Army misses April recruiting goal by 42 percent

[bemildred]

Yippee! Bring it on! It's worth it! Mission accomplished!
:puke:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army missed its April recruiting goal by a whopping 42 percent and the Army Reserve fell short by 37 percent, officials said on Tuesday, showing the depth of the military's wartime recruiting woes.

With the Iraq war straining the U.S. military, the active-duty Army has now missed its recruiting goals in three straight months, with April being by far the worst of the three, and officials are forecasting that it will fall short again in May.

The all-volunteer Army is providing the majority of the ground forces for an Iraq war in which nearly 1,600 U.S. troops have died.

The active-duty Army signed up 3,821 recruits last month, falling short of its goal of 6,600 for April, Army Recruiting Command spokesman Douglas Smith said. That left the Army 16 percent behind its year-to-date goal, officials said.

Reuters

[Zorra]

1. Where are all those young republicans that love Bush and his war

so much? Why are they not joining the military so they can fight and die in Iraq in support of their fascist war leader's quest for glory and empire?

[marmar]

9. Sucking down Pepto Bismo...

with their bleeding ulcers, praying there's no draft!

[Cha]

33. Yeah, like the ones who wear those

tee shirts that say.."WE Will Never Forget 9/11!" With a big ol' ass American Flag towering over.

[saigon68]

57. "Bring Em On" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

No young Repukes are going to join.

It will disturb their "BEAUTIFUL MINDS"

[Sanity Claws]

2. Maybe we should start a betting pool on when

the draft will be reinstated. The military will not be able to function with voluntary recruitment so low.
While I feel for anyone called in the draft, a draft will make the war more real to the young Republican chicken hawks and they'll start squawking.

[rodeodance]

4. whow--42%!!!

[zoeb]

25. put me down for July 4th...leave it to Bushco to make the most

"patriotic" thing an American can do on Independence Day.

[radar]

58. And he's got his speech writers watching...

...The movie Independence Day (1996)



President Thomas Whitmore: Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!" We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!


******************************

Troops? "Plenty"?
http://www.bushwatch.net/e-mail.htm

QUESTION: Do you feel that the number of troops that you've kept is limiting your options elsewhere in the world?...
: ...The person I asked that to -- the person I asked that to, at least, is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, my top military adviser. I said, Do you feel that we've limited our capacity to deal with other problems because of our troop levels in Iraq? And the answer is no, he doesn't feel we're limited. He feels like we've got plenty of capacity.
press conference 04.29.05

[wildflower]

37. But wouldn't a draft permanently destroy the GOP's chances for

lasting power? (I just saw another article about this goal in LBN.)

This is what I keep thinking (hoping) will keep the draft from happening. With war approval numbers what they are, wouldn't there be a massive public backlash?

-wildflower

[Sanity Claws]

43. Yes -- that's why I want the draft to be reinstated

With apologies to all those likely to be drafted. I just hope that there will public disobedience, sit-ins and the like that will in turn force the Repubs out.

[wildflower]

45. I just keep thinking that would prevent it from being reinstated at all...

They are in a very vulnerable political position right now.

As far as I can tell, they've gone to great lengths to avoid civilian conscription as long as they can.

But I don't know. I mean, how much longer can this situation go on the way it is, unless they pull troops out of Iraq? Which they're also not willing to do.

-wildflower

[reprobate]

53. I believe there will be no draft untill too late, this will destroy Bush

I think they will put off a draft as long as positble, and the military will be in such poor shape by that time, that the military will have their stooges in congress start aggitating and asking questions as to just why the administration won't support the troops.

Once the questions start, Corporate Media will see a bone they can worry at for a while. Much as I despize what they have done to a free press in America, when they see a story, it will wipe everything else off the front page, they like that. And with the military pushing it, much of the country will turn on the administration. Who knows? We may see impeachment, even criminal charges.

Don't I wish.

[dissent1977]

3. What "All-Volunteer Army"?

If they are all volunteer then I guess we can bring home all the troops that don't want to be there any more right? Or is this just another example of the corporate media repeating the GOP talking points?

[tabasco]

5. If this doesn't demonstrate what utter cowards Bush voters are..

I don't know what will. They just like to watch a good war on tv. Assholes.

I'm in the IRR and I am resigned to the fact they will call me up.

But they could call up the entire IRR and it would not solve the problems thay are having with finding recruits.

