Rumsfeld gets his 'leaner army'

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?issue_date=06-15-2005&ID=2005103539

Donald Rumsfeld's fondest dream as Defense Secretary is a "leaner" Army. Now he's got what he wanted. snip

Enlistments in the Army have fallen off precipitously -- missing the quota by 42 percent for May's original goal of 8,050 enlistees.

Short of fresh troops to relieve units deployed twice or three times into Iraqi, the Army is abandoning standards of its all-volunteer force.

It wants to lure enlistees with a doubled signup bonus of $40,000. Maximum age for new officers is being raised from 35 years old to 42. Criminal offenses will no longer be a bar to enlistment. Educational standards will be relaxed. Army personnel usually discharged for misconduct and inferior performance will be allowed to remain.

[jean]

1. parents are actively advising against enlistment - will we finally see

outrage erupt in this country if the draft is re-instated?

[demgurl]

9. Nope, this is the latest talking point for the last four months.

They have been doing the framework for a draft for about four months now. They have said that schools are protecting the children as well as the parents and on NPR, a few days ago, a military spokesman basically said that it was up to the citizens what will follow. He said that we could let our youth enlist voluntarily or there would be selective service!

You mark my words, almost a week ago I wrote about this and several people spoke up to say they had heard it in different places as well. The RWers are going to fed a line of how unpatriotic the left is and how we are forcing this draft upon the country. We (and the 'MSM') are being framed for this. They have set us up for a fall.

[Rex]

2. $40,000 is chump change to a merc.

They assault the poor with a bigger carat. :eyes:

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. from a small town in Idaho

people are finally asking questions, I ask, is the pendulum swinging and... do we have time to change

[Erika]

4. What small town in Idaho? Thanks n/t

[Sherwood]

5. How is enlistment for the other branches?

I'd assume that the Marines are doing worst of all.

[HawkerHurricane]

7. Nope.

People join the Marines to be in combat. So the Corps is still meeting it's goals. And with the Air Force and Navy cutting personnel (40,000 last year, the same this year for the Navy), they're keeping up. Only the Army is hurting...

[NNN0LHI]

8. Army, Marines recruiting woes continue - 6/9/2005

http://www.krqe.com/expanded.asp?ID=10429

PENTAGON -- The official numbers aren't out yet, but the Army is admitting it fell short of its recruiting goals again last month. snip

The Marine Corps has also missed some of its monthly recruiting targets, but the Air Force and Navy are having no trouble signing up new personnel. Some experts say that's because their roles in Iraq and Afghanistan are smaller, and much less publicized.

[HawkerHurricane]

10. Things are really bad...

when the Marines can't meet quoata.
(Totally disasterous is when the Air Force can't make quota... Navy recruiters used to tell me how they'd get the kids who were fantastic prospects, but the 'Air Force was full that month'.)

[dxstone]

6. Sounds like a WEINER army to me!

I hope they'll at least outfit these guys with the latest condiments (and other necessary accoutrements) this time!
Anyway, why worry? Rummy's on the job; he'll GET 'ER DONE!

[Cha]

11. How much is your life worth?

Mine would be more than $40,000..I would guesstimate.

[Mr_Spock]

12. Our military is being SADAMized

I think our current government is working with the terrorists :(