Is the U.S. military running short on recruits?

Question

I've been hearing lateley that the U.S. millitary is secretly lowering the bar in standards to join the millitary, due to lack of new troops.
Fewer and fewer ppl are joing the millitary...particularly Army and Marines, who can balme them? they know they'll just end up in Iraq fighting a greedy man's private war.
Is the U.S millitary getting desperate?

Answer 1

Well how about some facts :


Overall, 175,000 people enlisted in 2006, more than 32,000 more than 2005.


More people are joining the military now than before the war.

The Active Army End Strength was 505,000 up 12K from FY05

The highest since 1995.

The Reserve End Strength was 190,000 up 1K from FY05
The Army National Guard End Strength up 346,000 from 13K from FY05

2006 Army enlistment and reenlistment data:

The active Army recruited 80,635 active Soldiers, 101% of its goal, the most since 1997. 7,000 more recruits than in 2005.

The Army Reserve recruited 25,378 Soldiers in 2006, 99.5% of its goal of 25,500 . 6,000 more recruits than in 2005.

The Army National Guard recruited 69,042 Soldier 98.6% of its goal, the most since 1992. 18,800 more than in 2005.

67,410 Soldiers reenlisted in the army in 2006, 105% of the goal of 64,200.

18,243 Soldiers reenlisted in the Army Reserves in 2006, 103% of its goal of 17,712 .

41,152 Soldiers reenlisted in the Army National Guard in 2006, 118% of its goal.



It doesn't sound like any recruitment problems to me.

And this was accomplished while the End Strength of the Army active, reserve and national guard were all increased

Answer 2

The Marines, which along with the Army have borne the brunt of combat in Iraq, said they already have fulfilled 90 percent of their retention goal for the fiscal year for getting Marines to re-up after their initial commitment. The Air Force and the Navy said they, too, are exceeding goals for getting airmen and sailors to re-enlist. Despite all the wounded -- and despite the rising death toll of U.S. troops in Iraq -- soldiers and Marines are signing up for another tour of duty, re-enlisting at rates that exceed the retention goals set by the Pentagon.

Even if the US had to "lower the bar" in standards, as you say, what difference does that make? An "average" soldier can kill the enemy just as efficiently as an "above average" soldier or Marine, or maybe even better.

When we have to start calling up guys that have been retired for five or more years, then you can start getting worried. But you won't have to worry, cowards don't make it through bootcamp.

Answer 3

Do you quite trust that the size of the pay verify is what activates those young children to enlist, or do you imagine lots of them do it for God and u . s .. interior the start of this Iraq conflict many reservists were given stuck interior the middle, in words of being despatched to conflict even as all they quite needed became an practise. today, that is not the case. the persons entering into today comprehend their probabilities of seeing wrestle are especially darn good, hence i do not trust that's funds that motivates them. in basic terms the day previous to this, in speaking with a recruiter, he informed me they in basic terms were not showing up on the door, like they used to take position. i wager this Iraq element is so unpopular in the present day, that that's quite affecting recruiting. the subsequent step in basic terms may be the draft! does not that be something. they are doing such countless stupid issues now, a number of it really is embarrassing. As a Marine recruit sometime earlier Vietnam were given warm, the Marines may situation the rank of percentto the best 3 recruits interior the platoon, come commencement day. This became quite an honor, to be chosen out of a complete of sixty or seventy men, as between the finest of the superb. i became so venerated! today, they situation the rank to any slug, presented he's able to pull a pal alongside or a minimum of supply up a recognition of a candidate. If that guy is recruited, the slug receives the rank. especially pathetic in case you question me, because if something takes position to that undesirable unsuspecting soul, the slug will stay with it, something else of his existence.

Answer 4

It's no secret. They've lowered the ASVAB scores for the Army, and raised the age for enlistment. They've also raised the weight limit, and are granting more waivers than ever before. The standards have stayed the same for the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force though. And recruitment is up for all three of those.

Answer 5

i wont quote the numbers that others already have laid out, recruiting is doing fine.

Many people join the service specifically to deploy and do the work of our country's elected leaders. You may find that foolish, but for many of us committing 4-6 years to do what our country has deemed necessary is an honorable profession.

I for one have been asking and now begging to deploy to a combat zone since i checked into my unit, and my fellow Marines feel the same way. We want to get over there and do our job.

Answer 6

Army yes. Marines no. Air Force and Navy are having trouble finding people to make the grades to be techs.

Answer 7

Your listening to last years propaganda. Actually, the army and Marines are making mission. Granted, they have improved and increased their advertising methods, but it seems to be working!

So, for you pus sies ready to take off for Canada, you're safe, at least for another mission period. Since Canada is a NATO country with troops in Afghanistan, you might find yourselves unwelcome there, at least for this war. If you keep going north, you will find yourselves back in US jurisdiction, Alaska! Bummer!

Nova Scotia and Greenland are pretty, this time of year!

Answer 8

Recruitment levels are steady, regardless of your impressions. The actual numbers show we are doing fine. Navy and Air Force are even up.

Answer 9

No. Don't believe everything you hear. Lots of people are still enlisting. Sorry to break the news to you.

Answer 10

You've been hearing bull s**t.
80,000 new recruits from Jan to Sep.
2/3 re-enlistment.
We have many proud, brave, and patriotic boys & girls in this country.