42% - wow ! This will have a massive effect on line units, already strained by a lack of personnel.

Looks like the freepers gambled and lost. They counted on other people to fight their glorious war. Now they might have to go themselves as we come closer to conscription.

[AndyTiedye]

20. Don't Let Them!

Once they've got you, they'll NEVER let you out again.

They'll just stop-loss you again and again until you are too broken to fight anymore.

[Kurovski]

39. ...and bullshitters, too,

I can think of dozens of songwriters and hundreds of thousands of Country Music fans what ought to be putting their money where their mouth is.

Bullshitters.

[uppityperson]

6. 42%? bad word and statistical question to not panic yet

Fuck. Ok,is the goal of 6,600 comparable to their previous monthly goals or what they normally sign up? A goal can be unrealistic and never reachable you know. However, how does this compare to previous months and yrs goals and actual enlistments?

[noamnety]

24. Good question

The army needs to recruit 80,000 people for the year to replenish their ranks (an average of 6,666 per month).

Feb:
Goal: 7,050
Signed up: 5,114
Shortfall: 1936

Mar:
Goal: 6,800
Signed up: 4650
Shortfall: 2150

Apr:
Goal: 6,600
Signed up: 3,821
Shortfall: 2779

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-03-02-army-goal_x.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/05/army.recruiting.ap/

[uppityperson]

36. Thanks for the numbers, that deserves just the bad word response

fuck

[Nordmadr]

44. So they keep lowering the goals, an d STILL missing the quotas

by MORE. This is with the roughly 50% of Army soldiers that say they will not re-enlist and are currently being kept in against their will. This will get worse.

Olaf

[ngGale]

62. The young Repubs do need to go...

our kids know the war is a piece of propaganda. Frankly, I don't see the figures picking up any. A draft may be the only solution. We've been bleeding bad since December -- we have to get out of Iraq. FGS - these men in power should be made to go. The kids are getting the idea, the war is a lie and they are going to die. Reality setting in!

[grytpype]

7. 42 percent!!!!!!

They recruited a little over half of what they wanted????

And how many of those were drug addicts, high school dropouts, and convicted felons?

[ovidsen]

41. funny you should ask

The New York Time says that recruiters are increasingly "overlooking" such mitigating factors as mental illness, serious criminal records, etc. when the sign people up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/national/03recruit.html?

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[scarlett1]

49. Obviously, Look they Took Lynndie England

Who apparently has not only learning disabilities but mental illness.

[saigon68]

59. There will be a lot of bad paper

As these criminals murder and pillage their way through the third world.

[JohnyCanuck]

8. Clear the streets - get off the sidewalks,

unless you want to get run over, 'cause once this news gets out there's going to be a stampede of Freepers heading over to armed forces recruiting offices across the country to show their love and faith in the dear leader by signing up for Boy George's war to take control of Amurrikkka's SUV go-juice from them heathen, raghead terrists.
:rofl:

[NNN0LHI]

10. How is the housing situation up in the Great White North?

I have a feeling its going to start get crowded up yonder real soon.

Don

[bananas]

16. Why move? Canada could invade and win!

With all the troops overseas,
Canada could invade and win!

http://www.kenlayne.com/2004/11/secret_jesusland.html

[JohnyCanuck]

19. We took in 30,000 of you during the Vietnam war,

I think in a pinch we could probably squeeze in another 30,000 or so without too much trouble. Of couse, if that Conservative party Bush ass-kisser and toady extraordinaire Stephen Harper somehow becomes Prime Minister all bets are off. Even Paul Martin and the Liberals are under constant pressure by the business community to suck up to the Bush administration in order to be seen as a compliant client state who will not cause waves and rock King George's boat.

Also there'll be more obstacles in your way to make leaving the US difficult.


December, 2001: Canada and the United States sign a "Smart Border Declaration." Designed to identify and manage security risks, this plan calls for the implementation of a Canada-US "pre-clearance agreement," the sharing of "advance passenger information" and the development of a jointly held immigration database and programs for "joint removals of deportees." Though designed to fight terrorism, the plan could make escaping to Canada more difficult.

