Army: Recruiting Young Blacks Tougher Now

[LynneSin]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=2&u=/ap/20050308/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_recruiting_slump

WASHINGTON - Young blacks have grown markedly less willing to join the Army, citing fear of being sent to fight a war in Iraq (news - web sites) they don't believe in, according to unpublicized studies for the military that suggest the Army is entering a prolonged recruiting slump.



Fear of combat also is a leading reason fewer young women are choosing the Army, the studies say. Although female soldiers are barred by law from assignments in direct land combat, they nonetheless have found themselves under attack by insurgents in Iraq, and 33 have died.


"More African Americans identify having to fight for a cause they don't support as a barrier to military service," concluded an August 2004 study for the Army. It also said attitudes toward the Army among all groups of American youth have grown more negative in recent years.


<<snip>>>

Blacks make up about 23 percent of today's active-duty Army, but the share of blacks in the recruit classes of recent years dropped. From 22.7 percent at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the share slid to 19.9 percent in 2002; 16.4 percent in 2003 and 15.9 percent last year, according to figures provided by Army Recruiting Command spokesman Douglas Smith.


The slide has continued, dropping to 13.9 percent as of Feb. 9.

<<<snip>>>

(Lynne Note - I love this sorry ass excuse from the army)

Smith, the Army Recruiting Command spokesman, said Monday that the current, reduced level of black recruits is closer to the percentage of young blacks in the eligible population. "Our strategy of being representative of America is working," he said.

<<<more>>>

WHAT STRATEGY???!!!

Unless your strategy was to start a war where minorities will realize that it was being run by a bunch of dumbass pasty white men trying to rule the world!!

[bleedingheart]

1. They are spinning...the strategy has to change...so they will

begin the draft...

[AndyTiedye]

8. Any Month Now...

[cestpaspossible]

2. Recruiting down cuz people don't want to die in an unjust, unnecessary war

duh

[ananda]

3. only...

This is so understandable and predictable. Why would anyone want to join a military force like that of the USA, which depends on the poverty draft for its Black and Hispanic troops in order to make them the expendable units and not Whites? It's a good deal if we're not at war or subjecting people to banned weapons and depleted uranium. Right now, however, the military is a very bad proposition for one's short and long term health.

Only... with the economy going the way it is, I don't know what the poor Blacks and Hispanics are going to do. Many individual states are cutting back on funding for Medicaid, education, prisons, and social programs. The question is: what will the society absorb? The answer is: not much. The future looks very dark for everyone as a result, meaning more people living in poverty, more crime, and a much higher unemployment and homeless rate.

Sue

[Kikosexy2]

6. And we...

have those "moral values" voters to thank for giving the dumb-asses in Washington another 4 years!! We're living in a very sad state of affairs now. Looks like we got the government we asked for or I should say the "moral values" voters ask for--uugghhh!!!

[brainshrub]

4. From The Southpark Movie:

Entire script here:
http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/south-park.html

GENERAL PLYMKIN
Now each battalion has a specific code-
name and mission. Battalion 5, raise
your hands-

Chef is in Battalion 5 and dutifully raises his hand.

Then he looks around and notices to his surprise that
everybody else in his section is also African American.

GENERAL PLYMKIN
You will be the all-important first
defense wave, which we will call
'Operation Human Shield'.

CHEF
Hey, wait a minute...

GENERAL PLYMKIN
Now keep in mind, 'Operation Human
Shield' will suffer heavy losses. But
don't lose your spirit men! Stay until
the bitter end. Battalion 14?

A bunch of white guys raise their hands.

GENERAL PLYMKIN
Right, you are 'Operation Get Behind The
Darkies'. You will follow Battalion 5
here-

He points to a spot on the 3-D map.

GENERAL PLYMKIN
-and try not to get killed for God's
Sake.

###

Audio of the above scene here:
http://www.moviesounds.com/sp/darkies.wav

[saigon68]

5. They will build more PRISONS

To house these "uppity" Black Men who say:

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

WE WON'T DIE IN NO WHITE MAN'S WAR (for halliburton profits-THAT IS)

[RamboLiberal]

7. Also Recuritment of Women is down

Females also are getting harder to recruit, with the share of females in Army recruiting classes falling for four years running, from 21.6 percent in 2001 to 19.2 percent last year. It has slipped still further this year to 17.1 percent.

"Over time, females are seeing less benefits to joining the Army and more barriers, particularly combat-related reasons," concluded another study done for the Army last spring by the market research firm Millward Brown.

Another study cited a survey that said 50 percent of youth rate the Army as their last choice for a career.

"There is a lot of work to be done, and it will take a lot of time to make major changes in the Army experience and the Army's image," that study concluded. "Risks of military service, and particularly the Army, are perceived to far outweigh the rewards for the vast majority of youth."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/08/national/main678742.shtml

But I'm sure Bush can depend on his Young Republicans to fill the void!:evilgrin:

[htuttle]

9. "I got a letter from the government..."

I got a letter from the government
The other day
I opened and read it
It said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me given' a damn - I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself
Because they never did
...
-- Public Enemy, "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos"

[gnofg]

10. Army: Recruiting Young Blacks Tougher Now

Army: Recruiting Young Blacks Tougher Now

Tue Mar 8, 8:19 AM ET

Add to My Yahoo! Top Stories - AP

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - Young blacks have grown markedly less willing to join the Army, citing fear of being sent to fight a war in Iraq (news - web sites) they don't believe in, according to unpublicized studies for the military that suggest the Army is entering a prolonged recruiting slump.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=14&u=/ap/20050308/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_recruiting_slump_3

And to think repubs think blacks are dumb. Not dumb enough to fight and be killed for oil. Those white college repubs should join so we don't need a draft

[PROGRESSIVE1]

11. GOOD!!!! Why should they die for a bunch of..........

"White, Texas(Kennedy Killing), Oil Men"???

[Kolesar]

12. dupe on yahoo

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1293965

[Ganja Ninja]

13. I think I have a solution to the army's problem.

College Republican's! Their spoiling for a fight and super patriotic, just ask'em.