Growingly Desperate, Army Trying Anything to Nab Recruits

[babylonsister]

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/08/10/growingly-desperate-army-trying-anything-to-nab-recruits/

Growingly Desperate, Army Trying Anything to Nab Recruits
Posted by Trish | Aug. 10, 2007, 10:33 am

You know the Army is getting desperate for recruits when it starts overlooking drug use, criminal records, age, and obesity. But oh yeah, you still can’t tell anyone you’re gay.

Despite spending nearly $1 billion last year on recruiting bonuses and ads, Army leaders say an even bolder approach is needed to fill wartime ranks.

Under a new proposal, men and women who enlist could pick from a “buffet” of incentives, including up to $45,000 tax-free that they accrue during their career to help buy a home or build a business. Other options would include money for college and to pay off student loans.

This would come after the other recent enhancements to recruiting failed to get the numbers up, including:

* Increasing to $20,000 the bonus for troops who join by Sept. 30 and leave for boot camp within a month
* Raising the enlistment age to 42
* Allowing recruits to come in with non-offensive tattoos on their hands and neck
* Offering a $2,000 bonus to Army soldiers who refer a new recruit
* Enlisting recruits who don’t meet weight standards and must trim down their first year
* Advertising that targets potential recruits’ parents
* Increasing the number of recruits with general education diplomas (GEDs) rather than regular high school diplomas
* Creating a more pleasant boot camp environment
* Sending “gung-ho” soldiers fresh from boot camp or war zones back to their hometowns to visit old friends and schoolmates to promote the Army
* Increasing to more than 15 percent the number of Army and Army Reserve troops given waivers for medical and moral reasons or for positive drug and alcohol screen tests

The Army blames the dwindling numbers on several factors.

More high school graduates are going to college, and the economy is strong, providing lots of civilian jobs. At the same time, only three of 10 people between 17 and 24 fully meet the military’s standards.

Less obvious factors have also decreased the recruitment pool. They include higher obesity rates, more people diagnosed with mental health conditions such as attention-deficit disorder, more criminal citations due to the increase of the drinking age from 18 to 21.

Let’s see, did we miss anything? Nah, I guess that pretty well covers all the possible reasons people aren’t joining the Army.

Oh yeah, how about THE FRICKIN’ WAR? Maybe the idea of being cannon fodder in an endless and futile bad idea doesn’t appeal to a lot of people

[acmavm]

1. This is just so delusional. An army of aging, crippled, mentally slow,

tatooed, criminal recruits who are drug users willing to lie to their friends and family about dodging bombs, bullets, and ieds.

Wow! I guess that's being all that you can be.

[BeHereNow]

2. The walls of the Empire are starting to collapse...heh-heh.

If they honestly think the public will accept a draft to
prop the mess up- they are sadly mistaken.
The kids today aren't buying the bullshit.
They will effectively end up destroying the military
through their hegmonic crusade.
BHN

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. Just wait...

"...and the economy is strong, providing lots of civilian jobs..."

Bushco will fix that.

[Wilber_Stool]

3. I think I'll wait untill

they start a shanghai program. I'll bring one in stuffed in a sack for a 1,000 bucks.

[wuushew]

4. Regardless of the war, the drinking age should be 18

n/t

[Donnachaidh]

6. draft or pressgang? Wonder which will come first?

I wouldn't put it past the repukes to find some way to keep their spawn out of fatigues by packing off everyone else they could put grab.

After all, little Jason has a future ahead of him. :sarcasm: