May Recruiting
June 15th, 2008 by Admin
Just in case anyone get confronted with how the military "is not meeting recruiting goals" because of the Iraq War, I want to provide you with the just-released recruitment numbers:
Marine Corps – 122% of requirement
Army – 101% of requirement
Navy – 100% of requirement
Air Force – 100% of requirement
Air National Guard – 131% of requirement
Army Reserve – 107% of requirement
Marine Corps Reserve – 100% of requirement
Navy Reserve – 100% of requirement
Air Force Reserve – 100% of requirement
Army National Guard – 94% of requirement (there's one for the anti-war folks to cling to!)
Not to be sounding like something along the lines of an asshole/liberal/anti-war person, but I wonder how many of those recruits make it into the military…
Marine Corps wins the active duty side! *flex*
Juan,
What is your point? Or do you have one?
The Grasss Hopper,
I think what he means is that not everybody who applies will qualify, therefore, the numbers may not be totally accurate. In that I agree, what keeps the military strong is that they have tough training and have the power to kick out people who are not good enough. The same cannot be said for conscript armies like the one in my country.
Isaac,
Thanks. But I knew that. Was just putting out a worm to see it he would bite.
Hey, where are you from?
Juan,
I don't know the percentage, but recruitment numbers have a pre-established washout rate applied to them. For example, the Army recruited 5,568 Soldiers last month but may have only needed 5,000 (I made that number; I don't know the real number). Washout is factored into the monthly/yearly goals.
The Grass Hopper,
Umm… I think my country is stated on my comment. Anyway, for us, all males at the age of 18-19 (depending on level of education) are required to serve for 2 years. It is still 2 more years to go for me, but all my brothers have done it. While I am proud to serve, many are not thus, the drop in standard.
Anyway, thanks for the interest, many people don't seem to care at all.
Isaac,
Hey my bad on where you are from. I learned today that when you put your mouse pointer on the flag of the person it lets you know where they are from. That let me know your are from Singapore. Sorry about that.
I joined the US Army when we still had a draft and most didn't want to be there and did everything they could to get out. I can remember going through basic and catching hell when they found out I had joined.
Later I worked with the German Army that also has a draft. Was the same thing when they had to do their 18 months.
When you say "It is still 2 more years to go for me,". Is that 2 more years before you go to the military or 2 years to finish serving your country?
It is 2 more years before I will go. All my brothers have finished their term of service though. I think a highly trained professinal army would do a lot more good than a lot of conscripts.
It is quite sad that people give others hell for signing up, still, it is another side effect of a draft. In my country it used to be 32 months, but a couple of years back they reduced it to 24 months.
Isaac,
In the past a conscript army was the only way to put boots on the ground. The thought was if we put them there and they got shot at they would shoot back.
Today's US Army is a whole lot different. Do not quote me on this. But I read somewhere that 1 solider today has the firepower at his disposal of 25 soliders in WWII. Will try to find where I read this.
You seem to want to serve your country. Malaysia. But are you from the Malays sect?
Umm… I am from Singapore, not Malaysia. We were the same country 40 years ago for 3 years but not anymore. We have malays in my country though. I am a Chinese (though many have flamed me for not being a "real chinese" because I hate commies).
I would be even more proud if we did not have conscription. We used to have a few boots in Iraq but ever since we started making deals with some Middle Easten countries all our troops pulled out. Strange.
Isaac, your written English is outstanding. I had always assumed you were an American living overseas. Anyway.
Do you plan on doing more than your two obligated years?
Isaac,
Had to ask about the malays.
Marcus asked my next question. What are your plans after your 2 years?
Well, in Sammie's ROTC class this year there were, I believe, 46 seniors. Of the 46, 28 of them had enlisted in one branch or another. Another 4 received appointments to West Point, 2 to Annapolis and 2 to the Air Force Academy.
One of the girls had managed to wrack up an impressive 600k in scholarships and Brian (one of the West Point appointee's was the recipient of a 500k award)
Sammie, a Jr. this year, was one of 11 or 12 Jr's to enlist on a split option, again scattered through various branches.
