Army faces worst recruiting slump in years

[soup]

Sep 30, 3:47 AM EDT

Army faces worst recruiting slump in years

By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army is closing the books on one of the leanest recruiting years since it became an all-volunteer service three decades ago, missing its enlistment target by the largest margin since 1979 and raising questions about its plans for growth.

Many in Congress believe the Army needs to get bigger - perhaps by 50,000 soldiers over its current 1 million - in order to meet its many overseas commitments, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army already is on a path to add 30,000 soldiers, but even that will be hard to achieve if recruiters cannot persuade more to join the service.

Officials insist the slump is not a crisis.
>snip<

The Army has not published official figures yet, but it apparently finished the 12-month counting period that ends Friday with about 73,000 recruits. Its goal was 80,000. A gap of 7,000 enlistees would be the largest - in absolute number as well as in percentage terms - since 1979, according to Army records.

The Army National Guard and the Army Reserve, which are smaller than the regular Army, had even worse results.
>snip<

The factors working against the Army, Hilferty said, are a strong national economy that offers young people other choices, and "continued negative news from the Middle East." To offset that the Army has vastly increased the number of recruiters on the street, offered bigger signup bonuses and boosted advertising.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ARMY_RECRUITING_SLUMP?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-09-30-03-47-30

---

Opt Out
http://www.militaryfreezone.org/opt_out

Resource Center for Nonviolence
http://www.rcnv.org/counterrecruit/optout/

Students and Recruiting
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/militarism-in-schools/default.htm

[bluestateguy]

1. Good

Starve the beast, and then dare these Nazis to just try and bring back the draft. Bring it on.

[soup]

4. What If They Gave a War and Nobody Came...

The Sixties Project Presents:
Decade of Protest
Political Posters from the United States, Cuba and Viet Nam
1965-1975
http://lists.village.virginia.edu/sixties/HTML_docs/Exhibits/Track16.html


http://lists.village.virginia.edu/sixties/HTML_docs/Exhibits/Track16/nobody_came.html

[ClintonTyree]

2. They can never resist a chance to inject propaganda.......

"The factors working against the Army, Hilferty said, are a strong national economy that offers young people other choices, and "continued negative news from the Middle East." To offset that the Army has vastly increased the number of recruiters on the street, offered bigger signup bonuses and boosted advertising."

Strong national economy? :wtf: WHERE? India? Mexico? It sure isn't here, unless you want to work 3 part-time service jobs with no benefits that is. Yeah, the bush economic miracle is amazing, isn't it? :eyes:

[soup]

7. Yep.

So many choices

You want fries with that?
Paper or plastic?
If I sell just one more magazine subscription, I win a trip to Disney.

It's been awhile since the person delivering the pizza was a teenager.

[yorkiemommie1]

79. the person who delivers pizza to my daughter is a very old man

i've seen elderly pizza delivery men on my street also. maybe they're doing it to 'keep active' or possibly just to survive.

[northzax]

35. hey, when the alternative is dying in a desert

it doesn't take much to see the economy is just fine, thanks. oh, and as for the "bad news" turns out that like most people, Americans don't like to join the losing team. Right now we're losing.

[The Doctor.]

60. And we're losing because of people like you!

You darn truthtellers!

Don't you realize that it's not the economy that's causing us to lose the war, it's not the bald incompetence of the leaders and commanders... it's YOU!

If YOU wouldn't insist on making sure that people knew the truth, if you would just let us manipulate information to our heart's content, then we could get every gung-ho American man, woman, and teenager pushing for victory in the Middle East and insure our control of the world's oil market before the big global-economic crash!

But you peacenik, liberal, altruistic bastards take all the access to information that living in this great country has afforded you and use it to push things like 'facts', the 'rule of law', and ideas of 'international cooperation' on the rest of the country!

HOW DARE YOU!!!

And now, at the most critical moment in the history of the Human Race, when ONE country could stand up and TAKE CONTROL OF THE DESTINY OF THE WORLD, you spread the truth like a bullet through the heart of an agenda greater in ambition than that of the Nazis, Greater in scope than ever Alexander could conceive, and even more intricate than Bismark could ever have managed.

