In Abington, Ash Carter considers easing enlistment standards

[jakeXT]

ABINGTON — Telling students at Abington Senior High School that the military needs to do more to compete with corporate America, Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened the door Monday to relaxing some enlistment standards — particularly for high-tech or cybersecurity jobs.

Speaking at his alma mater, Carter said the military could ease age requirements and bring in older people who are mid-career, or provide student loan repayments to attract students who have finished college.

There are few details so far, but Carter said the military needs to be more flexible in order to recruit and retain quality people.

The idea, largely in line with the civilian approach to recruitment, upends the military’s more rigid mindset, which puts a high value on certain standards.

http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/local/in-abington-ash-carter-considers-easing-enlistment-standards/article_a74f1e0b-3a88-51aa-990a-7bff073adbd7.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. What a slap in the face to all military, to suggest that

we "relax" standards to let his imagined (probably nonexistent) geek squad--people who are not currently eligible to serve-- waltz in and be handed instant rank and benefits to do something that many military personnel could CERTAINLY be trained to do. My husband was one of them--crosstrained into computers/cyber career field. But he EARNED his rank, took him 18 years to go from Airman Basic to Major. Only someone who never served would think the military works like corporations--what a tool.

[bemildred]

2. +1. nt