Army Having Difficulty Meeting Goals In Recruiting

[kentuck]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40469-2005Feb20.html?referrer=email

<snip>
The active-duty Army is in danger of failing to meet its recruiting goals, and is beginning to suffer from manpower strains like those that have dropped the National Guard and Reserves below full strength, according to Army figures and interviews with senior officers .

For the first time since 2001, the Army began the fiscal year in October with only 18.4 percent of the year's target of 80,000 active-duty recruits already in the pipeline. That amounts to less than half of last year's figure and falls well below the Army's goal of 25 percent.

Meanwhile, the Army is rushing incoming recruits into training as quickly as it can. Compared with last year, it has cut by 50 percent the average number of days between the time a recruit signs up and enters boot camp. It is adding more than 800 active-duty recruiters to the 5,201 who were on the job last year, as attracting each enlistee requires more effort and monetary incentives.

...more

[GiovanniC]

1. I Just Don't Understand It

WHY don't the 18-24 year olds of this world want to be shipped overseas to be blown into a million pieces in unarmored vehicles?

WHY?

Why oh why?

Does anybody know?

[Bob3]

2. Really? People aren't lining up to get blown up and shot

for the greater glory of America? Gee I wonder why? Surely it's worthy cause - the beer companies told us that during the super bowl right? Why aren't they lining up? Sure we cut their benefits if they get wounded but we've up the death benefits to their next of kid - which makes sense - wounded cost so much more money and after all Money is the most important thing in the world.

I don't understand. (sarcasm off)
RIP HST.

[WilliamPitt]

3. So, that whole 'Army of One' thing didn't sell the show, eh?

No wonder. If things keep up, an army of one is all we'll have left.

[name not needed]

4. That's a shock.

I mean, who WOULDN'T want to be shipped halfway around the world just to get shot at and die?