Army Marks Record Low Level Of Recruits

AP:

The Army began its recruiting year Oct. 1 with fewer signed up for basic training than in any year since it became an all-volunteer service in 1973, a top general said Wednesday.

Gen. William S. Wallace, whose duties as commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command include management of recruiting, told reporters at the Pentagon that the historic dip will make it harder to achieve the full-year recruiting goal -- after just barely reaching it in the year ended Sept. 30.

Achieving the Army's recruiting goals -- a challenge in the best of times -- is not only more difficult now but also of more consequence. That is because the Army has decided that it must grow its active-duty force by several thousand soldiers a year in order to relieve strain on war-weary troops.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[desertdweller]

The Army's recruiting problems have less to do with Iraq and more to do with the shitty treatment of recruits. I'm not talking about the crap that you go through in basic as part of warrior-making and team-building; I'm talking about bullying and abuse by ignorant rednecks that totally resent any that has even two-weeks more education than they have. I'm talking about race-baiting and sexual harrassment. I'm talking about discrimination against non-christians. It has only gotten worse as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of these guys have done a couple of tours and are angry, and are looking to take it out on someone. Some of them are suffering from PTSD and should not be in positions of leadership or as trainers. I feel sorry for them because they only did their jobs as ordered.

[MilwaukeeDan]

If this was a real war, an attack on the United States by a real army, there would be millions of Americans willing to fight for FREE(me included). But when was the US last attached by a foreign country, 1941? We shouldn't have to bride the poor $30k to fight our wars of choice. It makes the US look pathetic.

[mrcontinental]

Call it a Crusade maybe that will do the trick.

Better yet Holy War.

Oh I forgot, the religious right are "conscientious objectors" when it comes time to engage the enemies of god on the field of battle.

[mrcontinental]

Fire up the printing press and print more money for bonuses. Pay $30,000 and they'll be standing in line.

Or the FED can raise interest rates sooner and bring on the depression sooner, either will get recruits through the door.

[RobertaInCT]

They'er recruiting in the wrong place. They should set up shop at all the mega-churchs each Sunday, after all the war in Iraq and the pending war is a christian crusade, or so Bush believes.

[tomsfork]

This has just got to frighten the hell out of you.

The military has lowered the standards for enlistment to the point that, if you breathe still, you're eligible to join up. If you can read, you can be a general! Under Bush's incompetent "leadership" (I use the word quite cautiously) the military has been enlisting functional illiterates, gang-bangers, skinheads, foreign mercenaries (I believe the current number of mercenaries serving is around 30,000), career felons, the elderly (they raised the age of enlistment to age 42), and damn near anyone else who will show up. NONE of these would have been allowed in when I served. And still it doesn't work. No one wants to die in this most useless and unnecessary of wars.

tafkaMinne­apolisMike has posted here that the real patriots and God's Warriors will take up the slack. We can only hope, especially if a REAL war starts up. You know, a real war? You know, like when someone attacks us or our friends and there is nothing left to do but kick ass? A REAL war. Of course, with the current administration, an unnecessary war with Iran is gonna break out at any moment. And who will fight it? Surely not God's Warriors or neocons. They have "other priorities", you know.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I guess they're going to have to try recruiting
in Mexico, Moldavia, Latvia and maybe Vietnam
or something in the future...w­hat a larceny farm...war was for oil, party's over...GOP party's over, too...


http://www.impeachbush.org

[Felicty]

Really??!!

No shit?

These civilians MUST hate FREEDOM.

[THEUNHEARDVOICE]

Where are the Rep Party Member's and their follower's the Chirstian right?Warrior for god are not signing up because of Black Water.

[freespeach]

All the really good killers are going to Blackwater instead.
Better money, better equipment, less rules to follow.

[TheQuestion]

It is no wonder that they are having trouble recruiting. The civil war in Iraq seems to have no victory & no end. These people have hated each other for a long long time. What American would want to put themsleves in the middle of that mess.

[ErnestineBass]

It's only a matter of time until the Army starts "recruiting" out of those ICE detention centers holding "illegals".

[tafkaMinneapolisMike]

Obviously the information in this story is a complete lie and this kind of evil yellow journalism only serves to aid and comfort our enemies.

True Patriots in this country still make up nearly 20% of the population. That equates to millions and millions that are not only eager to join the military, but literally cannot wait to show how much they support the President and are willing to give their lives to whatever ideology comes falling out of his mouth. His voice is the voice of Freedom! Therefore we have no choice to obey.

Not only will the amred forces show record numbers when all the true Patriots enlist, they will then turn their efforts on all the few remaining traitors in the US who would dare still disagree with the President. What are you traitors going to do when all those you hate so much are now armed and have been given direct orders by their commander in chief to destroy you?

www.primadogma.com

[jennbeez]

Patriotism­... what a concept. Mitt Romney should encourage at least one of his five sons to sign up. Rove has a college age son...that fact should be more widely publicized. And, of course, Jenna and Babsie.

[bmermaid]

And imagine the people that are signing up! What must thier life be like that their options are so limited! Or maybe they just don't understand that they are traiding their blood for oil for Bush & Cheney. This madness must end!