Why is the military struggling to find new people?

Question

WASHINGTON - Military leaders are struggling to choose Army units to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan longer or go there earlier than planned, but five years of war have made fresh troops harder to find.

Faced with a military buildup in Iraq that could drag into next year, Pentagon officials are trying to identify enough units to keep up to 20 brigade combat teams in Iraq. A brigade usually has about 3,500 troops. There is no draft so the Pentagon is trying to figure out a way to get fresh troops. The Republicans are know not to enlist.

Answer 1

You changed the wording on this article (again). I surmise the last two sentences were clearly added by you based on how poorly written they are.

"The Republicans are know not to enlist."

--- Use spell check if you want people to believe you're actually copying and pasting rather than throwing in your own thoughts randomly.

--- Completely ridiculous statement that is not only false, but is in no way connected to the previous two paragraphs.

I still think your screen name is the ultimate in irony.

Answer 2

That article makes no sense.

First, they're not looking for "fresh" troops as in people who haven't even enlisted yet. They're looking for units that have either not been deployed for OEF / OIF yet, or units that have not been deployed recently. There are some units that have gone to Iraq several times now, so they're trying to call up units that have not. Makes sense.

Second, there's no lack of "fresh troops", period. If you look at actual enlistment and retention (re-enlistment) numbers, you will see that all branches of service have either met or exceeded their goals for the last two years at least. And that's taking into account that the Army is actually getting larger by 65,000 soldiers.

Then again, any article that has a snippet like, "The Republicans are known not to enlist" is probably not too keen to check other facts before publishing, either.

Answer 3

I think it might be because of the growing number of people dying in Iraq (Military and Civilians). I am 19 years old, I thought about joining the Army but I didn't reason being, I don't think it is any of the U.S.A's Business getting involved in a civil war. Troop surges and the like aren't going to solve anything, IT IS A CIVIL WAR!!! Even if Iraq has a stable government in place, it isn't going to help much. Civilians will keep dying every day. The main problem is too many radicals and they are continuing to pop-up everyday. As for Afghanistan, I can't say much for her, I do know that things have died down a little bit in Afghanistan, but in Iraq, it is a growing trend to hear about IEDs and car bombs everyday on the news. Both of my brother's are in Iraq, and both of them now think it was a bad idea to join the Army. Don't let the President fool you, We won't "fix" Iraq anytime soon. It is a lost cause and he could of come up with a better solution for invading Iraq instead he said their were WMDs which wasn't the case. What did the hanging of Saddam do? Nothing really, he wasn't a Hitler or Stalin that is for sure... Sorry for the rant, but I never really get to express my opinion on issues like this that often.

Answer 4

Not because of low pay and hazardous duties as such.

During WWII, the pay was next to nothing and the risk of death and injuries much higher, yet we had people lying about their age and medical conditions to get in. Sure, there was the draft then but why did many people who wouldn't be drafted because of age (too young or too old), medical conditions or family circumstances (siblings already in the service) volunteered anyway?

There must be something else. Could it be WWII was viewed a just war by most of our people then?

Answer 5

Some kids these days are more concerned about getting high, getting laid and watching American Idol more than actually getting off their parent's basements and do something productive with their lives. Others view the military as 3 square meals and free benefits during peace time, but when war comes, they ditch their uniforms and run like cowards to Canada while others break their own legs in order to avoid going overseas.

Pathetic.

Answer 6

Its because the majority of american children are to soft. They ask whats in it for me? If more people would listen to the words of JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country" the military would have even more troops than it already does. The Marine Corps is actually turning away volunteers because there are too many, I'm not sure on the other branchs, but there are no recruitment shortages that I know of.

Answer 7

The people most likely to enlist believe that the war is not worth their lives. It is not an American war protecting Americans + neither was Viet Nam. You can not get people to sign up for a war they don't believe in. The next step is conscription! Will it come to that?

Too bad youngsters aren't taught about the 60's and the gift the hippies gave to a crazy world of war. Its too bad that so many of our mistakes never lead to understanding.

Answer 8

This war is based on deceit, profiteering, oil, Imperialism and little concern for the lives of the troops. God bless & help them while in this mess.

Answer 9

when ther is a war going on and civilians and soilders are being targeted by undetectable bombs exploding at anytime i dont think anyone has an interest in joining the army and putting their lives at risk in a senseless war

Answer 10

I like all your answers "Scruffy" Now, The far left media has verbally castrated our troops so much that a lot of young men don't know what to do!! A vet..1964-1970