Army gets fewer high school grads in '07

[superconnected]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The percent of Army recruits with a high school diploma dropped last year, continuing a trend that has worsened since the start of the Iraq war, according to a report released Tuesday.

National Priorities Project, a research group that analyzes federal data, found that nearly 71 percent of Army recruits graduated from high school in the 2007 budget year. It based its findings on data it obtained from the Defense Department through a Freedom of Information Act request.

All troops must have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. The military prefers that they have a high school diploma because its studies have shown they are more likely to finish an enlistment term. Still, the Army has paid for some recruits to take GED preparation classes and take the test.

The Army's goal is 90 percent high school graduates, which it hasn't met since 2004. Each year since, the number of recruits with at least a high school diploma has steadily declined.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080122/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_recruiting

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The army is down to 71% of Recruits with High School diplomas, from 90% in 2004.

[fenriswolf]

1. they are getting more felons though.

[saigon68]

3. And more low hanging fruit

To commit war crimes

[Thothmes]

4. Same type we got in the late 60's

[saigon68]

12. Yes Project 100,000

Just google that phrase to get the low down on McNamara's Morans

[Plucketeer]

2. Even as dumb as....

... the ones are that HAVE a diploma, they're wising up to layin' their ass on the line for the GOP's contrived folly.:dunce:

[Hissyspit]

5. Army Recruits with Diplomas Hit 25-Year Low

Source: Boston Globe

Army recruits with diplomas hit 25-year low
Analysis finds drop in quality
Email|Print| Text size – + By Bryan Bender
Globe Staff / January 23, 2008
WASHINGTON - The share of Army recruits with a high school diploma - which has shown to be a key indicator of future success in the military - dropped more than 12 percent between 2005 and 2007, reaching a 25-year low, according to an analysis of government data published yesterday.

The percentage of Army enlistees who joined the service with a high school diploma went from almost 84 percent in 2005 to less than 71 percent last year, according to the analysis by the nonprofit National Priorities Project.

The data also revealed a steep decline in what the Army considers "high-quality" recruits, an assessment based on a combination of their education levels and scores on the Armed Forces Qualification Test; in fiscal year 2005, for example, 56 percent of enlistees were designated by the Army as high quality, while last year 45 percent were, the analysis found.

- snip -

The drop in the enlistment of high school graduates is the latest sign that the widely unpopular Iraq war is harming the recruiting efforts of the largest branch of the armed forces, according to specialists. They say the war has led large numbers of volunteers to bypass the Army - which is handling the bulk of combat operations in Iraq - for the Navy, the Air Force, and other branches less central to the war effort.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/01/23/army_recruits_with_diplomas_hit_25_year_low

[Voltaire99]

6. Who needs a diploma to occupy Iraq?

Empire duty prizes killing, not thinking.

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. Dumbing down the Military, just what we (don't) need.

.
.
.

As if we don't have enough non-thinkers in the USA War Machine already

(sigh)

[boricua79]

8. Scrapping the bottom of the barrel.

"America's Finest"? YEAH RIGHT!

[saigon68]

13. Yes and they have Toby Keith to entertain them

Courtesy of the red white and blue

Hey uncle sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the statue of liberty
Started shakin her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, its gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom
Start ringin her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue

Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And youll be sorry that you messed with
The u.s. of a.
cause well put a boot in your ass
Its the american way

[paparush]

9. Headline - High School Grads Don't Want to Get Blown Up

Studies find that high school graduates rank "getting their legs blown off" quite low on their list of priorities.

[Orsino]

10. They're losing a few overseas, too. n/t

[0007]

11. Itchy fingers know nothing about education or hard work.

Restless and the nervous kid receives drugs and attention. In the Army they get medals.