Getting into the military is getting tougher

[hack89]

The Pentagon estimates that only one in four of today's youth are fit for military service. More than 20% of high-school students fail to graduate. Obesity and other medical conditions disqualify about 35% of candidates. Prior drug and alcohol involvement disqualify another 19%, and criminal records disqualify 5%.

Over the last couple years, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines have enlisted their highest-quality recruits since at least 1973, when the military discontinued the draft. Now a whopping 99% of recruits have a high-school diploma -- an all-time high. Even candidates with GEDs are often turned away and encouraged to complete at least 15 college credits before re-applying.

Two key factors are driving the trend. First, the military is recruiting fewer active-duty soldiers overall, as it reduces troop levels in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In fiscal 2012, the military enlisted about 155,000 new recruits, the smallest cohort on record in the post-World War II period.

Top military officials also credit the sluggish job market for their hiring success. A slow economy "makes recruiting less challenging, and operates to the advantage of those who are hiring, including the U.S. military," Acting Under Secretary of Defense Jessica Wright said last month in a prepared statement before the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/15/news/economy/military-recruiting/index.html?iid=HP_LN

Interesting article on many different levels. What caught my eye is that now the military is no longer an option for many young people.

[hack89]

3. Are most vets knuckledragging morons in your view?

As a vet myself, I would be curious as to what you think of us.

[ieoeja]

4. A pretty heft percentage of recent vets certainly seem to be.

Growing up in a rural environment military vets were the most open-minded and liberal people I would meet. Getting out in the world tends to do that for most people. Not all as it freaks out some people driving them to be even more parochial. But it works for most people.

However, I have several relatives in their 20s who are military veterans. They joined the service fairly liberal, being as they come from my family, and every single one of them is now a knuckledragging moron.

Something seems to have gone awry with our military the last couple of decades.

[LiberalLoner]

5. Amen. It got taken over by religious fundies and ultra conservatives.

[malokvale77]

6. I have several vets in my family...

not one is a knuckledragging moron. My grandson is currently in the Navy, and I'm pretty sure he will never be a knuckledragging moron.

[Blue_Tires]

2. asthma kept me out...

probably a good thing in the long run...

and the military is always going to be a less-preferred option for high-schoolers when there are still shooting wars going on...