Guard entices ranks to recruit

[IChing]

The Army National Guard, battling a falloff in recruiting, is offering troops a finder's fee for lining up new soldiers. The Guard recruited 50,219 troops — 20% short of its goal — in fiscal year 2005, which ended Sept. 30

The Guard Recruiter Assistant Program, launched this week in five states, offers National Guard members $1,000 for enlisting a recruit and another $1,000 when the prospect shows up for basic training.

"Bring in 10 people and you can earn $20,000," says Lt. Col. Mike Jones, deputy division chief for recruiting and retention at the National Guard Bureau.

The Army Guard and Reserve have struggled with recruiting as the Pentagon has leaned heavily on their soldiers to fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Before 9/11, Guard troops counted on drilling one weekend a month and two weeks each summer — not on overseas deployments as long as 18 months and the risk of death. As of Wednesday, 123,000 Guard and Reserve troops were on active duty.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-01-enticing-recruits_x.htm

[Erika]

1. The National Guard was never formed to fight off-shore wars

That was not their purpose.

It is shameful that W is now using the recruiters as pimps for his war.

[ugarte]

2. Blood money...nt

[IChing]

3. Sounds like the start of "press gangs" in England's naval history.

But a modern version.

Gets the guy drunk at a bar................
blood money for sure.

[Historic NY]

4. My thinking exactly, give them the "Kings Shilling"....

and then they are yours.

[wakeme2008]

5. While your Bud may not care you got a bonus for recruiting him

Once he loses a body part in Iraq.......

[Toots]

6. I think this is a good thing

While I am adamantly opposed to war I am not opposed to the National Guard. They have been decimated by this Administration and that is not right. The National Guard plays a vital role in the security and safety of our country. I believe it is beginning to dawn on people that the National Guard is being misused and I suspect that the great majority of Guardsmen will be withdrawn from Iraq in the fairly near future. What needs to happen is assurance from the country (leaders from both parties, churches, NRA and other groups) that National Guard will never be used in foreign wars unless absolutely vital for the survival of the nation. I don't believe anybody truly believes that is what is happening in Iraq. However earthquakes, floods, tornados,hurricanes aren't just going to stop happening and in fact IMO are going to get worse. We need the National Guard now more than ever.....

[Massachusetts]

7. "Guard faces extra problems" Stars and Stripes article

"We all leave families behind, but while U.S. Army Europe commander Gen. B.B. Bell and others appear in AFN commercials touting the many programs available to the families of active-duty soldiers, Guard families are left to fend for themselves. While active-duty soldiers send their children to schools where trained personnel understand and help them get through deployment, Guard children go to community schools where teachers and staff, not trained to deal with deployments, handle them quite differently."


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=33305

LOL