This country is doomed because we have no tools to discredit your truth. Your facts are unassailable. Your morality is beyond reproach. Your ethics are unimpeachable. Your forthright stride is undaunted. And therefore... your utmost agenda is inexorable.

And now we will all pay for your blind dedication to studied and factual righteousness with decades of misery and shame. Our country will become the beggar at the world's door waiting for the day when finally the rest of the world adopts the real values of truth, kindness, and righteous brotherhood this country was meant to represent.

But at the very threshold of attainment, you, the very product of this magnificent American experiment, railed against the methods by which we might have brought our dear democratic progeny to the world.

We could have delivered that very thing to the world with our own corrupt and despotic hands...

SO WHAT if America was meant to represent honesty?
SO WHAT if we had to despoil our own land to achieve greatness?
So what if we needed to bend the rules?

This country could have been the harbinger of an eternal and enlightened Human Race.

But the very machinations which nearly brought this about were anathema to the culture we created....

And by 'we', I mean our forefathers.

We created a culture of equality and curtailed our ability to demonize others.
We created a system of free speech and lost control of information.
We created a system of representation and made it possible for too many chefs to stir the pot.

So it's YOUR fault for being everything America was supposed to be. YOU are responsible for telling the truth on the dawn of a dark new age.

And we will all pay.

Because so many of you never wanted to hear...

"Intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and the very security of our nation. The energy crisis is real. It is worldwide. It is a clear and present danger to our nation. These are facts and we simply must face them.
I am tonight setting a clear goal for the energy policy of the United States. Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did -- never. From now on, every new addition to our demand for energy will be met from our own production and our own conservation. The generation-long growth in our dependence on foreign oil will be stopped dead in its tracks right now and then reversed as we move through the , for I am tonight setting the further goal of cutting our dependence on foreign oil by one-half by the end of the next decade --

To give us energy security, I am asking for the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation's history to develop America's own alternative sources of fuel -- from coal, from oil shale, from plant products for gasohol, from unconventional gas, from the sun.

These efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. Unlike the billions of dollars that we ship to foreign countries to pay for foreign oil, these funds will be paid by Americans to Americans. These funds will go to fight, not to increase, inflation and unemployment."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/filmmore/ps_crisis.html

No, we won power by catering to the insatiable appetite of the American Marketplace...

And now we're going to pay.

And it's all your fault for being everything America was supposed to be.

- A. Conservative.

[northzax]

61. hah! believe me

if I was in Iraq, I would be much more to blame for us 'losing the war' since I'd make a pitiful soldier!

[CanOfWhoopAss]

3. kinda like gas. recruitment is down but the cost of recruitment is way up

[soup]

8. Well said.

It's hard to find the 'good news' when the price continues to rise.

1,933
http://icasualties.org/oif/

[superconnected]

55. rofl

good one.

[cornermouse]

5. The explanation for all the pro-NCLB and pro-sign up for an

education and future/anti-peace because that's harming the troops-letters that have been appearing in the local paper.

[soup]

9. When I read those letters,

I can't help but think, 'What greater harm can there be than to die for a lie?'.

[cornermouse]

10. (sigh) I know.

Even the writers know it. That says something about their character or lack thereof.

I don't know why they're so eager to let the military have access to our kids at an age when they don't realize what they're getting into.

[reprobate]

34. Because they have to get them before they mature.

The human brain doesn't reach maturity until age 25. You have to get them before that or you can't unculcate your lies into their brains. A mature brain has to capacity to think for itself, and thereby tell you to go stuff it!

[not fooled]

64. Yeah, confused, underinformed,

adrenaline-addled, testosterone-laden kids...those are the military's prey. God Bless 'Murka!

[Binka]

6. Gee I Wonder Why

Duh!

[soup]

11. Oh, Binka,

Whenever I see one of your posts, a little prayer goes up for your son, Ben.

