WP: Fewer Army Recruits Lined Up

[kskiska]

Manpower Concerns Raised as Pool Shrinks to Three-Year Low

The Army's pool of future recruits has dwindled to its lowest level in three years, worrying Pentagon officials as the service is being stretched by the unexpectedly difficult occupation of Iraq.

The Army watches the number of future soldiers in the "delayed entry" program -- those who have enlisted but have not been shipped to boot camp -- as a way to make sure it has enough recruits to keep training camps fully manned in the coming months.

That number has declined to about 23 percent of the number of recruits being shipped this year -- the lowest percentage in three years, said Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, a spokesman for the Army's personnel office.

"It is an indicator that troubles us, but it isn't shocking," Hilferty said. He said Army officials believe that the situation is "cyclical" and is likely to recover.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4013-2004Jul21.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Just watch

When it comes time for a draft if Bush wins a common theme on the conservative radio talk shows and from the Echo Machine will be that immigrants (legal and illegal) should be drafted first. The argument will be that they need to "earn their keep", and learn some "discipline and patriotism". Anything to keep the lily white boys in the sanctuary of their frat houses.

[SammyBlue]

7. I agree, except

I am in a fraternity. Please don't lump us all into the same boat as the Chimp-In-Charge's Skull and Bones or Trett Lott's Sigma Nu (who was taken to court to intergrate).

My fraternity has done alot of good and has one of the best reputations of ANY in the Greek system.

It isn't keeping the frat boys in the fraternity, it's making sure that the military has its full of poor and minorities. Hell, when I was in HS, my guidance counselor only knew four options after graduation: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.

As for everything else you said, I agree. I've noticed that the people my age (I'm 25) and younger who support the war don't put their money where their mouths are and enlist to fight it. That's the job of the other person, not them.

Talk radio idiots don't have to fight, so that's all they care about. Lives of young people are meaningless to them.

[faithnotgreed]

10. hi sammyblue - welcome

[Zorra]

2. That's what happens when you lie a nation into war. Bu$h is

singlehandedly destroying our nation's defense capabilities.

Bu$h gave the order to invade Iraq.

Who would want to join the military after finding out that their pResident lied in order to invade a sovereign nation that was not a threat to our country?

We may need to pull out of Iraq just so we have the capability to defend our own borders.

[gratuitous]

3. And what happens at home?

I don't know if the Bush administration has figured this into their "plans," but wildfire season is starting out west, and traditionally, governors have called out the national guard in their states to help provide firefighters and support for fighting fires.

What's going to happen this summer? Homes burning? Power lost? Roads impassable? And nobody to help secure disaster areas. Thanks a lot from Oregon, Stupidhead. For nothing.

[zelda7743]

4. I have a feeling....

That as the economy gets worse, more people will be forced to look at the army as a way to make ends meet.
I wouldn't be surprised if the government starts offering people in prison early parole if they join the service.

[killbotfactory]

5. No Shit?

You mean people are less likely to sign up to the military when our president send them off around the world chasing phantom threats for the benefit of his buddies and some ludicrous pipe-dream of transforming the middle east into democracy by force?

Huh...

[leesa]

6. "cyclical"...what the hell does this mean in this context?

Did they kill too many and outpaced their supply? Man, conservatives are stupid people.

[daleo]

9. They are waiting for a new crop to grow

That they can then go harvest.

[JSJ]

8. sure hope this means...

...that the youth (and their parents) of this country are finally wising up and starting to look for honest employment.

[struggle4progress]

11. kick

:kick: