| If you pay attention to the New York Times, the | | | | doesn't sweeten the pot by offering incentives to |
| leadership of the Democratic Party, or the left wing | | | | potential employees? The Army is no different, and |
| pundits filling the airwaves, you get the impression | | | | with an all-volunteer force must compete against the |
| that the U.S. Army is struggling to find men and | | | | private sector for its employees. |
| women willing to volunteer in the service of their | | | | And the Army is not alone when it comes to |
| country. Recently released statistics, though, seem to | | | | recruiting. The Navy and Air Force are also on target |
| contradict that assumption. | | | | to meet their recruiting goals. So is the Marine Corps, |
| When the Army failed to meet its recruiting goals a | | | | which has responsibility for the deadly Al-Anbar |
| couple of years ago, many saw it as a sign that | | | | province, including the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, in |
| young people in America were staying away from | | | | western Iraq. The Washington Times reports that |
| military service because of the wars in Afghanistan | | | | the Marine Corps will meet its goal of 32,701 new |
| and Iraq. Many complained that we did not have | | | | recruits without any increase in benefits or change in |
| enough soldiers to meet our global commitments. | | | | enlistment requirements. |
| Congress responded by raising the statutory limit on | | | | By focusing on statistics for new recruits, however, |
| troop levels, as if changing the number on paper | | | | the left misses an important fact. Retention statistics, |
| would somehow magically produce new soldiers to | | | | which account for the number of soldiers who agree |
| fight the war on terror. | | | | to reenlist, are at an all-time high. More soldiers are |
| The worry about a withering Army, however, seems | | | | choosing to stay in the Army, even after multiple |
| to have been misplaced. According to the | | | | tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Even more remarkably, |
| Washington Times, the Army is on track to meet its | | | | retention numbers are highest for units who are |
| goal of 80,000 new recruits for the fiscal year that | | | | forward deployed in combat zones! |
| ends September 30. At this point in the recruiting | | | | Could it be that the Army is an attractive option for |
| cycle, the Army has surpassed its goal of 70,000 | | | | young job seekers? Could it be that skill training |
| new recruits with 72,997 signing up so far. And the | | | | (there are over 200 different jobs in the Army), |
| Associated Press has reported that the Army is | | | | college tuition benefits, health care coverage, and a |
| having its best recruiting year since 1997, with similar | | | | regular paycheck are attracting young men and |
| success expected in 2007. | | | | women to military service? Could it be that there are |
| It is important to note that the Army is the branch | | | | patriotic citizens in this country with a genuine desire |
| of service suffering the largest number of killed and | | | | to serve their nation in its time of need? |
| wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The recently | | | | The truth is, recruiting and retention numbers can be |
| released statistics seem to undermine the belief that | | | | explained by all of these factors. Raising the age limit |
| the war on terror is driving young men and women | | | | for new recruits has opened the door to military |
| away from uniformed service. | | | | service for a new segment of the population. College |
| Still, there will be those who point out that the Army | | | | tuition benefits and skill training attract young people |
| has raised its age limit for new recruits from 38 to | | | | who might otherwise have difficulty marketing |
| 42. But these critics fail to understand that not every | | | | themselves to the private sector. And men and |
| job in the Army requires someone under the age of | | | | women with a sincere desire to serve their country |
| 25. Not every soldier will fight in the infantry. And | | | | are signing up in the face of renewed violence in |
| those new recruits who are older than the average | | | | Afghanistan and an unrelenting insurgency in Iraq. |
| enlistee are still required to meet the Army's physical | | | | In their effort to push as much negativity as possible |
| fitness standards. It would be foolish for the Army to | | | | about the war on terror, the liberal left has lost focus |
| exclude Americans who want to serve their country | | | | on the fact that the United States is locked in a |
| based solely on their age. | | | | life-and-death struggle for its very survival. And that |
| Others will point out that the Army has increased | | | | loss of focus has obscured the truth that for more |
| benefits such as college tuition reimbursement and | | | | reasons than not, Americans are enlisting and staying |
| enlistment bonuses. But what private company | | | | in the service of their nation. |