This time from Canada. I guess it must be because they're in Iraq. http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/200661304927.asp And how are American recruitment efforts going? http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20060612.aspx
I'm glad the U.S. recruitment efforts aren't falling short. I just wish the troops wouldn't be sent to the Midde East/Central Asia every other year. The every other year deployment ended the marriage of my wife's sister. My brother-in-law has only been home half the time in the last six years. He had a one year tour in Kosovo and is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. All power to the troops but IMHO, signing up for military service at this point is a dumb decision. Also got word from STL this week that my wife's childhood friend who is in his early thirties actually got acceptted to the Navy. The dude is bi-polar, at least a past drug user, still lives with his parents and can't even keep a job as a pizza delivery driver. The guy stole a car once and drove to Florida to meet aliens. If this is how the U.S. military is meeting its recruitment goals, then the services are in trouble.
Yeah, I was going to let this thread die gracefully, but it's common knowledge and established fact that the army, inter alia, has been lowering recruiting standards, lowering recruiting goals, and drastically increasing the share of resources it spends on recruiting recently, all since the Iraq war started. I clicked on the link that gwayneco posted, which implies that this common knowledge is all some sort of liberal conspiracy job, and I didn't find anything to support the vague-ish speculation that some random military-ish blog website put up. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire paragraph is a fabrication.
That webstite is primarily the work of James Dunnigan and Austin Bay. They know a lot more about the military than you. Since you think the entire paragraph is a fraud, please disprove the facts stated in it.
I don't see a single source for any of the factual assertions: "Attempts to portray the military recruiters as preying on the poor and ignorant also backfired, once it was pointed out that recruits are still above average in terms of education and family income" "backfired" on who? the liberals? the jihadists? your mom? "it was pointed out" to who? when? where? by who? "recruits are still above average..." which recruits? who? above what average? Source =? DoD? Senior official? hello? Maybe these two people on the internet that you swear by do know more than me. However I can tell you that I know a lot more about writing a coherent paragraph that gives the reader some idea of what the hell one is referring to. Random implied pronouns referring to unspecified events = Now, prove to me that it's not a fabrication, find a source, something. It's unfair of course to ask you to do this cause it's really the writer's job, I'm just saying that I can't make heads or tails of this, and it does nothing to refute the established facts about the army's recruitment. Not that it particularly matters all that much anyway.
YES!!! I saw Independence Day, so I know how important it is to have those guys on our side. Let me just say this, though...if they're involved now, it's really important we maintain the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. but you didn't hear that from me.
I don't think so, after his bi-polar high wore off he decided to head back to Missouri. On another occasion he decided to go to his neighborhood Catholic church and steal the Bible from the altar. I think his dad found it and took it back. Of course his mother is the real piece of work in that family. There was the day she set the family computer on fire. No one really knows why, but she has been committed and released several times.
I was shocked at how dumb most of the people were while I was in the military. I kept thinking that if we are the best military in the world, I'd hate to see what the others are like. I passed up college scholarships because I wanted to serve my country. I come from a family with a great military history. Now, I wouldn't persuade anyone to join the military. I feel that there are other ways of bettering your life and serving your country. I can't help but call bs on the article. Its funny that they say that recruiters do not prey on the dumb and ignorant. Anyone in high school or recently graduate is ignorant. They have no idea what they are getting themselves into and recruiters paint this beautiful picture and lie, lie, lie. These kids buy it hook, line, and sinker too. And once they are in, they are stuck like chuck. For 8 years. Since most of these kids are either dumb or poor they are easily brainwashed by the military's propaganda both before and after enlistment. Very few see through the horse**** and I'm sure that the soldiers over there do believe that they are doing the right thing. I'm sure they do feel they are winning the war on terror. They believe exactly what they are told because THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TAUGHT AND CONDITIONED TO DO FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT THEY ARE IN THE MILITARY. They are taught and conditioned to NOT question the chain of command.
The re-enlistment rate among non-reserve units is very high, so a lot of soldiers disagree with you. I guess they're all idiots. Well, not everyone can be as brilliant as you.
I don't care if you agree with me or not. I was in pre 9/11 so perhaps the quality of people that comprises our military has gone up and if that is the case, good for them. They desperately needed it. I do not know about re-enlistment rates but I know that many re-enlist because of a promised bonus or rank increase. Others feel that they can get some glorious retirement after 20 years that ends up not being worth crap. I'm sorry I'm not Rah Rah the military. It's my opinion based on my experiences. Most people have never served one day of their life and make all sorts of ridiculous claims. I'm proud of my military service and hope that our boys do well and come home soon. That doesn't mean that there are not many flaws and bull**** within the military. The VA sucks, the medical care sucks, the recruiting system sucks, the beauracracy sucks. I apologize that I feel there is room for improvement.
The military is a huge bureaucrcy, and like all bureacracies, it has its flaws. What I am saying is that the people who are closest to the situation are re-enlisting at high rates, especially among combat units with Iraq experience. The media have been pounding the military whenever goals were not met, so my purpose was to provide some context.
And like I said in my first post, they are taught to believe whatever they are told and never question. It's Military 101.
