JACK ARMY, scanning my sector!
Jack, I posted some responses to your informed comments back at OTB.
I guess my main problem is that the "recruiting is hard when we're at war" thesis seems pretty simplistic and a poor explanation for lower than expected recruiting goals.
The country has been at war before and actually had people signing up left and right (e.g. WWII and the Civil War) so that thesis is a bit lacking. Maybe there is something different about the current conflict that distinguishes it from past wars??
The question still remains: how does the army meet its staffing needs? if war is the problem, as you suggest, then maybe we should end the wars? If that isn't possible, then the military should start thinking creatively, maybe??
Kappiy, thanks for the comments.
I think you missed the point of my OTB remarks and article on my blog. I do not suggest that the war is making it hard so we shouldn't be expected to make our recruiting goals. On the contrary, we MUST make our goals for that very reason. The point I am trying to advance is that recruiters have it hard and would RATHER go to war than recruit.
Sure, we have been at war before but the Civil War and WWII are hardly fair comparisons to the current conflict. For one, and there are many more, those previous wars involved a national mobilization for war, something we are not experiencing now.
Of course it would be great if we could end all wars and make recruiting a minor problem. And the Army, specifically Army Recruiting Command, is thinking creatively in order to meet its recruiting goals.
Again, I'm not complaining about the war or recruiting, merely pointing out the stress and difficulties that recruiters face and maybe shedding some light on why a few might resort to the extreme measure of suicide in order to escape the pressure.
Thanks again for commenting.
Jack,
I imagined some of the stresses you mentioned, but certainly not all of them. It all makes me even unhappier with the behavior I saw recently here in Seattle. You may have noticed it in news or on the blogs - two recruiters were escorted from Seattle Central Community College on inauguration day when the students got nasty with them. This alone is a good example of the kind of stress that these men and women shouldn't have to put up with!
If I had children, I would want them to make up their own minds about whether or not to visit with recruiters, and be darned proud if they were accepted into the service. The ROE for a recruiter are rotten - a friend of mine in SF said he wouldn't trade his job for the recruiting world for anything!
This is a great site - Thanks for your service, and for providing another place where those of us who haven't served can learn more!
Barb, I agree with your assessment about those recruiters in Seattle. Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with such an incident.
I'll tell ya, your approach is all that a recruiter asks for: just give me a chance to show you what the Army has to offer. If you don't like it, or don't want it, fine. It's a free country, but at least you are saying "no" with the best information the Army can provide. I have no problem being told "no" by someone who knows what we got!
Finally, I appreciate your saying thanks. I do it because I love it. I find that blogging about it is fun and cathartic. So enjoy!
And hit me with some questions -- that helps me develop some topics to post about instead of simply relying on current events to provide impetus.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
Barb said:
"This is a great site - Thanks for your service, and for providing another place where those of us who haven't served can learn more!"
--Ditto.
Jack - I have a co-worker whose son is about 14, and has already expressed an interest in serving, and in the Army particular. What kinds of events are good for him to be exposed to for encouraging that spirit and interest? (Luckily, my friend lives on the Olympic peninsula, surrounded by Navy and ex-Navy families, little chance of the boy being brainwashed against the military in his school!!!)
I was really intrested in this intill I got to the part where you said who would you reither have backing you up a drughead, and couldint finsh highschool. That is bullcrap people change people grow up. Highschool dropouts there are many rason why kids drop out of school. Not just beacuse they dont wanna get up everymorning and go to school. Not cause they dont wanna have to litin to a teacher in school. I think that was the worst thing I ever heard
Great Blogg,
tomorrow I will be going to low producer training...
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