Not bad #'s from a single Jr ROTC program from a single high school, in a single city in the great big USofA.
By the way, she was able to call home yesterday (Friday) and said to say hi, so HI!!! They've been issued thier uniforms and she thinks they'll be moving from reception to basic on Monday. She had to be calling from the worst phone on post because we spent more time yelling "What did you say?" than actually talking.
Marcus and The Grass Hopper,
Well, I suppose I can trust you guys enough to tell you. I plan on joining the US Marines. It is a big thing I know but it has always been what I wanted to be. I still need to find out more about the policy of foreigners enlisting. (Marcus, do you know anything about that?)
I love my country but I feel that the Marines will allow me to fight for freedom in the way I have always wanted, not being forced to sit back during attacks and such.
Unless of course CJ can convince me that the Army is better%u2026
In all honesty, Isaac, it really depends on what YOU want out of your service. There is an intense rivalry between the Army and Marines, but we both highly respect each other and work as a team. We all have the same goals. Maybe you, me, and Marcus could arrange a Yahoo conference IM or something like that and give it to you straight.
Well, yes I suppose so. I don't really use Yahoo (I always prefer e-mail). But still, that is a long way from now. I still have at least 4 years to go (Two more to finish my diploma and another 2 for my term of service). Still, it would be cool to hear in what way they are different.
Isaac,
I would like to see you GO ARMY. But I was Army. Go with your heart. And yes there is a rivalry between the Army and the Marines. Just like there is a rivalry in the Army between Infantry, Tanker, Cavalry, Artillery and the both services have an Air Arm.
No matter what you decide. Best of luck and I would be proud of you. Even if you decided to stay in your own miltary.
Isaac, I'm in the perfect place to find out about you enlisting as a noncitizen. The recruiter's school is right next door to the school I'm attending. I'll find some answer and get back with you when I get home at the end of the week.
Angel,
Sorry I missed your post. I reposted it below. From what you say this is Great News. It is so nice to see the young of this country willing to stand up and be counted. As few as they are. Tell them or at least Sammie I SALUTE them. The Bases have the worse pay phones if that is what she was using. The companies that now own these phone's like to take in the money but do not like to maintain them. Unlike what has to be provided to the scum in our jails. Got to take care of their rights first.
Here is a link I think you might enjoy. The Few, the Proud. 5 out of 1600.
weeklystandar...192zfbkh.asp
Again Sorry for missing your post.
Well, in Sammie's ROTC class this year there were, I believe, 46 seniors. Of the 46, 28 of them had enlisted in one branch or another. Another 4 received appointments to West Point, 2 to Annapolis and 2 to the Air Force Academy.
One of the girls had managed to wrack up an impressive 600k in scholarships and Brian (one of the West Point appointee's was the recipient of a 500k award)
Sammie, a Jr. this year, was one of 11 or 12 Jr's to enlist on a split option, again scattered through various branches.
Not bad #'s from a single Jr ROTC program from a single high school, in a single city in the great big USofA.
By the way, she was able to call home yesterday (Friday) and said to say hi, so HI!!! They've been issued thier uniforms and she thinks they'll be moving from reception to basic on Monday. She had to be calling from the worst phone on post because we spent more time yelling "What did you say?" than actually talking
Hey can someone here bump this one up?
Marcus,
Thanks a lot!! No rush for the info though, it is still a long way for me.
CJ and The Grass Hopper
Thanks for the support, it means a lot to me.
Who ever bumped this up. Thanks
Isaac, Marcus,
There are many non-us citizens serving in the US Miitary today as they have done in the past. Check the link below.
michaelyon-on...p;Itemid=106
But in 2 to 4 years things will change.
Michael Yon's site provides a wealth of knowledge you will never get or see from the MSM.
michaelyon-online.com/
Thanks a lot for the links. Those stories always mean a lot to me.
Isaac,
Here is a site that I think you will also find helpfull
longwarjournal.org/