First Tiime in Five Years: Army did not meet goal. (CNN)

[doxieone]

Just mentioned on CNN by Barbara Scott. January and Feb. this year.

People signing up for Marines down as well - they missed goals for January and February. First time in a decade.

Why?

Scott: Iraq is an issue. Improving economy. Some parents are discouraging their young children from joining the services.


(link is shown below)

From USA Today

Army misses recruiting goal

Thu Mar 3, 6:30 AM ET Politics - USATODAY.com


By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - In what could be a troubling sign for the military, the active-duty Army missed its February recruiting goal by more than 27%. It was the first time in almost five years that the Army has failed to meet a monthly target.
The Army signed up 5,114 recruits in February, 1,936 fewer than its goal of 7,050. The last time the Army missed a monthly target was in May 2000.


The February shortfall is especially worrisome because it comes as the Army is trying to lure recruits with the largest enlistment bonuses it has ever offered: up to $20,000 to some recruits willing to sign on for four years. The Pentagon (news - web sites) has also been adding thousands of recruiters for the Army and other branches.


Doug Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky, attributed the shortfall in part to competition from the improving economy and parents' fears that their children could be injured or killed in Iraq (news - web sites). As of Wednesday, nearly 1,500 U.S. servicemembers had died in Iraq since the invasion in March 2003.

(snip)

[doxieone]

1. link

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20050303/pl_usatoday/armymissesrecruitinggoal

[GodlessBiker]

2. "Iraq is an issue."? No. It's THE issue.

[ET Awful]

3. Yup. . . I don't think "improving economy" has a whole hell of a lot

to do with it.

If the economy had anything to do with it, MORE people would be enlisting. The only people seeing a "good" economy are those who would never enlist anyway.

[Richard Steele]

31. Yeah, what 'improving economy' is competing with the US military?

Are they recruiting in CHINA, perhaps?

That guy should get a nod for "Idiot of the Week"!

[Supersedeas]

21. but Rummy has a plan to outsource foreign...nn..nationals as mercenaries

Pay less but get more.

[beyurslf]

4. If they met their through the 90's with the best

economy in decades, I don't think the "economic growth" of today has anything to do with it.

Maybe the 1500 coffins from Iraq has something to do with it. And maybe the "all options on the table" with Syria has something to do with it.

[Pinboy]

5. Having your son or daughter alive and whole . . . PRICELESS!

[bahrbearian]

10. Very Good, I'll have to remember that one.

[Richard Steele]

32. Nicely put, Pinboy! and welcome to DU!

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Looks like potential recruits don't want to ...

be lead by a Commander & Chief that's an AWOL/drunk/coke head. Never had any problem making recruiting goals when Clinton was in charge.

[bahrbearian]

12. "Clinton ,Decimated our military, and cut its funding !" (sarcasm)

[trogdor]

24. Bingo.

That's it. Lack of confidence in the Commander In Chief. I wouldn't bet my son's life on Bushit, either. Fortunately, it doesn't take much discouragement on my part to put that idea right out of his head.

[VegasWolf]

7. Doh! Feels drafty in here. Need more footsoldiers for the Imperial

Army.

[PunkPop]

8. Yeah, I would say it's "troubling"

Especially considering we're only 4 years on from one of the worst attacks on US soil in our history. An attack that created an overwhelming sense of national pride that at any other time in history would have lingered for many years. But now, thanks to the Idiot-in-Chief, we are having trouble just meeting the minimum recruiting goals of almost all the services.

"George Bush - He's Bad for America"

[DemocracyInaction]

9. Give Me a D; Give me an R; Give me an A; Give me a FT...........

...and give me your kid, and this time "NO DEFEREMENTS".........that should scare the hell of those brainless broads called "security moms" 'cause even your swadling child will have to serve since these 'bringing Democracy to the world" little spats will go on and on and on. Be sure to run along and vote republican again. Assholes.

[Charles19]

11. I think the parents will vote for the whacko's in office

but won't let their kids go fight for them.

[calimary]

17. Yes, but at least they're keeping the gays from marrying each other!

And bush was sent to us by God.

[napi21]

13. I feel sorry for the recruiters.

My sister's son in law was a recruiter for 5 years just before he retired from the marines about 2 years ago. You can't imagine the pressure they are under to meet the quota. He said the thing that saved his ass was the start of the war in Afg. and Iraq. He's retired now, and says he feels very sorry for the current recruiters. They are assigned to that job, few if any like it, and then are told to make the damn quota in any way necessary! These guys don't like to lie, but now, it seems to be the only way to do the job.

[Mari333]

14. Where are all those college Republicans?

Someone needs to start demanding they put up or shut up.

[Ganja Ninja]

16. Exactly! Well said! n/t

[jpak]

25. They're out shouting

"Hey Hey Ho Ho Social Security Has Got to Go"

Draft 'em all I say...

[Bridget Burke]

28. And putting red stars on the doors of liberal professors.

Little chicken hawks.

[girl gone mad]

41. "Hey hey, ho ho College Republicans have got to go...

to Iraq!"

[driver8]

40. They are too busy interning at daddy's law firm...

Those loud mouthed baby chickenhawks aren't going to fight...that is for the poor kids who couldn't afford to go to college. After all, someone will have to run the government after daddy retires.

[Danocrat]

15. No need for a draft

All they have to do to meet their quota is put an ad up at FreeRepublic.com

[Pinboy]

18. And raise the bribe for those 'patriots'

[leftynyc]

20. That won't work

Freepers are the biggest pussies around (no offense to kitties) - all they do is sit behind a computer and bitch swearing they LOVE the military.

[biftonnorton]

19. Makes Me Wanna Puke

All the "support our troops" hypocrisy-- "We support them, but we don't want our kid to BE one." Notions of widespread sacrifice and duty to one's country seem to be dying out with the Greatest Generation.

