Marine Corps Meets 142 Percent of Recruiting Goal in April
May 12th, 2008 . by TexasFredWASHINGTON — The Marine Corps far surpassed its recruiting goal last month and could eventually be more than a year ahead of schedule in its plan to grow the force to 202,000 members.
All military services met or exceeded their monthly recruiting goals in April, with the Marine Corps signing 142 percent of the number it was looking for, the Pentagon said.
The Army signed 101 percent of its goal, recruiting 5,681 against a goal of 5,650. The Navy and Air Force met their goals — 2,905 sailors and 2,435 airmen.
The Marine Corps enlisted 2,233 recruits against a goal of 1,577.
“The Marine Corps, if they continue to achieve the kind of success they have had, could meet their growth figures more than a year early,” Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman told Pentagon reporters. That would mean by around the end of 2009.
Stretched thin by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon last year recommended that the Army be increased by about 65,000 soldiers to a total of 547,000, and the Marines be increased by 27,000 to 202,000.
Recruiting is easier in a slow economy, which limits other job possibilities that are available. But officials also noted that the Army and Marines have added recruiters as well as bonuses and other special benefits to attract more recruits in the midst of the unpopular war in Iraq.
Full Story Here:
Marine Corps Meets 142 Percent of Recruiting Goal in April
Congratulations to ALL branches on meeting and/or exceeding their recruiting goals, outstanding job guys!!
But did you notice that last paragraph in the original story??
Even though this story was taken from FOX News, it is an AP original and AP just can’t help themselves, they have to take a slightly left-handed swipe at the services, “Recruiting is easier in a slow economy, which limits other job possibilities that are available.” and while that remark is true, it’s not a great thing to say in my opinion, it makes it sound as if the military is the only type work that some folks could find…
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, military pay is NOT what it once was, I know troops that are mid-level NCOs and those guys are making a damned respectable wage now, and if you happen to be a recruiter, and if you’re any good at it, you can run into a 6 figure income with a bit of work, so, to the AP, don’t make going into the military sound like a move of desperation, I am certain that there are troops, not high ranking officers, I mean troops, grunts if you will, that are making a damn sight more money than some of your writers and reporters are…
A young person could do a lot worse in life, the military is a great place to start, I don’t care what anyone says, even if you don’t make a career of it, the military will instill a sense of pride and respect in you that can serve your career well in other than military life too…
Many of us have long felt that mandatory military service should be the rule for ALL able bodied young men and women, and I honestly believe that it may go a long ways towards making America a better place for us all…
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I think mandatory service to our country is about the only thing that can save us from ourselves.
I wish it could happen.
There is nothing wrong with a draft that is fair and equal. Every young man and woman should be willing to give 4 years to their nation. It would make them grow up and become better and more productive citizens.
As for the Marines:
Semper Fi!!
Yut yut, Semper Fi Devil Dog!!
I have to disagree with you folks on mandatory military service. As career military and a Senior NCO (E-8), I never wanted to serve with someone who was forced into the service. What makes our military the best in the world is the fact that the men and women want to be there. They weren’t forced or cohered but they enlisted willingly, many against the advice of family and friends. The young men and women in our armed services are highly motivated and intelligent. An individual who was forced into the military will effectively lower the morale of others and can lead to disciplinary problems.
I do think it would be good for young men and women to serve one hitch in the service but they have to want to do it. It will instill a sense of discipline and pride lacking in many folks nowadays.
BobF, 1st time I ever have totally disagreed with you, in that 1st part, as you got to the bottom you almost said what I said…
I too feel that you get a much better grade of Airman, Sailor or Marine simply because of the ‘want to’ factor but I also firmly believe that mandatory service for ALL able bodied men AND women is a marvelous idea, it’s worked quite well for Israel and these days the Army isn’t all that picky, look at how they’ve had to lower their standards to meet their goals…
I’m not talking a draft, Selective Service, no, I mean ALL men and women, in some capacity, and there are a lot of MOS’s that can be filled by CO’s that would free up someone wanting to be in the field…
And what the hell, if a man or woman isn’t willing to give freely of their service by being IN service to this nation them they don’t need to claim the proud name AMERICAN…
I am certain that there are troops, not high ranking officers, I mean troops, grunts if you will, that are making a damn sight more money than some of your writers and reporters are…
And a damn site better at their jobs too! With MUCH more class AND intelligence!
I remember getting a pay raise under Clintoon as an E-4 - the structure was such that the increase bumped my bracket, and I ended up with LESS than I was making before the “raise” - I asked if I could decline the raise and continue on the old payscale. Oddly enough, they said no.
BobF I totally agree with you, Forcing people into the military ain’t the way to go, We been there and done than during Nam and it didn’t work all that well. I once believed in a ‘national service program’, however I no longer do so. “Ya can lead a horse to water, but ya can’t make him drink!”
I’m sorry, but I am SO fucking TIRED of that UNTRUTHFUL old saw that “only the poor, disenfranchised, minorities and economically-challenged sign up for military service.” What a load of BULLSHIT.
On the other topic, I’m not in favor of mandatory military service, but I would certainly promote MANDATORY CIVIL COMMUNITY SERVICE for every young member of this country. I wouldn’t mind seeing local community service for, at least two years whilst growing up — say, from 16 to 18 years of age.
Let’s START a nation based on more volunteerism and self-sacrifice.
And God bless the USMC!
BZ
BZ, Amen, amen and by God, AMEN!!
You’re absolutely right about being sick and tired of saying “only the poor, disenfranchised, minorities and economically-challenged sign up for military serviceâ€. The military is composed of men and women from all walks of life. I’ve served with those who had millionaires for parents to a guy from the mountains of West Virginia whose family still didn’t have indoor plumbing.
The military will take a young man or woman and within a year provide them with the education, training, and confidence to maintain multi-million dollar aircraft with the most advanced systems in the world. These high school educated GI’s will read and interrupt technical drawings done by engineers with PhD’s and submit corrections to improve on what the engineers designed…kids with nothing but high school diplomas correcting PhD’s. No civilian company in the world would ever give a young man or woman the responsibility of repairing, unsupervised, millions of dollars worth of aircraft or equipment.
If the poor, disenfranchised, minorities, and economically challenged are the ones enlisting and reenlisting, maybe they’re the smart ones. Training, off-duty education, outstanding benefits, good pay, promotions based on merit, camaraderie, and retirement after only 20 years are a few things the military offers the men and women in the US. Maybe these folks are a little smarter than John Kerry thinks they are. After all, for 26 years I never worried about being laid off, medical care for me and my family, a good home, or if my family will be taken care of if something happens to me. And you know what; I don’t worry now because I get a pretty good retirement check with the same benefits I got before.
As an Old Retired First Class Petty Officer:
I enlisted during the “Nixon Recession” in 1973. I didn’t join because of the job market. I joined to get out of my home town, go to sea and work on airplanes. I also had a lottery number in That lottery, otherwise known as the draft. It was the last one.
I didn’t plan on staying in at the start. But I was having a pretty good time. And suddenly, I was staring at retirement. It was a good life and I and my family have no regrets. In fact, having United States Navy, Retired behind my name does open doors.
And I did it freely and with out reservation. And there are days that I do miss it.
You can’t take home less money by moving into a higher tax bracket. If you move into a high tax bracket by 100 dollars, only that 100 dollars get taxed at the higher rate, while the rest is taxed the same as it would be if you got the pay raise or not.