Hope you don't mind. :hug:

[Binka]

13. Thank You Soup

Crying again.:hug:

[Kolesar]

12. That's regular Army--the National Guard is about to "walk out" on Bush

It would be one thing to use the Guard for Afghanistan, but sending tens of thousands of Guard and Reserves to the Iraqi folly will cause the citizen soldiers to quit ASAP.

[truthisfreedom]

14. oh my god. i just realized something. these insane motherfo's are keeping

track of every last aging, retired, but still deployable old fart to describe their numbers... 1 million people? that means everyone up to 70 years old who could be called up in the event of total collapse of the USA.

anyone know what i'm saying?

[HawkerHurricane]

23. Yes.

As one of the aging, retired but still deployable old farts, I know.

[wellstone_democrat]

37. Surprising who is actually "deployable"

Out of curiosity, I asked a well-enough placed old friend at the Pentagon if I, 25 years out of the AF could ever be called up given the odd stories of the past two years. He laughed and said "no!"

A week later he gave me a call and said: "actually, under certain circumstances..." Seems that if they run out of the usual suspects (IRR, Res, some retired, etc) that having been "already trained" and a vet, there was indeed a contingency plan fully in place to call up people like me before a "conventional draft"

I have to say I find that hilarious in all sorts of ways---not the least of which is that it would in fact be a draft (I'm long beyond my Inactive Reserve status) of a 47 year old woman. They'll get a little surprise though: I'm not the naive pliable kid I was way-back-when. I'm not stupid enough to defy them and go to jail but I am smart enough to drive 'em nuts. Come and get me Georgie! You will likely be sorry

[UncleSepp]

53. Call out the Volkssturm and mobilize the Boy Scouts!

I wonder if the White House staff are going to have to sneak out using the tunnels... :: evil chuckle ::

[6th Borough]

57. 1st, give 'em a catchy, fearsome nickname like "Wolf Brigades". /EOM

[pokercat999]

63. Please oh please Gorgie boy call me up

I know something these kids might not....a bullet doesn't CARE who it kills.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. well duh

I think a lot of people got thinking about the "noble cause" and said "Not for me!"

[Tom Joad]

16. YAY! But the Democrats want to add 100,000 troops to active duty

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1105930.php

"While some Democrats have called for a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, the leadership plan calls for adding troops, increasing efforts to train Iraqi security forces and trying to get more allies involved without any premature pullouts."

That is from the leadership folks. I don't like it, but there it is.

I say that immediate pullout is good. No staying the course in an illegal war.

[reprobate]

40. I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a Democrat.

But I can't say that any longer. IMO the party has left me and all those that believe what JFK stood for. They have become nothing more than "Me too" republicans. And it's all thanks to the DLC.

I fart in the general direction of the DLC.

They are responsible for the dissolution of the principles of the United States of America. Oh, sure, we can blame the repugs, but it's the job of the Dem's in a situation like this to be the opposition party. If there is no opposition, it's no wonder the repugs have it all their way.

The United States of America was destroyed in January of 2001 when the Extreme Kangaroo Court somehow came up with a decision that defies any logic, in favor of someone who the five had close ties to. The five should be tried for Treason. Even the dead one. Try him and then kill his corpse.

I just don't know what level of anger is appropriate for the intentional destruction of my nation, one in which I grew up to be proud of our traditions and history. I get the feeling that the German population of the late thirties felt this way. It just defies expression.

And the absolute hell of it is that it wasn't just the republican crime syndicate that is responsible. MY party aided and abetted them by not obstructing them. A pox on the leadership of the current Democrat Party. I accuse them ALSO of treason. The treason of inaction.

[sendero]

17. Strong national economy?

What a deludinoid!

Here's the simple fact. Even freepers don't want to:

Be as Dead as You Can Be

Accelerate your Death

The Few, the Proud, the Dead

An Army of None

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

20. Well, they have to spin the "strong economy" because it really looks bad

when citizens would rather struggle in a lousy economy than join the military.

