U.S. territories hotbed for Army recruits

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. territories hotbed for Army recruits
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands, July 31 (UPI) -- The United States Army recruiters, facing dwindling enlistment numbers in the states, are finding success in U.S. territories, The New York Times reports.

High school graduates from places like Micronesia and the Philippines are signing up in droves, looking for a good paycheck.

The Army has a $5,000 minimum signing bonus and starting pay for a private is over $17,000.

Per capita income in Micronesia is about $2,000, $8,000 in American Samoa and $12,500 in the Northern Marianas.

Based in Guam, First Sgt. Olympio Magofna oversees Pacific recruiting. He sees his counterparts in the states hurting for recruits while he has time to play golf every other day.

Per capita, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa have the highest enlistment numbers in the nation, but not without a cost.
(snip/)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20050731-09090700-bc-us-territories.xml

(This is a U.P.I. story, and probably could have been far better!)

[arcos]

1. and they can't even vote...

:eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

3. As Bush would say, "Who cares what they think! "n/t

[Judi Lynn]

2. Better story:In South Pacific, U.S. Army has strong appeal

In South Pacific, U.S. Army has strong appeal
By James Brooke The New York Times

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2005


SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands By jogging at sunset on the white sands of a palm-fringed beach here, 17-year-old Audrey Bricia is doing more than toning up for her next try in this island's Miss Philippines contest. She is getting in shape for U.S. Army boot camp.

To gain an edge on the competition for enlistment, she reserved a seat two days in advance to take the army's aptitude test on a recent Saturday morning. Safely ensconced in her seat, she watched an army recruiter turn away 10 latecomers, all recent high school graduates.

"I am scared about Iraq, but I am going to have to give something in return for those benefits I want," said Bricia, a daughter of Filipino immigrants whose ambition is to attend nursing school in California.

From Pago Pago in American Samoa to Yap in Micronesia, 4,000 miles, or about 6,400 kilometers, to the west, U.S. Army recruiters are scouring the Pacific, looking for high school graduates to enlist at a time when the Iraq war is turning off many candidates in the United States.
(snip/...)

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/31/news/saipan.php

[rodeodance]

5. I will say a prayer for them.

[HereSince1628]

4. Iraq's appears more attractive than the textile sweatshops

[jody]

6. The U.S. Foreign Legion and most will have dual citizenships in the U.S.

and their native land. In some cases,they can vote in both the U.S. and their home country.

[Judi Lynn]

9. I wonder if they can be buried at Arlington. n/t

[jody]

11. Presumably yes, see

QUOTE
Eligibility
Veterans and armed forces members who die on active duty are eligible for burial in one of VA's 114 national cemeteries. An eligible veteran must have been discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and have completed the required period of service. A U.S. citizen who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in a war also may be eligible. Spouses and dependent, minor children of eligible veterans and of armed forces members also may be buried in a national cemetery.
UNQUOTE

[LibDemAlways]

7. Outsourcing cannon fodder.

A bountiful supply of soldiers from places where people have few options. The stuff of BFEE wet dreams.

[teryang]

8. I hear about recruiters from persons charged with felonies

"My recruiter says..." This was unheard of back in the "integrity is indivisible" days. Army ethics are in the trash heap.

[bemildred]

10. Colonies. Call them what they are, US colonies. nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. Fleshed out more in the NY Times piece on the subject.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4226662

[wli]

13. "service means citizenship"

... just like Starship Troopers.

[WhiteTara]

16. but just let your mom join the gold stars

if you die! Okay, I know they changed the rules, but the thought of it still rankles.

[54anickel]

14. They'd get better pay signing up with one of the "private" military

forces.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1664676

Worry Grows as Foreigners Flock to Iraq's Risky Jobs

snip>

This eye-popping advertisement recently appeared on an Iraq jobs website, posted by an American entrepreneur who hopes to supply security forces for U.S. contractors in Iraq and elsewhere.

If hired, the Colombians would join a swelling population of heavily armed private military forces working in Iraq and other global hot spots. They also would join a growing corps of workers from the developing world who are seeking higher wages in dangerous jobs, what some critics say is a troubling result of efforts by the U.S. to "outsource" its operations in Iraq and other countries.

In a telephone interview from Colombia, the entrepreneur, Jeffrey Shippy, said he saw a booming global demand for his "private army," and a lucrative business opportunity in recruiting Colombians.

Shippy, who formerly worked for DynCorp International, a major U.S. security contractor, said the Colombians were willing to work for $2,500 to $5,000 a month, compared with perhaps $10,000 or more for Americans.

snip>

The article goes on to state that the US has spent $4 billion training and supporting the "Colombian police and military". There's $734.5 million more slated for the region next year.

Tax money training Shippy's recruits, then paying them again through Shippy's firm.

Ain't capitalism and war for profit grand?! Wonder if Shippy has any relatives or connections in Bushco.

[formercia]

15. And when Iraq is over

they will come to the US to work for private security firms chasing americans. Just think, the guard at the American Gulag camp you could be interned in might not even be a US citizen. Just like The Nazis who used untermench SS to guard the death camps.