Proving a negative is not my style Mike. Besides, my point wasn't whether the services have challenges ahead, or whether they are experiencing some recruiting shortages. My point is, we have a long way to go from a few shortages, to an all out draft, and the reason you've made that leap so quickly is because of your assumptions and desire to institute a draft.
1. Have we tried lowering the requirements on mandating high school diplomas?
2. Have we offered anything near the G.I. bill to young kids graduating high school?
3. Have we upped the anti in regard to bonuses for first term enlistees?
4. Has the President used the bully pulpit in a direct way to entice enlistment?
From my perspective, few of these things have been done, or are currently being done. It sounds to me like the recruiters you've been talking to are experiencing difficulties in recruiting. Point taken, but is it related to the economy improving? Or is it all related to the war as you suggest? My bet is it's a combination of the two, and offering the right kind of incentives will improve the situation.
Lastly, recruiters are always clamoring for more people. They are put under allot of pressure to produce, maybe those guys in Idaho are slacking off and not doing their job very well?
This recruiting talk reminds me of a story that happened to me a few years ago. I was trying to help a young kid (17) get into the Marines. He was a little unsure whether he wanted to go into the Marines or the Army, so I suggested he talk to both of them and see what they offered. While in the Marine recruiting office, he explained to the recruiter he was going to talk to the Army recruiter in a couple of hours after his interview, and the guy practically kicked him out of his office and said "We only take people who really want to be Marines!"
If that kind of attitude is prevalent in Idaho at the recruiting offices, that might help explain why the Navy and Air Force are having no problems in recruiting, and why the Marines are.
Mike
p.s. That kid ended up joining the Army and serving in a tank crew. Had to go through the reserves in order to get in, because he didn't have a high school diploma. He was a street kid I got to know while volunteering for "Stand Up For Kids". standupforkids.org
A resource I guarantee few recruiters utilize. |
