Army Expects to Miss Goals for Recruiting

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/politics/13recruit.html?pagewanted=print


Army Expects to Miss Goals for Recruiting
By REUTERS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (Reuters) - The Army posted its best recruiting month in four years in August, but will still miss its annual recruiting goal for the first time since 1999, officials said Monday.

In August, the regular Army sent more recruits to boot camp than in any other month since July 2001. But the part-time Army National Guard and Army Reserve both missed their monthly goals and will fall far short of their annual goals for the fiscal year 2005, which ends this month.

The regular Army, which is aiming for 80,000 recruits this year, was behind its year-to-date goal by the end of August, too big a deficit to make up with September's recruiting, officials said.

....

The situation was worse in the Army National Guard, which is under the command of state governors, and in the Army Reserve. These part-time troops can be called to active duty by the Pentagon; they now make up about 40 percent of the United States force in Iraq.

[sniffa]

1. that's a shame.

*yawn*

gee, y'mean that big theatricaL recruitment pitch during the NFL kickoff game didn't heLp?

(i was at the game - the haLf time show was a nationaL guard parade compLete with fLags, Love america, and we need recruits. did they show it on tv?)

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. something like 38% of the population ought to be willing to send

their sons and daughters. I wonder what the problem is?

[ladylibertee]

12. Gee I wonder why....Oh maybe because they don't want to die?

[bluestateguy]

3. That's the best news I've heard all day

That and Michael "Brownie" Brown's downfall.

Less troops=fewer warm bodies for more imperial aggression.

[petronius]

11. Except that a smaller military allows bushco to

increase its reliance on private contractors, which seems to have been Rummys plan all along...

[NNN0LHI]

4. When Chimpy's, Cheney's, & Jeb's kids all sign up my kids will consider it

Not before then.

Don

[bear425]

5. I just had the inclination to make sure you know how much

I appreciate your efforts. Thanks for tirelessly posting to keep us informed. :)

[FlemingsGhost]

6. Where are the Freedom Marchers and Freepers? (n/t)

Flem.

[hwmnbn]

7. Lo siento mucho!!.......

Who in his/her right mind would volunteer to serve under this Pretender-in-Chief?

Also, why serve for chump change when you can do the same job for Blackwater and get serious coin?

[cyr330]

8. Duh

Who the fuck wants to be a sitting duck just to squeeze an orgasm out of Dick Cheney & GWB?

[Journeyman]

9. Can anyone find in this article how many recruits. . .

Can anyone find in this article how many recruits the Army is going to be short? . . .

I find numbers and percentages for the Guard and Reserve, but all it says about the Army is that it will "fall far short of its annual goal," by an amount it "cannot make up" through September recruiting. But it doesn't say what the shortfall is. Anyone know?

[fasttense]

13. I noticed that too. n/t

[gratuitous]

10. Well, sure, they missed their *annual* goal

But you notice the librul New York Times doesn't mention that the Army far exceeded their daily goal for September 12, 2005. Four people signed up, far in excess of the two that had been projected (projection adjusted downward from previous projection of six).

Damn libruls!

[catmandu57]

14. Even after they dumbed down the numbers

They still can't make quota, either those flag waving rah rah patriots are smarter than we give credit for, or they identify with their masters enough so that it's someones elses kid who'll get blown up.