "mess" just had it's first democratic election in over 30 years"""

Yes, it's a mess - - there's essentially a civil war going on. If you go back and read the articles and predictions that were put out, pre-invasion - - including here on freerepublic -- what's going on in Iraq today is nowhere, NOTHING, like what was predicted. We were promised that a peaceful joyful greetting awaited us. NO PROLONGED INSURGENCY WAS PREDICTED. If you claim otherwise, please point to the pre-invasion article that supports you. You can't, because what we've got on our hands was never publicly forecast -- except by some generals who said we'd need a lot more men to keep down insurgents (and those generals were hooted down). As for post WWII analogy - MacArthur's Japan was nothing like Iraq today. There were some commies vying for power, but not with widespread violence and the equivalence of a civil war. "Ten years" my butt. MacArthur had the place up and running well before he was cashiered by Truman - and that was less than five years after V-J day.