MKJ

[TrogL]

44. Anybody who thinks the US has a "strong economy"

...should read the links in today's Stock Market Watch thread on LBN.

Even the most whirling Dervish of a spinner is saying "it doesn't suck quite as bad as last month".

[fasttense]

18. If these idiots had done their jobs then we wouldn't be in this mess

They should have gone into Iraq like they were fighting a war, not like they were having a party. Rumsfeld has absolutely no idea what he is doing. If we had gone in with the troop strength we needed and sealed the Iraq borders we would be out of Iraq right now. Instead we have turned Iraq into another little Vietnam that politicians think they fight. Let the Generals fight the war not the politicians. I thought we learned that lesson in Vietnam.

But we didn't so this is going to end as badly as Vietnam ended.

[MisterP]

58. rubbish: there's no way to win a war grounded in lies

and the fighters are all native

[texpatriot2004]

19. Send the rich and the people who voted for this lying lunatic * n/t

[rodeodance]

21. not to worry, the military will come up with schemes.

[rodeodance]

22. other choices?---like not to get blown up?

......"The factors working against the Army, Hilferty said, are a strong national economy that offers young people other choices,

[soup]

24. Didn't they lower the numbers earlier this year

to meet the quota? Something is saying round about May or June, when they were also reviewing recruiting methods.

Delayed entry program doesn't look like it's going well, either.


>>The outlook is dimmed by several key factors, including:

- The daily reports of American deaths in Iraq and the uncertain nature of the struggle against the insurgency have put a damper on young people's enthusiasm for joining the military, according to opinion surveys.

- The Army has a smaller-then-usual reservoir of enlistees as it begins the new recruiting year on Saturday. This pool comes from what the Army calls its delayed-entry program in which recruits commit to join the Army on condition that they ship to boot camp some months later.

Normally that pool is large enough at the start of the recruiting year to fill one-quarter of the Army's full-year need. But it has dwindled so low that the Army is starting its new recruiting year with perhaps only 5 percent "in the bank." The official figure on delayed entry recruits has not been released publicly, although Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, has said it is the smallest in history.<<

[Brother Buzz]

76. The numbers are now being carefully massaged by civilians in the Pentagon

specifically - Rumsfeld and Lawrence DiRita (and you can bet your sweet bippy they control them for political purposes)


Individual services no longer authorized to announce numbers at beginning of the month


http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-892069.php



The Army and Marine Corps, as they struggle with recruiting shortfalls, will no longer announce their monthly recruiting numbers at the beginning of each month.

Instead, the Defense Department will approve the release of recruiting statistics for all four services. Normally, each service releases its monthly statistics at the beginning of each month, but a spokesman for Marine Corps Recruiting Command said on Wednesday that he was no longer authorized to do so.

In April, the Corps missed its contracting goal by 260 contracts — falling 9 percent shy of its goal to enlist 2,971 recruits — marking the fourth month in a row that the Corps missed its contracting goal.

But whether the Corps was able to turn that around in May will not be known until the Defense Department releases the statistics June 10, said Maj. David Griesmer.

The change will ensure consistency and give Pentagon officials time to review the data, Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said on Wednesday.

“We just wanted to release all the information at the same time. It’s all the numbers at once, instead of one service coming out on this day of the month and another service coming out on another day of the month,” Krenke said.

Under the old system, the individual service statistics were released before Pentagon leadership could review them, she said.

She said the Defense Department will begin releasing recruiting statistics for all of the services and the Guard and reserve, which handled them separately before.

But another Pentagon spokesman contacted Marine Corps Times on Friday and said that the Defense Department was not taking over the releasing of the information. Jim Turner said the services will continue to release their own statistics but were merely coordinating the release date for the 10th of each month.

Of all the services, the Army is struggling the most to meet its recruiting goals. In April, it made just 58 percent of its active accession mission. Its goal for that month was to ship 6,600 recruits, but only 3,821 recruits shipped up for service.

