Uncle Sam Wants Recruits
Monday, October 2, 2021
Uncle Sam still wants them. But increasingly, young people are choosing jobs in the hot economy over military service, leaving the armed forces scrambling for new recruits.

In every branch but the Marines, recruits have been dwindling. The Army fell more than 6,000 new soldiers short of its goal last year, and the Navy and Air Force also faced similar problems.

"We've got to improve the way we're communicating to young people so that more will see the military as an option," said Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera.

Thanks to a new campaign, this year the Army, Navy and Air Force met their recruiting goals for the first time in years. Some of the Gen-Y friendly moves included: a $400 million ad campaign with Navy commercials directed by film-maker Spike Lee, flashy Web sites, and a psychedelic Humvee that's touring the country.

But the problem is far from over. In the join-a-dot-com-get-rich-quick world, it's tough for military service to compete.

It shouldn't be that way, said Army Maj. Gen. William Bond.

"There are a lot more things other than money," he said. "I think this is one of those things that's not only fun, but (you get the) great satisfaction of doing something for this country and helping other people."

Still, it may be the dinero that draws in the troops. New recruits are being offered $50,000 for college with a $20,000 enlistment bonus.
. Today's reserve forces, including the Guard, put in 13 million duty days per year, up from 1 million 10 years ago.

"It may seem like we're desperate," said Sgt. Alonzo Pierce of Army recruitment. "But at the same time, you know this country, the great country that we live in, we do need a military and we need someone to protect the country."

As the military shrinks, there's more pressure on reserves to meet the armed forces' needs. Service in the National Guard has gone from being a "part-time adventure" to a full-time commitment
Pentagon spokesman Charles Cragin said the use of reserves saves taxpayers billions. "Obviously, you had 700,000 men and women who were on active duty that you were paying their personal costs, their health care costs and various benefits," he said.

But some say that's taking advantage of people who volunteered for a much less strenuous commitment.

"Our people are citizen soldiers," said David R. Hudlet, retired brigadier general from the Army Air National Guard in California. "They have jobs downtown and we're asking them to respond more and more."

Personally, I'm absolutely sick and tired of the mindset that treats reservists like "temp agency/Office Overload" help, and ridicules anybody who attempts to argue for a strong militia (unfortunately, I get so mad I "see red" to the point of incoherency, so I'm going to bide my tongue in favour of more eloquent, articulate posts ... for now).