For the Few and the Proud, Concern Over the 'Few' Part -NYT

[Rose Siding]

The Iraq war's dampening effect on recruiting has led to a plan by the Marine Corps to put hundreds of additional recruiters on the streets over the next several months and offer new re-enlistment bonuses of up to $35,000, military officials said Thursday.

Recruiters and other military officials say the "Falluja effect" - a steady drumbeat of military casualties from Iraq, punctuated by graphic televised images of urban combat - is searing an image into the public eye that Marine officers say is difficult to overcome.
...
The Army and other services have often increased the number of recruiters and dangled incentives to bolster their enlistment efforts in lean years. But for the Marines, steps of this magnitude, including the largest one-time increase in recruiters in recent memory, are unheard of in a service whose macho image has historically been a magnet for young people seeking adventure and danger in a military career.
...
At issue is the Marines' decision to rebuild its recruiting ranks, which had fallen recently to 2,410 full-time recruiters from 2,650 before the Iraq war, as commanders siphoned off marines who had been scheduled for recruiting duty to perform combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/politics/25marine.html?

[bluestateguy]

1. This is not a problem

I know how to fix the Marines problem.

Just send recruiters around to college campuses around the country and stop by the College Republicans table in the student union at lunch time.

I'm sure they will find many willing recruits from their ranks.

[RamboLiberal]

3. Our College DU'ers should get some enlistment forms and brochures

And hand them out at the Young Repuke's tables. Be sure to bring someone to video!

I'd love to see a filmmaker like Michael Moore do this as well.

[Neshanic]

11. I want to see that on film too. The reasons for not serving would be

amazing.

[clydefrand]

2. Guess people don't want to risk getting killed or maimed for

a problem created by a lying administration. I don't blame them one bit. Why don't they enlist all of their sons and daughters, nieces and nephews? I'm sure they wouldn't mind giving them up for their worthy cause...after all, they keep telling us that freedom isn't free.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Having a recruit die in boot camp does not help either!

Why do we tolerate the abuse of recruits? How does this help at all in unit cohesion? There is something very psychotic about the way military training is conducted in this country.

[LynnTheDem]

5. Yes, Reality can be very difficult to overcome, indeed.

And Death is almost impossible to overcome.

[proud patriot]

6. Draft Young Republicans

that should solve the problem

[Straight Shooter]

7. "Draft Old Republicans"

They started it.

[marmar]

8. Not only have Bush & the neocons...

erased a huge budget surplus, created a record debt, structurally damaged the American economy, led us into a foolish pre-emptive war, pissed off longtime allies, launched an assault on the environment, attempted to write discrimination into the Constitution and obliterated the church/state line, they have now ruined the one thing they claimed was their strong suit - the armed forces.
I know that eventually every Rome burns, but they're pouring gasoline on this one!

:nopity:

[leftchick]

9. graphic televised images of urban combat ????

give me a fucking break fellas. We have virtually NO coverage of the carnage in Iraq. PPfftt!

[Disturbed]

10. One of my daughters tried to sign up.

When she told the recruiter that she is Gay they told her that she is not eligible. She has filed a law suit on her campus against this discrimatory policy.

[JoFerret]

12. Last line - recruiters being shipped out

Kharma.