For the Corps, the shortfalls began in January, when it missed its contracting goal for the first time in almost a decade. While the amount of new contracts has fallen short, the Corps’ shipping goal — the number of recruits who actually show up at boot camp each month — has not yet suffered.

Corps officials have said that as long as the contracting shortages do not continue, the Corps could still make its goals for the year.

[sofa king]

25. What, is it "Obvious News Day"?

No offense to the original poster intended at all. I'm just noticing some of the latest breaking news today. To paraphrase:

Just Like Sodomy Victims, Drivers Decide Smaller Is Better

Armed Forces Perplexed By Peoples' Unwillingness to Die in Bullshit War

General: Bullshit War a Bad Idea

Iraqi Troop Readiness Declines As Trained Iraqi Troops Join Terrorists

Homophobic Governor Vetoes Gay Marriage Bill

Reverend Moon Says Something Stupid, Crazy

Well great. Allow me to rub off the crystal ball and see what else the press has planned for the end of this news cycle:

Republicans Blame Democrats for Bringing Attention to Corruption

30 Years Later, Fusion Power Sill 30 Years Away

Ignorant Middle Americans Perplexed by Declining Fortunes Under Rule of Wealthy, Dishonest Elite

Flying Car Still Not For Sale

[ragin_acadian]

26. too funny! you should post something like this everyday!

[soup]

27. ~snort~

~giggle~

LOL

:rofl:

Oh, thank you for that. Can't begin to tell you how badly I needed to laugh this morning.

Rain still wet.

Sun to set in the west today.

Dogs bark! Cats meow!


Here's the shocker:



Ice cream melts

[not fooled]

65. * w/foodstuffs?

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Bushknew]

28. Army's Recruiting Lowest in 26 Years

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,77951,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl

WASHINGTON - The Army is closing the books on one of the leanest recruiting years since it became an all-volunteer service three decades ago, missing its enlistment target by the largest margin since 1979 and raising questions about its plans for growth.

Many in Congress believe the Army needs to get bigger - perhaps by 50,000 soldiers over its current 1 million - in order to meet its many overseas commitments, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army already is on a path to add 30,000 soldiers, but even that will be hard to achieve if recruiters cannot persuade more to join the service.

Officials insist the slump is not a crisis.

[dhinojosa]

29. What a pic....hahaha

[Bushknew]

31. The world must see the new Abu Ghraib pictures /NT

[The_Casual_Observer]

30. This was a big story last spring, but apparently they are supressing

now. They don't release the figures like they used to.

[Blue_Tires]

32. lol...brilliant n/t

[symbolman]

78. I laid a coffin with a flag, a flower and a headstone

that said ARMY OF ONE in front of that place in Times Square - got it all on tape too, the Recruiter was NOT happy, tried to get the cops to come over but they were laughing - later they did, but it took some cajoling...

We took the coffin and slow walked it all the way down Times Square and everyone got the picture, it was GREAT..

The recruiter tried to tell me I was on private property, I told him bullshit, this is a Grate over the subway, that's public - turns out they "own" that whole little triangle of DEATH in the middle of the road - where they show kids "skateboarding into Iraq" future VEAL, like it's FUN to "Acelerate your DEATH"..

Gave a little speech in front of the casket and the 40 foot tall screen, "You're not dying for America, you're dying for RICH WHITE GUYS.."

[classysassy]

33. Oh my

will this shameless bunch of thugs send their recruiters into the prisons in search of recruits.?

[soup]

69. My brother was Born in the USA'd

"got in a little hometown jam
so they put a rifle in ~his hands"

--

I've mentioned this before - so apologies that I'm repeating myself:

Can't remember the particulars, 1970 or 71 - think it had to do with underage drinking - He was given a choice, and he enlisted in the Army.

--

Do the courts still offer an 'enlistment alternative'?

[leftchick]

36. worst in DECADES!

keep trying to down play it AP. :eyes:

[ElectroPrincess]

38. Wait! Here's a thought ....

[leftchick]

39. Is that real EP?

Excellent. It reminds me of one of my favorite posters last weekend in DC...

