Given the current situation with Iraq and the ongoing war on terrorism, one might assume that Uncle Sam, like he did in the early 20th century, wants you. Don't take it personally, but the bearded old guy in the stars-and-stripes top hat really doesn't fancy you any more than usual.
Although recruitment stations around the country haven't exactly staked "keep out" signs out front, there hasn't been a concerted effort to increase the size of a new class of military personnel, either. Perhaps a better slogan would be Uncle Sam wants you, he just doesn't need you at the moment.
"It's the military's task to be ready to respond," said Cmdr. Steve Lowry, Public Affairs Officer for Navy Recruiting Command. "The Navy-Marine Corps team's job is to be forward deployed and ready to go, and we are just that."
The stagnant — and in some cases, diminishing — amount of new recruits as the nation prepares for a war may come as a surprise to some, especially after reports surfaced that indicated increased interest in the armed forces following the events of September 11. Recruiters, however, are quick to dismiss attempts to reach out to members of the armed forces as a desire to enlist.
Recruitment offices are often the most visible military presence in a community, and immediately after the tragedy, some offices received calls about the future of the enlisted family members. In others locations, when troops were deployed to Afghanistan in search of Osama Bin Laden, veterans from as far back as the Korean War and World War II called to re-enlist, a futile effort given the 34-year-old age limit on new recruits. Other folks simply dropped by to say thanks to the men and women dedicated to protecting their country.
"You could describe that as an increase in interest, but they weren't really going to turn into enlistments anyway," S. Douglas Smith, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, said. "If September 11, [and more recently, President Bush's] State of the Union address and Colin Powell's condemnation of Iraq's violation of U.N. agreements (see "Iraq, World React To Colin Powell's U.N. Show-And-Tell") had any effect, it may have reinforced all the people who were predisposed to an enlistment to think, 'Now's the time.' "
Population capacities for the armed forces are set by the Department of Defense. The Army has the greatest number of servicemen and women at 480,000; the Marines, at 173,000, constitute the smallest ("the few, the proud" indeed). Based on those levels, annual recruitment goals are set.
In 2002, one year after the September 11 attacks, when the political spectrum focused heavily on military action towards Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marines hoped for 38,577 new recruits. It corralled nearly 1,000 more than that, according to figures supplied by Master Sergeant Emanuel Pacheco of Marine Corps Recruiting Command. The Corps, as well as the Army, Navy and Air Force, have either met or exceeded annual recruitment goals throughout the most of the last decade.
In fact, the armed forces could have probably enlisted more troops than they did, had it been necessary ... or legal. Recruitment goals for the Navy, for example, decreased by nearly 7,000 sailors from 2001 to 2002. While there was hardly reason to downsize the fleet during that time, the figures are evident that more sailors are extending their stays, thereby forging less of a need for new recruits. As long as these conditions persist, recruiters can be more finicky with whom they enlist.
"By law, the Navy is required to be either a half percent below or 1 percent above that 375,000 figure," Cmdr. Lowry said. "By lowering our recruitment goals that allows us to be more selective, to increase the number of people with college degrees, for example."
Statistics support that the Army is doing just that. A few years ago, the average age of a recruit was 19. Today, most new soldiers are 20.7 years of age, the result of recruiters targeting college-age people rather than high school students.
"By no means is the Army trying to lure people out of college or high school," said the Army's Smith. "But some people aren't prepared for college, either financially or they just aren't able to handle the responsibilities. The Army can help with both of those."
Although the military has been on par with recruitment goals, that doesn't mean signing people up is easy. The biggest obstacle recruiters face is dispelling the idea that military service is an impediment to going to college, especially when nearly two-thirds of high school students plan to enroll immediately after graduation.
The other hurdle is ensuring that applicants meet the requirements. Among other criteria, prospective recruits must be 18-34 (17 with a guardian's permission); they must have a high school diploma (or in some cases the equivalent thereof), be physically fit, and pass the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery, the military's version of the SAT. Recruiters also look at an applicant's criminal record and administer a drug test. The last two provisions are usually evaluated on a case-by-case basis, meaning a jaywalking offense is considered far less severe than armed robbery, and while habitual drug users aren't likely to pass muster, a test returning positive results for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, will likely spur a re-test rather than disqualify the applicant.
The military isn't for everyone. Even the hardened Master Sergeant Pacheco had to admit the armed forces probably aren't the best career path for any of his three children. While all the branches offer similar pay, housing and medical benefits, other advantages vary. The Army, for instance, provides a college loan repayment program up to $60,000 and two-, three- and four-year enlistments. The Navy prides itself on offering highly technical training and an increased level of responsibility at a more junior level. (For proof, consider that the average age on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is 19.) And the Air Force offers an enlistment bonus of up to $18,000.
The Marines, too, has its perks, but above all, enlisting with the elite, Msgt. Pacheco explained, gives their recruits something the other branches can't.
"You can call yourself a Marine," growled the officer proudly, "What more do you want?"
For more information on joining the U.S. Armed Forces, check out www.goarmy.com; www.navy.com; www.airforce.com and www.marines.com.
— Joe D'Angelo
