Posted on 06/28/2005 6:47:21 PM PDT by Gucho
U.S. Army ends 4-month recruiting slump in June
29 Jun 2005 21:27:08 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army, hard pressed to attract new soldiers amid the Iraq war, exceeded its monthly recruiting goal in June, ending four straight months of shortfalls, the top U.S. military officer said on Wednesday.
But the active-duty Army, three-quarters through fiscal 2005, remained 14 percent -- about 7,800 recruits -- behind its year-to-date target and was in danger of missing its first annual recruiting goal since 1999, officials said. Its goal for fiscal 2005, ending on Sept. 30, is 80,000 recruits.
"I will tell you that for the month of June, the United States Army active recruiting is over 100 percent of its goal, which is a turnaround from where they've been the last several months," Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told an audience of Pentagon employees.
"So there's a bit of good news in here. We'll see how it works out the rest of the year," Myers added.
Army officials have been expressing optimism about a recruiting turnaround in the summer months after high school graduates begin to decide on careers.
Myers did not give specific figures, but military officials provided preliminary data showing the active-duty Army exceeded its June recruiting goal of 5,650 by 507 and the Army Reserve, made up of part-time soldiers, topped its June target of 3,610 by 41.
The final numbers for June, set to be released July 11, could be slightly different, officials said.
The Army Reserve remained about 2,350 behind its year-to-date target through the end of June. Its fiscal 2005 goal is 22,175 recruits, officials said.
RECRUITS AND FAMILIES
The Army provides most of the U.S. ground troops in the Iraq war, in which more than 1,730 U.S. troops have been killed, with the Marine Corps providing a lesser number. Army officials have said potential recruits and their families have been wary of service during the Iraq war, and civilian job opportunities also are affecting recruiting.
In May, the active-duty Army lowered its recruiting goal and still missed it by 25 percent. It also fell short in February, March and April.
The Iraq war represents the first test of the all-volunteer U.S. military during a protracted war.
Some defense analysts have argued the United States may have to consider reviving the draft, abolished in 1973 during the tumult of the Vietnam War, if the military is unable to attract sufficient numbers of recruits. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other members of the Bush administration have vigorously opposed the resumption of the draft.
Myers' comments came a day before Army officials were set to testify before Congress about recruiting problems.
Myers noted that re-enlistment among current troops has been solid at the same time that recruiting new soldiers has been a challenge. He said the military has sweetened financial incentives to enlist and added thousands of recruiters.
During his speech to the nation about Iraq on Tuesday night from the Army's Fort Bragg in North Carolina, President George W. Bush delivered a pitch for military service.
"We live in freedom because every generation has produced patriots willing to serve a cause greater than themselves. Those who serve today are taking their rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our nation's uniform," Bush said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29309820.htm
AlertNet news
Post #41.
As GWB put in a pitch for young folk to consider serving their county in uniform we surely shall see some Leninist such as
N. Pelosi probably work with anti war groups to try to discourge those who would serve to instead go to some liberal college for their final indoctrination phase in becoming socialist.
Such diametrically opposing forces of ideologies. The democratic party has perhaps no concept as how well they work toward bringing down this nation. Since the early sixtees they have created a fifth column movement in essence that any communist would be proud of joining. And the crowds continue to flock to them, not knowing the underlining evils that await them.
To much in other articles to quote on Gucho. But thanks for posts.
General Encourages Military Recruitment
By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jun 29, 4:46 PM ET
WASHINGTON - America's parents should not stand in the way of sons and daughters who want to join the military, but should let them follow their patriotic instincts, the nation's No. 2 general said Wednesday.
"Those who are looking to serve this country should be encouraged to do so," said Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A Marine whose son also is in the Marine Corps, Pace said the key is "to encourage our young people ... to come forward to help defend this nation ... and to encourage the families of those young folks to let them follow their instincts."
Coming amid Pentagon recruiting problems, his comments followed a direct appeal just hours earlier by President Bush for more people to enlist in the armed forces.
The Pentagon has been suffering manpower strains because of the simultaneous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army has been particularly hurt by the slowly mounting U.S. casualties — more than 1,700 in Iraq alone — a toll that may be discouraging young people from getting involved in land combat.
All four of the main military services are having trouble attracting recruits to their reserve forces. Pentagon officials said Wednesday that the Army expected to meet its recruiting goal for June, following four straight months of missing its targets despite adding a recruiting bonus and other incentives.
"This is not about money, it's about message," Pace told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be chairman of the joint chiefs. "It's about our young folks in this country understanding that we truly are at war with an enemy that seeks to eliminate the way we live."
Polls by the Pentagon and others show that while military-age people may be inclined to enlist, it is often their parents who consider it a bad idea.
In an Associated Press poll this month more than half of those surveyed said they would discourage a son from enlisting in the military, while two-thirds said they would discourage a daughter from joining.
In Tuesday's televised speech to the nation about Iraq, Bush spoke directly to potential recruits.
"To those watching tonight who are considering a military career, there is no higher calling than service in our armed forces," he said. "We live in freedom because every generation has produced patriots willing to serve a cause greater than themselves."
Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey said earlier this year that the service would work to draw more recruits by trying an appeal to patriotic parents who might encourage their children to enlist.
Harvey said he was encouraging members of Congress as well as senior Army leaders and Army boosters to spend time in local communities touting the benefits of military service.
Pace said the younger generation needs to be encouraged by society's leaders.
"I believe there is sufficient love of country, desire to serve, that if encouraged properly by the leadership — and if sent to do missions that are understood to be good and supported — that we'll continue to fill the ranks of our services," he said.
Pace noted that among those already serving, re-enlistment rates are high.
"Those who are in uniform serving this country get it. They understand what they're doing, they understand the value," Pace said.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050629/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_recruiting_1
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