Army sees new turnaround in recruiting

[spindrifter]

Stars and Stripes

By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army says its success in enlisting new soldiers this year, after a dismal 2005, is innovative salesmanship by a bigger team of recruiters and financial incentives like bonuses of up to $40,000.

The Pentagon announced Friday that the Army met its recruiting goal for August, which a senior Army official said makes it virtually certain that the service will achieve its aim of signing up 80,000 new soldiers for the full recruiting year, which ends Sept. 30. Last year the Army fell short for the first time since 1999.

"We're reaching out a lot better," said the official, Maj. Gen. Sean Byrne, director of military personnel management. The Army is making better use of the Internet, for example, to reach more young people, he said.

The Army also has put about one-third more recruiters on the street, and Congress approved new financial incentives for enlistees, including signing bonuses for some slots of as much as $40,000. The Army also began allowing people as old as 42 to enter the service; the maximum age previously was 35.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MILITARY_RECRUITING?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Donnachaidh]

1. Blood Money

Draft the Bush/Cheny spawn.

They don't need the cash.

[Monkeyman]

2. Why they need more homeless veterans

[shadowknows69]

4. They're handing out citizenship to foreign troops

and lots of bonus checks.

[AwareOne]

11. Yes, isn't it strange that foreigners are allowed to join

the U.S. military and then "earn" citizenship. Damn, we are back to the days of indentured servitude.

[mzteris]

5. Did you read this?

"About one-third of the nation’s adult homeless population are veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Many of these veterans have experienced substance abuse, mental illness, or both. The VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program, which is up for reauthorization, provides transitional housing to help veterans prepare for permanent housing. As requested, GAO reviewed (1) VA homeless veterans estimates and the number of transitional housing beds, (2) the extent of collaboration involved in the provision of GPD and related services, and (3) VA’s assessment of GPD program performance.

GAO analyzed VA data and methods used for the homeless estimates and performance assessment, and visited selected GPD providers in four states to observe the extent of collaboration."

http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06859high.pdf

[Monkeyman]

6. Yep posted below by opps me

[Kutjara]

3. Well, it hardly seems very efficient to spend all that time and money...

...creating an underclass in this country, without then using it, does it? All the outsourcing, offshoring, reduction of benefits, wage stagnation and social program withdrawl has produced a large number of Americans who'll jump at the chance of a $40,000 windfall, even if it costs them their lives. It's like that film "The Running Man" except, instead of criminals, they're sending ordinary men and women to play death's lottery.

It doesn't really seem coincidental to me.

[bluerum]

7. I am not so sure they are not sending criminals - and skinheads and

various other flavors of psycho babble who would like nothing more than to have an assault weapon in their hands and the opprotunity to blow people up.

edit: sp.

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. Its all part of the plan.

So far its worked perfectly, but we are going to shit on their party cake.

[hatrack]

8. Yes, and wasn't August a big turnaround in civilian casualties in Baghdad?

Oh. Never mind. Guess it wasn't. Oops. My bad!

[Kurovski]

9. Income prospects are reduced, the economy stinks,

and jobs continue to be sent overseas.

Of course more will enter the military, and BushCo knows that.

Another decade with BushCo folks in power and our main export will end up being war.

[Roland99]

12. Increase age restriction by 7 yrs, offer $40k, take people w/records

problem solved.