The Boston Globe on Boston.com
WASHINGTON – The faltering US economy is fueling a dramatic turnaround in military recruiting, with new statistics showing that the Army is experiencing the highest rate of new enlistments in six years.
The Army exceeded its goals each month from October through January – the first quarter of the new fiscal year – for both the active-duty Army and the Army Reserve, according to figures compiled by the US Army Recruiting Command.
Officials said it is the first time since the first quarter of fiscal year 2003, before the start of the Iraq War, that the Army has started out its recruiting year on such a high note.
In recent years the Army either missed its initial goals or barely met them, and was forced to accept increasing percentages of recruits who either did not graduate from high school, scored in the lowest category on the armed forces qualification test, or required a waiver for past criminal activity.
Well, I guess that’s at least one good thing about the crumby economy.
Smaller chance of getting sent to a war and fewer jobs on the home front leading to increased enlistment? C’mon we are seeing a latent patriotism surge, nothing else. he he he
Its the idea of NOT finding work..
its NOT the economy, its the jobs that went over seas..
work at BK, subway, WALMART?? there are waiting lists of those WANTING TO BE HIRED..
This has been so obvious to me for months. It isn’t even newsworthy, except to inform the totally ignorant. Of course kids are enlisting. What would you do? Get a shopping cart and a sleeping bag?
I think I will pass on that gig.
I don’t want to sound like an ad, a public service ad on TV, but the fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don’t, then you’ve got, the Army, Iraq, I don’t know, something like that. It’s, it’s not as bright.
A number of folks are re-enlisting for the bonuses. So many of them are tight for money, and the govt gives a few grand to stay in longer, it makes perfect sense to go to another tour to keep your family in your house.
It’s all very very sad.
Yup, pretty much how I ended up in the service. 3 hots and a cot. Back then 2 weeks pay, as an E4 $157.00 after taxes.
I think this was planned. More people in the military after economic problems … Isn’t this the way Hitler got his big armies?
Say soldier what are you going to do when you get home? That’s the real question. I guess make the military a career right now. Some are even homeless. That’s treating our fighting men and woman great. Right?
# 8
Hitler came to power because of the financial situation (and political intrigue / false flag terrorism). He got the big army because of conscription, propaganda and jingoism stirred up by the economic depression / hyper inflation.
I think he said something like “we are not Democrats or Republicans, we are Germans” and “by public service we will solve all our problems” and they all chanted “Ger-ma-ny, Ger-ma-ny, Ger-ma-ny…” (very loose translation). And then Germany and half of Europe was destroyed.
Only a patriot joins the military to risk his life at being IED fodder. A person with economic problems can enlist in the Navy or the Airforce and enjoy relative safety in these times of economic crisis. I got recruited at age 15 in 1976, never felt safer than working the computers on an aircraft carrier, surrounded by the carrier group and all that high tech weaponry.
A person with economic problems can enlist in the Navy or the Airforce and enjoy relative safety in these times of economic crisis.
It’s harder to get into the navy than the army. It’s MUCH harder to get into the air force than the army. Most of the people joining the army now probably couldn’t get into either one.
Sort of like during Vietnam.
There was this author who wrote his book about growing government bureaucracy, in jest. And how in 1984, based on his project, we’d all end up working for the federal gov. Now, that didn’t happen in 1984. Obviously. But if our economy keeps failing the way it is now. And the government keeps propping up certain corporations (mostly defense contractors. and yes the big three automakers are these too), by taking a controlling (or financial) interest in them (more so than usual, anyway). Then technically we could all end up working for Uncle Sam, real soon. If not via the military. Then some of the “nationalized” big businesses. But China and Japan has already done this, years ago. And we freely trade with them, as if nothing is wrong. We just don’t like the idea of the US nationalizing its own “free market” system. But seeing as how many independent US businesses have enjoyed some from of government subsides, for years. Isn’t that pretty much the same thing? Just without any management strings attached. Most of the time. The US Congress’ “earmarks” and such, have effectively nationalized businesses that might have not made it, own their own. Unfairly giving them the advantage over competitors that did get earmark money. Because they did lobby for it, or grease their congressman’s palm.
I can tell you, the FNG’s that we’re getting nowadays act like the Army can solve all their financial problems. We get new Joes and they get $20,000 cars with their $4,000 signing bonus. And quality’s gone down as well, both mentally and physically.
So it has always been – so it now is – so it will always be.
However, every country needs a miltary.
Since we abolished the draft, we buy our military. How business like! How free enterprise like! How like the British Empire we revolted against.
I remember being taught that the Hessians were evil because they just fought for money.
If we are a country, as opposed to a corporation, everyone has an obligation to serve in the military, or an equivalent national service.
Are we still a country?
# 15 Pagon said, “How like the British Empire we revolted against.”
Umm, military draft existed in GB until recently…
The kid next door isn’t just joining The Army. He’s joining a steady line of work, training, a sense of personal accomplishment and an army with a commander in chief he can believe in.
The sense of who’s the man in charge is powerful.
My friend is over in iRaq now and thinking about staying as he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to find a decent job when he gets back. Got a $15000 bonus for singing up for another 4 years.
Pretty soon the military won’t be the only option.
Obama said that his civilian national security force would be just as well-funded as the Armed Forces. These Brown Shirts won’t have to be deployed overseas. They will be focused inwards on the US population.
Congratulations Paddy-O! You win one free internet and a bonus tinfoil hat.
Who knew Republicans like you are big fans of Alex Jones!
#20 Perhaps you would like to refute what Obama said?
I didn’t think so.