U.S. Soldiers Re-Enlist in Strong Numbers

[Ryan]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html

 

[Witling]

It's a chatty little article with a number of anecdotal examples. But, as the article says, "Shelley MacDermid, co-director of the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, said it is too early to know what effect the war in Iraq will have long-term on recruitment and retention." Anecdotal stories are fun, but a lifetime of swatting flies does not make one an entomologist.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
<A href="</blockquote>">http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html">[url]http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html</A>[/q[/url]


Do you believe this article to be accurately representing the truth?

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: dahunan

Originally posted by: rbloedow http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html">http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html

http://]http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html">http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html</A><H[ q]<BR truth?[ the representing accurately be to article this believe you Do L]>
Well, it's from the Associated Press, a pretty credible source in my book. Currently the Air Force is having no problems with recruitment and reenlistment either, so yes, I do believe the ideas presented in the article are true.

 

[dbk]

how much is the air force contributing to this operation?

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: Witling
It's a chatty little article with a number of anecdotal examples. But, as the article says, "Shelley MacDermid, co-director of the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, said it is too early to know what effect the war in Iraq will have long-term on recruitment and retention." Anecdotal stories are fun, but a lifetime of swatting flies does not make one an entomologist.

Great turn of phrase Witling, and I agree.

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx
It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

Actually, this is more a sign of an economy in decline, but nevermind that, it is good when people are signing up to fight for their country. It shows strenght and patriotism. Much needed in the world we live in, for all countries, not just the US.

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx
It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

Actually, this is more a sign of an economy in decline, but nevermind that, it is good when people are signing up to fight for their country. It shows strenght and patriotism. Much needed in the world we live in, for all countries, not just the US.

Want to talk about 'an economy in decline'...PM me...mein liebe Mann....staying on-topic tonight

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx

It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

Actually, this is more a sign of an economy in decline, but nevermind that, it is good when people are signing up to fight for their country. It shows strenght and patriotism. Much needed in the world we live in, for all countries, not just the US.

Want to talk about 'an economy in decline'...PM me...mein liebe Mann....staying on-topic tonight

*sigh* so you are saying that the US economy is on the rise? I know the German is declining (further) but i have no idea what that has to do with American soldiers reinlisting.

Perhaps you could explain it in the thread?

The truth is, it has, of course, nothing to do with the thread, and you were just trolling your boat trying to state that you are staying on topic.

'tis ok, i am sure most here are used to your trolling.

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx

It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

Actually, this is more a sign of an economy in decline, but nevermind that, it is good when people are signing up to fight for their country. It shows strenght and patriotism. Much needed in the world we live in, for all countries, not just the US.

Want to talk about 'an economy in decline'...PM me...mein liebe Mann....staying on-topic tonight

*sigh* so you are saying that the US economy is on the rise? I know the German is declining (further) but i have no idea what that has to do with American soldiers reinlisting.

Perhaps you could explain it in the thread?

The truth is, it has, of course, nothing to do with the thread, and you were just trolling your boat trying to state that you are staying on topic.

'tis ok, i am sure most here are used to your trolling.

Make up your mind, or stop making half-baked assertions.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

What's doin with the Guard reups?

That's where a lot of needed skills are.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: bykim5
how much is the air force contributing to this operation?

Currently, not as much as the ground troops, but during the war the majority of the air attacts were the Air Forces responsibility. My father was in Saudi Arabia just prior to the initial attack, and they monitored the air space over Iraq constantly from the military base in Ryad.Incerlic Air Force Base in Turkey was also very involved.

 

[GoPackGo]

Many of these soldiers believe in what they are doing. We can all be thankful for their sacrifice.

I have been seeing some billboards around town.

Freedom...paid for by the men and women of the US Navy

Freedom...paid for by the men and women of the US Army

Truer words have NEVER been spoken and we must give thanks.

 

[leeboy]

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx
It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

:roll:

Nice spin.

 

[leeboy]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html

">http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html">http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html</A>[/q</a>

So much for the war driving people out of the military? I know 700+ that would not agree with that statement. 100 in the past month alone. Pft.

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx
It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

Hmm, my co-worker/ Lab partner is a former Marine who fought in the first gulf war, and was also stationed in Bosnia and Mogadishu. We have spoke on several occations how he is very glad not to be serving in the forces today and would never go back under the current administration. He thought the current Iraqi war was an enormous mistake predicated on (an obvious) lie. He also said the popular reasons given for the first gulf were also distractions from the real reason we fought there (I'm sure you can guess what.) He is not the first gulf veteran to tell me this.

