The few...the proud..the fewer...very few....
U.S. Marines, Amid Iraq War, Miss Recruiting Goals
By Will Dunham / Reuters
WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps for the second straight month in February missed its goal for signing up new recruits, the Marines said on Wednesday, in another sign of the Iraq war's effect on military recruiting.
"It is a challenging recruiting environment right now," said Maj. David Griesmer, spokesman for the Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
For the first time in more than a decade, the Marines in January fell short of their monthly goal for new recruits signing enlistment contracts to begin serving within a year. The Marines missed their monthly goal again in February by more than 6 percent, Griesmer said.
In February, Marines signed up 2,772 of a target of 2,964 (93.5 percent). Some of them will join a total force of 177,000.
But Griesmer noted that in both months, the Marines reached their goals for new recruits actually entering boot camp. So a higher percentage of those who promised to enlist followed through and entered the Corps.
In year-to-date figures for the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, the Marines were 1 percent behind their goal for signing up new recruits and 2 percent ahead in shipping new recruits into boot camp.
The recruiting shortfalls come as Marines play an integral role in military operations in Iraq, which have caused a steady stream of combat deaths. Marines have performed some of the most dangerous and grueling tasks in the guerrilla war, for example spearheading the November offensive in Fallujah.
Pentagon leaders also have expressed concern about recruiting for the active-duty Army and the Army Reserve and National Guard.
In describing the recruiting challenge faced by the Marines, Griesmer mentioned the Iraq war and said recruiters are having to work hard to sell the idea of military service to potential recruits and their parents.
Griesmer said other factors also are playing a role, including a strengthening economy and the growing number of young Americans entering college. He also said the Marines plan to add 275 recruiters over the next three years.
Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, told reporters last week he was optimistic about reaching recruiting goals for the current fiscal year.
"What the recruiters are telling us is that they have to spend more time with the parents. And regardless of whether the individual American is 17 or 18 or 19, parents have influence -- rightly so -- on the decisions that these young men and young women are going to make," Hagee said.
"And they're saying, 'It's not, maybe, a bad idea to join the Marine Corps, but why don't you consider it a year from now or two years from now? Let's think about this.' So the recruiters are having to work much harder out there right now."
The Marines also are offering new reenlistment bonuses to help convince troops who are completing their volunteer service commitment to sign up for another tour of duty. |
