Another UPSIDE. Debate about WHO is being targeted for recruiting is Page 1

[blm]

and inside Page 5 headline in North Carolina paper today.

Big difference.

Debate over recruitment back in spotlight

MIKE DRUMMOND
[e-mail]


Sen. John Kerry's comment that those who do poorly in school "get stuck in Iraq" has stoked debate about military recruitment on campuses during an increasingly unpopular war.

Critics say the military targets low-income and minority students. Recruiters say America's high-tech, all-volunteer war machine demands smart enlistees and only three of 10 can make the grade.

"We can't take people who don't have technical skills," said Sgt. 1st Class Gary Howard, an Army National Guard recruiter.
He added: "I love recruiting at Myers Park" and other higher-income schools.

As he talked, about 120 Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets performed marching drills in the back parking lot at E.E. Waddell High School. Waddell has large numbers of low-income minorities and is one of the four lowest-performing high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg system.

He and an Army recruiter were on hand to review the cadets and, as Staff Sgt. Kevin Jefferson said, make sure the boys and girls in dark green uniforms had a plan after high school.

"I like being a planner," Jefferson said. "I want every one of these kids to go to college."

With the military stretched thin fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has lowered some academic recruitment standards and even granted waivers to permit the enlistment of people with criminal records that otherwise would disqualify them.
>>>>>>>>>>>

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I just had a discussion (read argument) with my boss about this

yesterday. He's a Korean War vet (Navy) and believes that the Armed Forces still only recruit the best. He wouldn't even listen to me relating the tales I've heard from my recruitment officer cousin. He ( a democrat even) was slamming on Kerry to the point where I had to ask," You know Kerry himself is a Vietnam vet, right? While GW is not..." :eyes:

[wakeme2008]

2. It was just in the news the Army will now accept people without

high school/GED dep.

[MADem]

3. Tell your boss that a retired Navy officer says he's wrong

Better yet, send him these links, or print these out for him. He's in SERIOUS need of an eye-opener, even more so if he is a Democrat:

http://www.slate.com/id/2133908/
GI Schmo
How low can Army recruiters go?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1499164,00.html
US lowers standards in army numbers crisis
The US military has stopped battalion commanders from dismissing new recruits for drug abuse, alcohol, poor fitness and pregnancy in an attempt to halt the rising attrition rate in an army under growing strain as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.


http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,116439,00.html
Lower Standards Help Army Recruit
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army recruited more than 2,600 Soldiers under new lower aptitude standards this year, helping the service beat its goal of 80,000 recruits in the throes of an unpopular war and mounting casualties.

The recruiting mark comes a year after the Army missed its recruitment target by the widest margin since 1979, which had triggered a boost in the number of recruiters, increased bonuses, and changes in standards.

The Army recruited 80,635 Soldiers, roughly 7,000 more than last year. Of those, about 70,000 were first-time recruits who had never served before.

According to statistics obtained by The Associated Press, 3.8 percent of the first-time recruits scored below certain aptitude levels. In previous years, the Army had allowed only 2 percent of its recruits to have low aptitude scores. That limit was increased last year to 4 percent, the maximum allowed by the Defense Department.
....

Whaddaya wanna bet that as time goes on, Snowjob and Bushco are gonna regret opening up that can of worms????????


And ON EDIT: NAVY and AIR FORCE haven't lowered their standards, in fact, those services have had to SHRINK in size to shift the end strength to USA/USMC assets. Thus, these Services' standards have actually gone UP, as they had to cull their ranks. They did offer USAF/USN people the opportunity to go "BLUE TO GREEN" (transfer to the Army) if they weren't "good enough" to stay on.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Been there done that with telling him and showing him MDem...

It hasn't been worth it in the 5 years I've worked with him. He's 78 and you or I are not going to sway him no matter how many printouts I give him.