Army Tries to Reverse Recruiting Slump ("master plan")

[hadrons]

WASHINGTON - The Army has a master plan (my edit: insert laugh track) for recovering from this year's painful recruiting problems that includes new financial incentives for enlistees, greater use of computers, a new way for recruiters to make their pitch and a proposed finder's fee for soldiers who refer recruits.

The plan was assembled after the Army fell more than 6,600 recruits below its goal of 80,000 for the year that ended Sept. 30. It was the first time it had fallen short since 1999.

....

Opinion surveys indicate that daily reports of soldiers dying in Iraq have dampened young people's interest in joining the military, prompting the Army to try new ways to make the war work in its favor.

For example, since July the Army has been offering prospective recruits what it calls "assignment incentive pay." That is $400 a month in extra pay for as many as 36 months if an enlistee agrees to join any of the brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division or 25th Infantry Division scheduled to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Army also is encouraging combat veterans who return home on leave from Iraq or Afghanistan to meet with young people in their home towns to talk about their experiences in hopes of snagging extra recruits. The Army has found that re-enlist rates are especially high among units that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051011/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_recruiting

but, but ... I thought there was no recuiting slump

[hadrons]

1. I have to share more ....

Among the main features of the Army's master plan for reaching its 2006 recruiting goal:

• Adjust the way recruiters frame their sales pitches to young men and women. Instead of focusing mainly on financial incentives and other tangible benefits of joining the Army, recruiters are now being trained to take what some call the "consultative" approach. That means addressing the individual recruits' personal hopes and fears, rather than using the traditional hard sell.

• Put more effort into recruiting people who have begun their college careers but not yet earned a degree, on the assumption that some would be interested in taking a hiatus to try military service. Also, target those of high school age who are being home schooled — a potential market the Army has largely ignored.

• Make more use of what DuBois calls "lead refinements" — the use of computer technology to refine recruiters' leads on potential enlistees. Using mathematical formulas based in part on demographics, a recruiter can more easily prioritize his or her high-payoff leads and thus become more productive. Ten of the Army's 41 recruiting battalions now use this technology; the Army wants to double it to 20 or more.

• Shift more advertising dollars from national to local markets.

• Offer a $2,500 "finder's fee" to soldiers who refer a recruit who makes it through advanced individual training, a step beyond basic training. This has yet to be authorized by Congress.

[ixion]

5. 2500 for condemning a youth to a life of death and destruction.

A beautiful use for our tax dollars. :eyes:

[zann725]

7. Enlistment Office nearby recently "disappeared"...no forwarding address

It happened recently. Maybe with low enlistment numbers, just couldn't afford the rent?

It had been at that location for years. I was truly surprised to see it gone. And no sign of where-to....

[Debau2005]

10. Targetting Home Schooled??

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Like that is going to happen....

[trogdor]

15. Sure.

Those are the kool-aid drinkingest people on the planet. I know a couple who are of military enlistment age myself (or will be soon). They even do Civil Air Patrol and stuff like that, so they sort of already know what the military is about. Go get 'em, I say.

[TahitiNut]

2. Funny. I'd think it was the fact of troops DYING and not the reports.

It's wonderful how the messenger is always attacked these days. Fuck the message - the messenger is an easier target.

[Wilms]

3. This is interesting, though.

"The Army has found that re-enlist rates are especially high among units that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan."


I suppose, had I gone down the military service road, believed in these efforts, and had buddies still there in danger, I'd want to go back.

Anyone else have an idea?

[LynnTheDem]

6. It's called "no fucking choice", aka "back-door draft".

Such as they did last month to my husband the day after he had his retirement orders.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. back door draft

aka stop loss orders

That is what is going on

[Qanisqineq]

17. ha! yeah right

I don't know too many that are re-enlisting, unless they can change their MOS and do something where they absolutely will not be sent to Iraq.

Or be like my husband, he is now in Korea and if he agrees to stay there for a year or two beyond his current enlistment (with bonus money!) then he won't go back to Iraq, period. If he doesn't decide to stay in Korea and comes back after his 12 months, he'd most likely be going back to Iraq shortly after returning home. He knows quite a few hiding out in Korea to avoid the war. Or, there is another way to avoid going back to Iraq.... become a recruiter. He's tempted. Either way, if he extends or not, he will have more than 10 years and (theoretically) cannot be affected by stop-loss.

[ozarkvet]

18. Correct.

Several factors at play:

1. The forward units are largely true believers. They, in large part, believe in the mission and in Bush.

2. Forward units are mo gung-ho, in general

3. Forward units get more promotions because of what they do

4. Forward units get better equipment and are generally treated better (which is fair, really).

and

5. Believe it or not, it's really not that terrible. More boring than anything for most troops, albeit puntucated by brief moments of terror. When we were up with the Kurds, they were pretty cool and laid back, and actually very happy to see us.

I was a medic and we ran a civilian aide station --- treating people for things like strep throat and other things we take for granted that kill people there. I have lifetime friends there now --- and have literally made plans for a visit in Turkey with their relations, as well as visits (in El Paso!) by cousins who came down from Chicago just to meet me and thank me for getting a distant relation of theirs into a hospital to give birth.

Down South was a different issue entirely.

[Wilms]

19. Wow. Thanks.

And welcome home!

[bemildred]

4. More bullshit won't fix it. It's "reality based". nt

[ozymandius]

8. What?? No free ponies?? eom

[Atman]

9. "We'll bet you $400 that you won't die!"

Go on, kids. Throw the dice!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. They want returning veterans to talk about their experiences?

"The Army also is encouraging combat veterans who return home on leave from Iraq or Afghanistan to meet with young people in their home towns to talk about their experiences in hopes of snagging extra recruits. The Army has found that re-enlist rates are especially high among units that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Are they really sure they want this? I would think that this would discourage recruitment, if anything. Iraq is a mess and the military is sick of being used as a police force with inadequate equipment and inadequate medical attention when they get home. I hope returning soldiers like Kayla Williams and her badly injured husband go out to their communities and give these talks.

[classysassy]

12. The Army

and its need for more cannon fodder,use the money needed for the truly needy to bribe the young and foolish so that the neo cons can attack Iran,without drafting those rich secure republican brats.SHAME ON YOU BUSH.

[AndyTiedye]

13. It Sure Is Getting DRAFTY Around Here

[peacebaby3]

16. They are already offering "finder's fees" to ppl. in the ANG. That

started back this past spring. My husband got a letter in the mail and an e-mail telling him if he got someone to sign up and make it through, he would get $1000. I guess they are trying to raise it to $2500. I don't think it has been very successful.

I remember the letter he got that ended with (I kid you not)- "Happy Hunting and Chaccchhhiiinnnggg!"

[tanyev]

20. Who came up with this cunning plan? Private Baldrick?

[FVZA_Colonel]

21. "master plan?"

When I hear that phrase, I think of the Joker, Lex Luthor, or Snidely Whiplash, not the U.S. Army.