"Let bush finish the job and go to Iraq to complete his Guard duty"!

[ElectroPrincess]

41. I don't know for sure ...

I can only speak for myself but as an Army Veteran, I am literally depressed at how our Armed Forces have been misused by George W. Bush.

My father (combat engineer - WWII) used to brag about how the Nazis would rush to turn themselves over the American troops because the Russians had a reputation for being brutal.

I did love military life and made a number of lifelong friends and other acquaintances who I will never forget. Many fellow vets tell me that I'm not far off the mark:

GWB as the USA's Commander-in-Chief is an embarrassment to those who served honorably in the USA armed forces, past and present.

Again, I don't know for sure, but I also don't find it difficult to believe that this is "real" (an active duty soldier sporting the "draft dubya" sign).

Just an FYI: Don't believe how the corporate USA media presents the Active Duty Military! They are a much more diverse group than these media whores would like the sheeple to believe.

[ptolle]

42. real

AS a veteran of a previous military misadventure I have no problem believing this "real". From what one can see this guy is humping it out in what passes for the boonies in that forsaken place and there's not likely to be much in the way of officers to report such sentiment, nor perhaps much inclination as it might be shared by a lot of the troops. I also suspect that this soldier is evidencing an attitude I saw a lot in the sun and fun capitol of southeast asia-namely "whaddya gonna do to me send me to(insert current war zone here).

[0007]

43. A strong national economy?

How was recruiting then during the Clinton?

Hello!! Anybody home!

[IChing]

45. But, now you can get 3 free iTunes!!!!!!!!

So it's bound to go up!!!!!

http://www.clk4.com/NGD_10359/index.cgi

[YOY]

52. 4 Years of my life in possibly hazardous dutues...

but I GET FREE MUSIC! HELLZ YEA!!! SIGN ME UP NOW! I may die, but hey I gots the Britney songs!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Seriously, nice to know that the record companies are "doing their part." :sarcasm:

[IChing]

56. Hurry, it's a limited time offer !!!!! LOL

You have only until Oct. 15 to get those Britney or Clint Black tunes so you better be quick.
I have the application here if you want I finished my comments.



I feld out the form for my Toby Mcquire, Ted nugant, and Clint Black songs
I cant wait to get them for my collection and get to see some cool people come to my house or middle school and talk to me.

Here is the form I feld out from the link!!!!!!


Must be 18 years or older

Sex: YES Male: Female:

High school Diploma or G.E.D. Yes No I don't know what GED????
If not, last grade completed:

Sorta finished up the 8th grade!!!!!!!

What interests you about the Army National Guard?

Money for College: Patriotism:
Community Service : Job Skills: Other: THE FREE ITUNES!!!!!!!!!!

Is there anyone you know who might be interested in joining the Army National Guard? :

Yeah I know plenty of Republican Rich White Kids!!!!!!!!!!!

Put your e-mail here: [e-mail]







iTunes has a disclaimer with this so I don't blame Apple.

[fleabert]

46. strong national economy? you have got to be fucking kidding me.

and 'negative news'? How about

DEAD PEOPLE AND LIES?

[IndianaGreen]

49. Yeah, what economy are they talking about, China?

The Pentagon cannot even lie well!

[Shine]

47. Gosh, what a shock.

The tactics they use to reel these poor kids in is despicable, imo.

Remember that scene in F911?

[Barkley]

48. Why do I get the sense that

Military recruiters are going to prey on evacuees from LA, MS, AL?

[libnnc]

50. so how long before they conscript

people who have defaulted on their student loans (or any loans)?

[ignatius 2]

51. Gee,I wonder why?

Could it be that American parents don't want their kids coming home in body bags for a war based on bull shit and lies?

[YOY]

54. Give the kids some credit too

They may be young and a tad naive, but they are not stupid. Well, most of them I'm sure.

Besides, as I recall the parents do not have the final say. The kids (barely adults if you will) do.

Not that the parents shouldn't have to expect the loss of their child for a less than honorable cause.