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/2002/11/04_Drafted.html


Even if you do manage to get into Canada you might just be delaying the inevitable anyway:

Now Canadians are facing “NAFTA-Plus”. This is a catchword for the deep military integration in process since the 9/11 event in the U.S.A. In April 2004, Tom D’Aquino, President of the influential Canadian Council of Chief Executives, along with 100 blue-ribbon Canadian CEOs lobbied the United States’ lawmakers to implement deeper integration as swiftly as possible. These CEO’s want “harmonization” of Canada’s foreign, security, and energy policies despite the fact that the U.S.A. has made it clear independent Canadian foreign policy will not be tolerated.

Submitting to the pressures of the USA and Canadian CEO’s, the Liberal government already has entered arrangements on the “Security” and military front that strip Canadians of our democratic rights of liberty and real security. The Liberal have created a new Ministry of Public Safety which mirrors the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which agency strips citizens of their civil liberties.

In December 2001 Deputy Prime Minister John Manley signed the Smart Border Declaration and Associated 30 point Action Plan which strips Canadians further of our liberties. Among the many offensive terms, there is now an integration of all the tax and immigration data of Canadians in the hands of the USA..Information about every Canadian respecting income, assets, debts, social insurance numbers, employment status, occupation, birth place, marriage, divorce, number of children, citizenship status, immigration history, refugee concerns, everything private to us, is in a foreign data bank to be used against Canadians at the whim of the USA.

The U.S. Canada Smart Border Plan effectively removes Canada’s sovereignty over our border and over our personal previously privileged data. . Under this plan Canadian tax information is already in the hands of the United States’ authorities for “security reasons”. Our border will be patrolled by the US. military. We will all be required to undergo “biometric Identifiers” , i.e. eye prints and finger prints to be shared with the U.S. Among many other insidious terms, there is to be a new VISA policy coordination system where Canada no longer decides who gets a VISA to Canada.

http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/MainPages/News.asp?ID=455&Language=English

[yorkiemommie1]

23. another reason to stay off the sidewalks

.. . to avoid the big butterfly nets they're going to toss over our heads to shanghai us off to their war!

[acmejack]

30. Soon the "Press Gangs" will be roaming the streets

Once again seeking drunken unfortunates. The good old days are back again.

[Up2Late]

11. WOW, even "fuzzy Math" can hide that number

Click sticker for order info

From <http://www.bettybowers.com/index.html>

[nytemare]

12. Hmm, no recruiting problem right after 9-11

Still unfinished business in Afghanistan, but we are in Iraq. Iran and North Korea I'm sure are laughing when they are told they can't develop nuclear weapons.

[Anakin Skywalker]

13. Holy Shit! This One

is a whopper! 42%?! Gee, I wonder why?

[lovuian]

14. WHOAH!!! thats not good!!!

You can't keep that up!!!

[indepat]

15. Not sure that is close enough for government work

[tabasco]

50. Thanks for a big ol' belly laugh !!!! n/t

[Miss Chybil]

17. Wow. nt

[UCLA Dem]

18. Gee...I wonder why?? Could it be no one wants to go to Iraq?? No..can't be

[llmart]

22. You'd have to be extremely desperate......

or extremely drunk or drugged to want to sign up for today's military under BushCo. He and his neocon cronies think of the troops as cannon fodder to do their bidding for their oil buddies. He doesn't give a rat's ass for the troops. Hell, he was never a "troop" himself so how could he possibly relate to them? Chickenshit, yellowbellied draft dodging, warmongering, coward.

[lovuian]

21. Mailing to US Recruiter can we Outsource the Army!!!

I hear India and China work force is more highly trained and cheaper!!!

Bush is for outsourcing

King George was too he hired the Prussians!!!

Its been done!!!

[ismnotwasm]

26. I just spoke with my daughter

Who is back from Afghanistan. She reenlisted because evidently the army is redesigning itself into smaller "striker" like brigades. She says the army is changing everything. As an expericanced soldier, they offered her and many others in her unit a nondeployable new unit (I don't understand all the army jargon, so bear with me)Now, they tell her that her reenlistment contract may need to be renegotiated, which means she could end up in one of the striker brigades instead of the other deal, I forget the name. So I asked her about new recruits. She says they go to places like backwoods Arkansas-- whereever the poor and ignorant are. I would imagine they will step that up. If they do not honor her original relinlisted contract, she will get out. I wasn't happy about her relistment, it was very last minute. She says the army is changing so much, that it's confused. Sounds like they lied to me, even though she apparently doen't see it that way.

[wakeme2008]

27. If their mouths are moving they are lying

it was the same way during Viet Nam...

