WashTimes: Army in Worst Recruiting Slump in Decades

[funflower]

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.

(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.

(snip)

As it stands, the Army faces a tough challenge for the foreseeable future.

"The future looks even grimmer. Recruiting is going to get harder and harder," Moskos said.

(more)

http://ap.washingtontimes.com/dynamic/stories/A/ARMY_RECRUITING_SLUMP?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME

[Richard D]

1. Getting drafty?

[orwell]

2. Freedom...

...is in retreat?

[Rainscents]

3. Humm, I wonder why?

"The future looks even grimmer. Recruiting is going to get harder and harder," Moskos said.

[havocmom]

4. Free iTunes downloads if you sign up to let them contact you!

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

Rat bastards want to offer 3 free songs for the chance to hound kids into signing away their lives!

We need to get as many old and/or infirm people to clog this ploy up and keep them busy trying to pursuade those who are not gonna pass any physical to sign up!

Do it for the children! And this time, it's for real! ;)

[speedoo]

5. Thankyou General Myers.

Worst Joint Chiefs Chairman in history.

Good riddance, you fucking traitor. May you die an early, painful death, along with your traitor colleague Powell.

[SteppingRazor]

6. Huh. Worst in decades?

Gee, I wonder why... :eyes:

Funny how the Moonie Times doesn't offer any explanation, like for example, THE GODDAMN FREAKING WAR!

They actually have the audacity to treat this as a systemic. ongoing thing.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. No ones wants to sign up to die for lies? Imagine that?

No one wants to die for the Chimp's 'noble cause'? Whouda thunk it? :yoiks:

[seabeyond]

8. since they use fuzzy math....... is this with the new revised

goal they implemented ot so long ago, because there previous goal was so unattainable, that they made the number lower. so really instead of 7000 shy, they are 10,000 shy? i want to know

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. I'm amazed they...

got 73,000, roughly within 10% of the stated goal. Given that they're trying to talk our kids into participating in an illegal occupation where the tours routinely get indefinitely extended and the mortality rates are high, I'd say, sadly, they've done remarkably well in their recruiting. I do hope there's a special place in Hell for recruiters who lie through their teeth.

[trogdor]

12. The only got that close by plundering the DEP.

Usually they have about a quarter to a third of their annual goal in the Delayed Entry Program. Right now, they're at about 5%. This shit will get worse. Lots worse. God bless you if you're a recruiter (an honest one) right now.

Before we get all hatin' on recruiters, most of them were SELECTED for the job. VERY few of them were volunteers. You career depends on your performance, and if you leave the service with less than 20 years (voluntary or otherwise), you can forget about retirement pay. Period. You get a handshake, a plane ticket home, and the nasty feeling that comes with the realization that not only have you just wasted the best years of your life, you'll most likely have to start completely over career-wise at 35.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

13. Thanks for the enlightenment...

...I now have a better appreciation for the untenable position recruiteres are placed in. Still, if they engage in blatant deception to meet their quotas, as I believe many do, they should be answerable for it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Operation Yellow Elephant -DRAFT YOUNG REPUBLICANS

There are plenty of those weasels that should be fit for duty.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. I guess it means more opportunities for Blackwater mercenaries

at $100,000 per year. Maybe the Bushies are trying to completely privatize the military too. That way, they could make it completely beyond accountability to the U.S. citizen.