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Army Will Meet July Recruiting Goal
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ShareAugust 07, 2007 3:57 PM
ABC News' Luis Martinez Reports: After missing recruiting targets for two consecutive months, the Army is expected to announce on Friday that it met its recruiting goal for the month of July. While final numbers aren't in, two Defense officials confirm the Army has met its monthly goal of 9,750 new recruits.
Shortfalls in May and June led to concerns within the Army that the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were affecting recruiting and could lead to the Army not meeting its annual goal of 80,000 new recruits by the end of the recruiting year on Sept. 30. But, last week top Army officials told a House panel they were "reasonably confident" they'd meet their annual goal. The Army is on target to meet the annual goal because they exceeded recruiting goals earlier this year and are still 741 new recruits ahead of their year-to-date goal.
To help reach these sizable numbers, the Army instituted several temporary fixes including overing more money and bringing in more recruiters:
- Through September 30, a temporary "quick ship' bonus of $20,000 for new recruits who sign up for two years and ship out to basic training within 30 days of having signed up. This is the second time this year the Army has boosted this "quick ship" bonus. This money is on top of the of the $15,000 you automatically get for a two year hitch. If you sign up for a hard-to-fill military specialty, you're eligible for even more money. Another bonus boost announced in May gave an automatic $25,000 payment for recruits who signed for a three year commitment.
- The Army is also bringing back as many as 1,000 former recruiters. These ex-recruiters have moved on to other jobs in the Army, but are being temporarily reinstated until September 30 so the Army can make its goal. These 1,000 are on top of the 8,300 recruiters the Army now has working to sign new recruits.
- Bringing back more "hometown recruiters." These are new soldiers who've just graduated from basic training and are given time off to go home and possibly influence friends, neighbors or other "influencers" that the Army's a good career path.
Despite confidence, the Army faces a difficult two months of the recruiting year as it must bring in an additional 19,100 recruits in August and September --9,600 and 9,5000, respectively -- to meet its annual goal.
August 7, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (6)
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Those poor dumb kids... nothing but cannon fodder in this insane president's pointless war.
Posted by: DaveM | Aug 7, 2007 4:17:05 PM
Those poor dumb kids? How about those courageous men and women. I appreciate your candidness on this issue, however you are wrong. Why must it be that those who want to stand for this country and fight for human rights are all of a sudden attacked by the same democrats that cry amnesty? Is it only good enough for individuals close to home?
Here is one man's reason for joining the army...
I didn't come here looking for a thrill.
I'm here because there is a hole in the ground in New York, where a couple of the world's tallest buildings used to be.
I'm here because I knew some of those people in the Pentagon.
I'm here because my seven-year-old nephew has nightmares about terrorists.
I'm here because whether Saddam was responsible or not for those terrorist attacks, he had the will and was developing the means to do much, much worse.
I'm here because if History teaches us anything, it is that evil men cannot be deterred by sanctions, containment strategies, diplomacy, resolutions, or weapons inspections.
I'm here because I don't believe in appeasement.
I'm here because someone has to be.
I'm here because I was called.
I'm here because I have a job to do.
Posted by: RUTH | Aug 7, 2007 5:12:56 PM
To further Ruths post, some people seem to think "us kids" see $20,000 and all of us jump into the army and are blind to what we'll be doing. Yes, we're at war. Yes, we realize this. You think most don't? All of my military friends view the service as a stepping stone in life. You serve your country and gain valuable experience and knowledge in nearly anything and everything you do. Granted there are some who do join for the wrong reasons, the money (which is usually blown) or just the soldiers uniform (just for the respect - or lack of with some people these days.)
As a former firefighter and now someone about to join the service myself - after finishing college, anyone who thinks we're just the stupid youth of America, is
1. Blind and Stupid themselves.
2. Probably was the real stupid youth of the past who made this stereotype possible.
Posted by: J. Northmore | Aug 7, 2007 6:08:55 PM
I'd like to know where these figures come from. My son signed up for the army at the end of May and left for BCT on June 13th. He signed for 3 years and didn't get a $20,000 signing bonus or the $15,000 bonus. When he first spoke to a recruiter in Feb/March, he was told he would get a signing bonus, but when it came time for him to sign, he was told they were no longer offering a bonus.
Posted by: Joanne | Aug 7, 2007 11:12:42 PM
As a proud mother of a 17 year old who just returned home last week from Basic Traing, I am disgusted that someone would refer to my son as "dumb". He is perfectly aware of the chance that he will probably end up being sent to Iraq.As much as the thought sickens me, I am also aware of that fact. Maybe DaveM should look at this a different way. My son has said since he was 4 years old " when I grow up I'm gonna be a soldier". I look at it like, he jad a dream and he fullfilled his dream. He didn't use this war as a way to cheat himself of his dreams. He is an American Hero!!! (he also graduated from Ft. Sill Basic Combat Training course with honors by finishing in the top 10% of his class. sounds like he is happy and completely aware of his circumstances) God Bless All the men and women out there serving in all branches of the military!!!!!!! and WELL DONE SON!!!! YOU MAKE ME PROUD!!!! DON'T LISTEN TO IGNORANT COMMENTS LIKE THAT. ALWAYS FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND BE TRUE TO YOURSELF!!!!
Posted by: Susie | Aug 9, 2007 1:03:00 AM
why didnt my son get a sign up bonus when he joined the army..he shipped out yesterday
Posted by: john j. hay | Sep 24, 2008 10:42:23 AM
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