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Bad economy proves good for recruiting
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Bad economy proves good for recruiting
By Anne Gearan
Associated Press
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Washington —- Uncle Sam wants you, and in a poor economy, you might want Uncle Sam, too.
The Pentagon is hiring and having less difficulty doing so than in flush economic times, with the Army and all other military branches meeting or exceeding their goals for signing up recruits.
Last year was the first since 2004 that all active-duty and reserve forces met or passed recruiting goals. That’s particularly notable for the Army, the service hit hardest by combat casualties in Iraq and by long and repeated overseas assignments that began in earnest in 2004, when it became clear that the war would be much longer and bloodier than the Bush administration had said they expected.
Figures released last week suggest that, as President-elect Barack Obama takes office, the trends that make military careers more appealing will continue. Besides the recession’s sagging employment figures, factors also include Obama’s pledge to pull combat forces out of Iraq in 16 months and the drop in violence there. Obama has said he will add forces in Afghanistan but that war is unlikely to strain military manpower and money like Iraq has.
For December, the Army signed 860 new active-duty soldiers, 115 percent of its target of 750 enlistees. The Army also met or passed its goals for October and November.
The Army figures are smaller than those for other services, in part a reflection of the much more difficult task of Army recruiting. An Army recruiter generally talks to dozens, sometimes hundreds, of young people before signing up a willing, qualified recruit.
The Navy signed 2,306 new active-duty personnel in December, the Marine Corps 2,392 and the Air Force 2,967. All six National Guard and reserve forces also met or exceeded their December recruiting goals.
“Recruiting is always a challenge, but a tighter job market provides more opportunities,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Almarah Belk.
The military offers competitive salaries, plus good education benefits and job skills for a civilian career, she said.
For several years, as the Army in particular struggled to meet its recruiting needs, military officials have cited a strong economy as one obstacle to attracting young people looking at their employment options.
During the past year, the Army and Marine Corps paid more than $600 million, combined, in bonuses and other financial incentives to entice recruits.
Another negative factor: Parents and others who influence the decisions of enlistment-age men and women have, since the outset of the Iraq war, become less inclined to recommend military service.
“What more difficult economic times give us … is an opening to make our case to people that we might not otherwise have,” David Chu, the Pentagon’s personnel chief, said as he announced the 2008 success. “And if we make our case, I think we can be successful.”
The military needs any break it can get on recruiting, particularly since it is in the midst of a push to substantially increase the size of the nation’s ground forces —- a decision driven by an urgent need to reduce the strain on troops and their families from repeated deployments to Iraq.
Plans are to boost the active-duty Army by 65,000 soldiers to a total of 547,000 by 2010.
The Marines are aiming to grow from 175,000 to 202,000 by 2011.
Source:
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/20/milrecruits0120.html
Associated Press
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Washington —- Uncle Sam wants you, and in a poor economy, you might want Uncle Sam, too.
The Pentagon is hiring and having less difficulty doing so than in flush economic times, with the Army and all other military branches meeting or exceeding their goals for signing up recruits.
Last year was the first since 2004 that all active-duty and reserve forces met or passed recruiting goals. That’s particularly notable for the Army, the service hit hardest by combat casualties in Iraq and by long and repeated overseas assignments that began in earnest in 2004, when it became clear that the war would be much longer and bloodier than the Bush administration had said they expected.
Figures released last week suggest that, as President-elect Barack Obama takes office, the trends that make military careers more appealing will continue. Besides the recession’s sagging employment figures, factors also include Obama’s pledge to pull combat forces out of Iraq in 16 months and the drop in violence there. Obama has said he will add forces in Afghanistan but that war is unlikely to strain military manpower and money like Iraq has.
For December, the Army signed 860 new active-duty soldiers, 115 percent of its target of 750 enlistees. The Army also met or passed its goals for October and November.
The Army figures are smaller than those for other services, in part a reflection of the much more difficult task of Army recruiting. An Army recruiter generally talks to dozens, sometimes hundreds, of young people before signing up a willing, qualified recruit.
The Navy signed 2,306 new active-duty personnel in December, the Marine Corps 2,392 and the Air Force 2,967. All six National Guard and reserve forces also met or exceeded their December recruiting goals.
“Recruiting is always a challenge, but a tighter job market provides more opportunities,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Almarah Belk.
The military offers competitive salaries, plus good education benefits and job skills for a civilian career, she said.
For several years, as the Army in particular struggled to meet its recruiting needs, military officials have cited a strong economy as one obstacle to attracting young people looking at their employment options.
During the past year, the Army and Marine Corps paid more than $600 million, combined, in bonuses and other financial incentives to entice recruits.
Another negative factor: Parents and others who influence the decisions of enlistment-age men and women have, since the outset of the Iraq war, become less inclined to recommend military service.
“What more difficult economic times give us … is an opening to make our case to people that we might not otherwise have,” David Chu, the Pentagon’s personnel chief, said as he announced the 2008 success. “And if we make our case, I think we can be successful.”
The military needs any break it can get on recruiting, particularly since it is in the midst of a push to substantially increase the size of the nation’s ground forces —- a decision driven by an urgent need to reduce the strain on troops and their families from repeated deployments to Iraq.
Plans are to boost the active-duty Army by 65,000 soldiers to a total of 547,000 by 2010.
The Marines are aiming to grow from 175,000 to 202,000 by 2011.
Source:
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/20/milrecruits0120.html