He also thinks Bush has done more to destroy the military than Clinton ever did. Bush has taken away huge amounts of VA benefits, so much that there are essentially worthless to him and doesn't even bother to visit VA hospitals anymore. All the talk of Bush of raising soldier income was been mostly lip service, and would not even equal the loss of VA benefits if it actually ever materialized.


Also, I have some friends who are staunch conservatives and who the husband is a faculty member over at West Point (on 15 mi from me.) He basically said the whole campus hates Don Rumsfeld because he forced his rediculous invasion-plan-on-the-cheap, meanwhile ignoring and discrediting Gen Shinseki's (West Point alum) warnings about the need for vast more numbers of troops ("several hundred thousand") and essentially ruining his career over the flap, and directly causing the disorder there now. (To the needless cost of many of our men.) Consequently they are angry with Bush as well. My freind said he won't be voting for Bush this time. My co-worker essentially agreed with this view. "A$$hole" was his word for Rummy, and "elite silver-spoon coward" for Bush.

 

[b0mbrman]

If the topic is anecdotal evidence, I've been hard-pressed to find individual dissention in the army among soldiers not from big cities.

I don't necessarily agree with what they say, but have always thought it interesting that so many people from so many different backgrounds are so staunch in their support of Bush and what the US does.

 

[JupiterJones]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040423/D824LUNO3.html

Interesting article, but does not address the real issues. The problem is not the career soldier, it is the citizen soldier.

Many in Reserve, Guard plan to quit because of Iraq duty

The article you reference defines "strong numbers" by reenlistment goals. These goals are based on a military strongly supplemented by Guard and Reserve troops. These reenlistment goals will have to be rethought due to the large numbers of part-time soldiers not reenlisting, thus explaining why a number of people are starting to talk about the Draft again. One other thing to remember is that the reenlistment goals also assume that initial enlistment numbers will remain steady.

Rep. Charles Rangel (D.-N.Y.) recently introduced legislation that would require ?compulsory military or national service for men and women, ages 18 to 26, without exemptions for college or graduate studies,? according to the Washington Times.

Agency initiates steps for selective draft

House Resolution 3598 was introduced in Congress in December 2001. Called the ?Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001,? it contains the following provisions:

SEC. 3. BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG MEN ? It is the obligation of every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 22 to receive basic military training and education as a member of the armed forces unless the citizen or person is exempted under the provisions of this Act.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx
It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

He also thinks Bush has done more to destroy the military than Clinton ever did. Bush has taken away huge amounts of VA benefits, so much that there are essentially worthless to him and doesn't even bother to visit VA hospitals anymore. All the talk of Bush of raising soldier income was been mostly lip service, and would not even equal the loss of VA benefits if it actually ever materialized.

I work with several retired military people and I have not heard many complaints about VA benefits. The extended tricare benefits for their familys cost like $400 a year.

 

[LordMagnusKain]

so you are saying that the US economy is on the rise?

The real GDP is going up; productivity is going up, employment going up;

How is this not an economy on the rise?

Many in Reserve, Guard plan to quit because of Iraq duty

reservists didn't sign up for full on military service, just to come in when the country most needed them, they have other stuff to do, of course they aren?t going to sign back up!

Agency initiates steps for selective draft

Their are lot of draft bills that have been entered, but the military itself doesn't want a large low-trained military; mostly these bills are more political statements than anything else:

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., has introduced a bill that would reinstate the draft.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx
It's usually the liberal-types who have never served (or done anything for this country) who want to make it seem like the sky is falling and presuppose that people won't want to fight for this country.

He also thinks Bush has done more to destroy the military than Clinton ever did. Bush has taken away huge amounts of VA benefits, so much that there are essentially worthless to him and doesn't even bother to visit VA hospitals anymore. All the talk of Bush of raising soldier income was been mostly lip service, and would not even equal the loss of VA benefits if it actually ever materialized.

I work with several retired military people and I have not heard many complaints about VA benefits. The extended tricare benefits for their familys cost like $400 a year.

TriCare Prime is $460/year for family coverage. It's called TriCare for Life.

 

[unixfool]

My wife is still in and I've been out for almost 10 yrs. I'm currently an IT consultant. You wouldn't believe what I save in medical by relying on my wife's Tricare (Prime). I have NO medical benefits through my company. It awed one of my coworkers.

No complaints about VA benefits here, although I've only used my education benefits (and medical once, went to a VA hospital to be seen).

 

[unixfool]

Save the no-spin zone for The O'Rielly Factor

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: unixfool
Save the no-spin zone for The O'Rielly Factor

VA has improved, in my opinion...like to see examples of how VA benefits have declined...Hafen
?