US soldiers re-enlisting because of poor economy

[question everything]

Source: AP

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Sgt. Ryan Nyhus spent 14 months patrolling the deadly streets of Baghdad, where five members of his platoon were shot and one died. As bad as that was, he would rather go back there than take his chances in this brutal job market. Nyhus re-enlisted last Wednesday, and in so doing joined the growing ranks of those choosing to stay in the U.S. military because of the bleak economy. "In the Army, you're always guaranteed a steady paycheck and a job," said the 21-year-old Nyhus. "Deploying's something that's going to happen. That's a fact of life in the Army — a fact of life in the infantry."

In 2008, as the stock market cratered and the housing market collapsed, more young members of the Army, Air Force and Navy decided to re-up. While several factors might explain the rise in re-enlistments, including a decline in violence in Iraq, Pentagon officials acknowledge that bad news for the economy is usually good news for the military. In fact, the Pentagon just completed its strongest recruiting year in four years.

(snip)

The retention rate of early-career soldiers in the Army has risen steadily over the past four years and now stands 20 percentage points higher than it was in fiscal 2004. As for the Navy and the Air Force, early- and mid-career sailors and airmen re-enlisted at a higher rate in October than during the same period in 2007. The Marine Corps was not immediately able to provide comparative figures on re-enlistments.

(snip)

When Nyhus' tour in Iraq ended last April, he talked to his wife about getting out of the Army and working toward a college degree. But the father of a 2-year-old daughter opted for the job security, even though he is likely to be sent back to Iraq as a member of the 4th Infantry Division, which has shouldered a heavy burden of the fighting.



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[LynnTheDem]

1. That's how it's done.

The military industrial complex.

[Mithreal]

2. The risk to their lives traded for a pittance. Class warfare.

At least we have a new GI Bill.

Can't we agree that there should be NO military families living in poverty and no homeless veterans?

[Psephos]

5. That apply to cops and firefighters, too? n/t

[Mithreal]

6. You tell me. I am open minded about it. nt

[gizmo1979]

3. I did the same thing in 82

of course there was no war, but economy was in the pooper so I reuped it was a mistake on my part.

[question everything]

4. And this is the big difference

Young and poor people always found a way to the military. But now they are clearly cannon fodder.