[ismnotwasm]

32. I agree

I was very skeptical when she told me this too good to be true shit. We'll see. She sent me flowers because she knew how much it was going to upset me. (I'm not a flower kind of gal) We've taken care of her son for the past year, she'll be here in a couple days to pick him up. At least she's home safe. I'm going to talk to her more, and try to sort out what exactly the army is trying to do, it sounds like rumsfield type crap, but I'm not sure.

[wakeme2008]

38. Hope it works out for you and her

but I would not bet on it. The Army that Rummy wants will never work. The spent billions on the lightweight Stryker to replace the Army Bradleys. But the "lightweight" Strykers were tin cans in Iraq and were being taken out by RPGs. But it is the old case of what people in the field wanted and what some desk jocks in the Pentagon wanted to build.

In the end, the Strykers in Iraq are being up armored and falling apart because of all it's new weight.

[E-Z-B]

28. Maybe people are realizing that once you're in the military...

you're in for life: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002233738_stoploss07.html

[earth mom]

56. Unbelievable-they extended this guys contract until 2031!

How can this be?! He signed up for 8 years and did his 8 years! Now they're saying that his contract has been extended-involuntarily-until 2031! :wow:

Get the word out everybody! I can't believe they are getting away with this! :grr:

[ailsagirl]

29. I heard Randi say that the recruiters are actually providing

whatever-it-is (cleans up your urine in case you have been using drugs) so that you will be accepted in the army.

If Randi said it, it's true.

How desperate can these people get??

No, don't answer that.

:hide:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

31. Gettin' just a LEEEETLE drafty in here

Now is the time for all good Republicans to come to the aid of their country.

Keep typing that as fast as you can... :evilgrin:

[bvar22]

34. What??? Not enough Patriots for Iraq???!!!!

How can this be???!!!
There are still PLENTY of Young Republicans on campus!

[Kurovski]

51. Yes, our future Cheney's, Rumsfeld's , Wolfowitz', et al.

Mouthy little Chickenhawks to the last ass-hair.

[ktowntennesseedem]

35. But when you use the Shrub/Fox/Gallup counting system,

the recruitment numbers actually exceeded the goal by about 4%.

You just have to use the right kind of math; why do you hate America?

(turning :sarcasm: off now)

[ContraBass Black]

40. That's massive.

There is no good to be found anywhere in this.

[Fire Walk With Me]

42. This is an opportunity to invent your own "signing bonus"

Let your imagination run wild when they call. Jon Stewart should send someone to a recruitment office with ridiculous demands for joining :-)

[Massacure]

46. Recruitment is a bit deceiving.

How many people make it through boot camp is a better indicator of force strength. A lack of recruiting means the army has to scrape the bottom of the barrel in terms of hiring new soldiers. I would assume there would be a lack of talent, but is recruitment bad enough that they have to lower the standards?

[rockedthevoteinMA]

47. Oh shit. Here it comes. n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

48. This is called "proving the case for starting the military draft".

[Fleshdancer]

61. that's my thought as well. 42% is an alarming, eye-catching percentage.

and it's the 3rd month in a row the Army didn't meet its goals. Is it a coincidence that the draft boards are filled right now? Plus we have the stories slowly coming out about how evil Iran is. The signs are too obvious at this point.

[The River]

52. Before the Election

my "ditto-Head" sister told me that there
were tens of thousands of young men getting ready
to enlist but they were waiting till after the election.
The reason being, they didn't want to enlist if Kerry got elected.
Ya right...
I should forward this link but it would
be a waste of bandwidth.

[lebkuchen]

54. Hard to believe so many people voted for Bush, ON PURPOSE

Time to pull their asses out of their easy chairs and head to the recruitment station.

Army-wide eenlistments are down 12% between FY 2003 - FY 2004, to 63%, the lowest since Bush has been in office. FY 2005 is destined to be worse.

[RamboLiberal]

55. I just posted a rah-rah Marines send women on Raiding Teams

story here on LBN. Right. The Marines who are probably the most resistant to women in combat positions are sending the Rear Echelon women in on teams that might encounter combat.

H'mmm, like in WWII when the Army actually did have some forced integration cause they were running low on combat troops.

Anyone else thinking this cynically?

[Fleshdancer]

60. Soon it really will be the Army of One

well, the time frame is perfect if we're leading up to a draft.