[rocktivity]

59. DING DING DING! Ignatius, you're our grand prize winner!

Could it be that American parents don't want their kids coming home in body bags for a war based on bull shit and lies?

You got it, Iggy--IT'S THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, STUPID!!!!!



Why in the world would you gamble your life on the judgment, leadership, honor and support that Bush has demonstrated?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Miss Chybil]

62. This just means they'll have to trash the economy further in order

to get more warm and desperate bodies. I joined the Army in 1881. I couldn't find a job to save my life. I hope things don't get like that again. Foreclosures were rampant. The line at the unemployment office went all the way around the building. It was bad. Seems we had a Republican in office then, too....

[ignatius 2]

71. In this mornings paper,"combined with a good economy and

continued negative news from the Middle East,that means recruiting in fiscal year 2006 will be challenging." Lt. Colonel Bryan Hilferry, an army spokesman said on Friday.

So we need a crappy economy so that poor fuckers with no jobs can become cannon fodder and if we could only get rid of all those nasty,negative journalists and bring on the feel good,everything is great in the ME reporters, we could hit the recruiting goals in a heart beat.

This entire administration from top to bottom is sick,delusional and vile.

[Old sixties guy]

73. You joined the Army in 1881?

Man,got any good stories about the latter stages of the Indian Wars?

[tabasco]

75. Obviously a typo. Here's a link for you:

www.goarmy.com

You can tell everybody you joined in 2005.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

66. But you'll get a free hat!

How can you resist?

[regnaD kciN]

67. Is it just me, or do you feel a draft, too?

I just can't figure out why people wouldn't want to volunteer anymore. :sarcasm:

[_Winston_Smith_101]

70. The Draft will come back!

It is inevitable!

[chknltl]

68. Attn. : those with kids who are potential enlistees.

Has this been discussed here in the DU?: Executive order 13139. (Google it, spend some time on it). In essence this allows our government the ability to inject experimental drugs into our soldiers without their consent, when deemed necessary by the President or the Secretary of Defense. The origins of this executive order "may" have been to address a legitimate concern. That was then, this is now: DO YOU TRUST RUMSFELD OR BUSH WITH THIS ABILITY???? I do not. This is but one reason for strongly urging the youth of America to stay out of the military. www.beyondtreason.com is where you can purchase the DVD which discusses this and much much more. A little less than 20$ will get you exactly what you need to keep your kid out of the military. Vets.: This DVD is FREE to you. You have a right to know about the stuff our government may have done to you.

[Dark]

72. Okay, so get those chickenshit republicans out onto the front lines pronto

n/t

[texpatriot2004]

74. Yeah, let's send the chickenshit chickenhawks n/t

[Fight_n_back]

77. The Bush Republican Party has worst morale since Carter?

Not a very nice factoid but there nonetheless.....

[Bigmack]

80. They don't need to recruit...

... they just keep sending people who have no business in a war zone. The guy in this article had been retired since 1995!
- - - - -
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/243001_wardead01.html

Saturday, October 1, 2005

Roadside bomb kills Yakima reservist
By MIKE BARBER SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Last February, 45-year-old Lawrence Morrison Sr. was a guy with a wife and two sons in his 10th year with the U.S. Postal Service in Yakima, where he helped load mail trucks.

Then an official government telegram arrived at his home calling him to the war in Iraq from inactive reserve status, where he had remained since retiring early from the Army in 1995.

A sergeant first class and a medic with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion from Fort Bragg, N.C., Morrison knew that the terms of his retirement meant he could be called back to military service at any time, but after a decade away he hadn't counted on it. He arrived in Iraq in June and was looking forward to a break from war, counting the days until a two-week leave began in October.

On Sept. 19, Morrison volunteered for a mission with U.S. Marines during which he was fatally wounded after a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Taji, Iraq.

[yorkiemommie1]

81. No Child Left Behind

allows gathering student info from public schools. too bad . I know a couple of fundies whose kids are in xtian academies. THAT's where the recruiters ought to go!!!