Army National Guard Misses Recruiting Goal Ninth Straight Month

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5133966,00.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army National Guard, a cornerstone of the U.S. force in Iraq, missed its recruiting goal for at least the ninth straight month in June and is nearly 19,000 soldiers below its authorized strength, military officials said Monday.

The Army Guard was seeking 5,032 new soldiers in June but signed up only 4,337, a 14 percent shortfall, according to statistics released Monday by the Pentagon. It is more than 10,000 soldiers behind its year-to-date goal of almost 45,000 recruits, and has missed its recruiting target during at least 17 of the last 18 months.

``The recruiting environment remains difficult in terms of economic conditions and alternatives,'' the Army said in a statement released Monday. ``We are concerned about meeting the fiscal year 2005 recruiting missions, but we are confident that our recruiting initiatives will take hold and the American public will respond.''

Jack Harrison, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, said that despite the shortfall, the service is still able to meet its commitments to the Pentagon as well as to state governors, who call on the Guard during disasters and other emergencies.

[xultar]

1. Hummm I wonder why?

[FloridaPat]

2. With all those great TV ads you would think people would be

jumping to get in - especially those repubs who are so pro-war. And the ads say you get college and they don't call you up until they really need you. Plus the reserve makes a man out of you. Sure didn't do much for * did it?

[sonicx]

College Republicans, where are you?

sign up and fight!

[Az_lefty]

3. They aren't just missing their recruiting goals...

I'm in the Guard and we're having a lot of trouble retaining soldiers. Some are simply not showing up for drill. They think that if they AWOL out their out of the Guard. Wrong! They are transferred into the IRR and can be picked up by Active Duty untits headed to Iraq.

[CottonBear]

4. Yow! They really have you by the nuts, don't they?

:scared:

[PassingFair]

10. But, but, but....

what iffin you wanna work on your pappy's friend's political campaign, or mess around doin lines for a year and a half. That's allowed. Right?
A'int it?

[leesa]

13. Doesn't Dubya owe the NG a year or so?

[Mari333]

5. Operation Yellow Elephant

http://operationyellowelephant.blogspot.com/



http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2005_06_19_patriotboy_archive.html#111924907437313848

send these young republicans an email and enlistment form

http://www.yrnc2005.com/faq/index.cfm

[blondeatlast]

6. Damn those family values! Too many young people respecting their parents,

maybe?

Those "let him be a man" commercials just do me in big time.

[Zorra]

7. Too bad there can't be a draft of young republicans. They caused this

war, and they should fight it.

I'm sure young republicans everywhere would be proud to die for Commander Cuckoobananas.

[mom cat]

8. Draft the old ones while you are at it.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. I am SO glad to be a Canuk

.
.
.

and will be forever grateful for our controversial Chretien to refuse to participate in Dubya's illegal invasion

Thank God he was at the helm at the time - I don't think our Martin would have had the cajones to turn down Booshes "your with us or against us" thingy

God bless Jean Chretien . . .

[Barkley]

11. And Hillary and Kerry other Dems want to send more troops to Iraq

So where are these extra troops supposed to come from?

[2Design]

12. June but signed up only 4,337 - do these people have a brain

Working two jobs is better than being trained to go kill people and then becoming targets for being killed - desparate times sure does bring people to do desparate things - there are lots of benefits down the road for life if they are in for 20 years - it really is a shame we don't offer more options -

I am always amazed they find anyone

Years ago after 911 - I had a student who went and signed up for marines - this guy was not the sharpest tool in the shed and very difficult to understand when he talked. He said they promised him he could work on computers - I have no idea where or what might be going on with him if he is even on the planet still

I just knew they were most likely lying.

I just have a difficult time being near recruiters - recently had one in a class I was attending - I kept having to bite my tongue
Very nice lady - and I thought they really pick them to influence these children who think they are adults because they are 17, 18, 19, 20 but who haven't thought through the consequences of their actions.

Saw one on Jay Leno show where he does his jay walking bit. Another female who did not look the part of army - more the motherly type

I was thinking today - if we paid living wages in this country to EVERYONE - would our country be less violent and safer like most of Europe - I remember travelling alone in Europe, France, scandinavian countries, italy, germany and it seemed so much safer than our major cities - and that was 20 years ago

The living wage thing is much worse now than it was 20 years ago - and getting worse every day.

Just had to put in my .02 cents - this just gets my rant on when I hear about any of it

[WhiteTara]

14. the only month they met the goal

they just reduced it to less than the number of people who had enlisted. Lowering the bar once again. I'm surprised they haven't recruited in the prisons.