[lebkuchen]

22. Since the first time in MODERN HISTORY incentive bonuses are offered

to vets leaving active duty if they sign up for Guard/Reserve units.

[harrison]

23. A suggestion to Recruiters: please pass this on. Visit your

nearest college and find out the next scheduled meeting of College Republicans. Call and get on their agenda. Take plenty of sign up forms and make your presentation en masse to these spoiled little shits. Pass out the sign out forms. Have plenty of pens available. Wait patiently for the signed forms to be returned to you.

[trogdor]

27. Oh, and don't forget the churches.

You know, the ones that passed out those "voter guides" last year, and make praying for the President part of their weekly service. Should be plenty of potential recruits there.

Right.

[yorkiemommie1]

26. i ran into a guy who was all for the war

establishing ' democracy like in germany and japan )--- his wife is japanese born as are his stepsons.

so the other day, i asked him what the boys were doing... oh... in college. i could barely restrain myself from asking why they haven't enlisted. --- we were in a restaurant or i would have asked.

not one, NOT ONE bush voter i know has a kid who's enlisted. on the other hand, my Kerry friend's son enlisted!

[Kokonoe]

29. Who wants to sign an endless year contract. N/T

[jdj]

30. hard to believe there are even 5000 people that stupid.

but maybe they are just desperate like everyone else nowadays.

[Zhade]

33. GOOD.

NT!

[old blue]

34. The Few. uhhhh, The Marines.

[Scooter24]

35. Army misses recruiting goal (by more than 27%)

Army misses recruiting goal
By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
Updated 3/3/2005 4:04 PM

WASHINGTON — In what could be a troubling sign for the military, the active-duty Army missed its February recruiting goal by more than 27%. It was the first time in almost five years that the Army has failed to meet a monthly target.

The Army signed up 5,114 recruits in February, 1,936 fewer than its goal of 7,050. The last time the Army missed a monthly target was in May 2000.
The February shortfall is especially worrisome because it comes as the Army is trying to lure recruits with the largest enlistment bonuses it has ever offered: up to $20,000 to some recruits willing to sign on for four years. The Pentagon has also been adding thousands of recruiters for the Army and other branches.

Doug Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky, attributed the shortfall in part to competition from the improving economy and parents' fears that their children could be injured or killed in Iraq. As of Wednesday, nearly 1,500 U.S. servicemembers had died in Iraq since the invasion in March 2003.

Smith also said the Army has used up many of its "delayed entry" recruits — people who agree to sign up, but whose enlistment is delayed until later for their convenience or the Army's. Last year, the Army rushed several thousand recruits in the delayed entry program into basic training to meet its 2004 recruiting target. Normally, those recruits would have been available this year to boost recruiting numbers.

"It's just going to be a rough year," Smith said.

(more)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-03-02-army-goal_x.htm

[mhr]

36. Well Duh - Who Would Want To Die For George W. Bush?

eom

[whistle]

37. Here in Florida, they are recruiting at all of the high schools

...and college campuses, but I've not read or heard how they are doing. Why would 73% of students even consider signing up?

[HockeyMom]

53. Leave No Child Behind Law

part of it. High Schools MUST give military names and phone numbers of students unless they are under 18 and parents sign Do Not Call List.

[diamond14]

38. attributed the shortfall in part to competition from the improving economy

these people are DELUSIONAL....

[hvn_nbr_2]

39. Wising up. "Two-year commitment" means they call you back at 55.

Once they got you, they got you till you can't walk without a walker.

[Moderator]

42. kick to combine

[ckramer]

43. Army, Army Reserve miss February recruitment goals

For the first time in almost five years, the active-duty Army missed its monthly recruiting goal in February, a failure directly related to public concerns about the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, an Army recruiting official said.

The Army Reserve also missed its goals in February, for the second month in a row.

“People are watching the news,” said Doug Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky. “They know the risks of military service in today’s environment.”

Army recruiters were told to bring 7,050 new soldiers into the fold in February.

Instead, the recruiters found only 5,114 people willing to join the active Army.

link

[katinmn]

44. where are all the praying chicken hawks? They wanted this war.

[Ganja Ninja]

45. It's hard to believe that the college republicans aren't ...

lining up for a chance to serve the Bush Crime Family. I thought sure they were real patriots. If any of you are out there listening you need to show your support for the great leader by signing up today. Otherwise your nothing by a bunch of mealy mouthed chicken hawks like all your hero's.

[Skittles]

47. it's not even a funny cliche anymore

the image of those lilly-white asshole "college republicans" supporting a war WHEN THEY NEVER SERVED and are still sucking mom and dad's money really makes me SICK.

[Skittles]

46. how good is THAT for America's SECURITY?

answer THAT all you stupid assholes who voted for bush for "security reasons". :puke:

[lebkuchen]

48. Stripes has been printing some provocative articles

with imbedded questions such as yours begging to be answered.

[Coventina]

49. Yeah, all those so-called "security moms" need to sign up their sons

or husbands or brothers, or heck, why don't they go themselves?

That's being the ultimate "security mom" isn't it?

[katinmn]

52. Exactly. Could it be that most Americans really oppose the war?

[Coventina]

50. Evil parents preventing ignorant kids from joining up.

:eyes:

Yeah, THAT'S the problem.

Oh yeah AND the booming economy.

Puhleeeese!!!!

[yellowcanine]

51. Somebody must have left the back door open again. Where is that draft

coming from?

[No Exit]

54. Who's "making cutbacks" in the military NOW??

Remember the repuke propaganda piece which purports to list the cutbacks Clinton made in the military?

Bush's fraudulent wars are bringing recruitment levels way down. BUSH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEPLETION OF OUR MILITARY!