American Military Recruits Pouring In

[John317]

Uncle Sam still wants you

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer

Posted: 05/30/2010 07:03:26 AM PDT

Never before has the United States been at war for so long with an all-volunteer military.

The nation is involved in two wars in the Middle East. More than 4,000 U.S. troops have died in Iraq. Last week, the 1,000th American soldier died in Afghanistan. More than 30 people from San Bernardino and eastern Los Angeles counties have died in the two countries since 2001.

And despite all that, as the nation observes Memorial Day today, local military recruiters say they are being overrun with eager, qualified young men and women who want to sign up.

"It's been unheard-of good," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Rhoades, a Navy recruiter in San Bernardino. "We have a lot of people we're still trying to get in who are

Army Staff Sgt. Adrian De La Cruz works with recruits during physical training last week at the Army recruiting office in Fontana. Local recruiters say they have been easily making their quotas the past two years and have not had to resort to using waivers. (LaFonzo Carter/Staff Photographer)100 percent qualified."

From 2005 through 2008, the U.S. Army's Southern California recruiting battalion, which is responsible for San Bernardino County, fell short of its recruitment goals. But in 2009, the battalion had more than enough and is on pace for another good year in 2010.

"It's been very, very good," said battalion commander Lt. Col. Miguel Howe.

Other branches of the military are seeing the same trend.

A big part of recent recruiting success is tied to the nation's flagging economy, recruiters said, but not in the way some might think.

"There's a misconception out there that the military is a last resort," said Sgt. 1st Class Christian Casillas, an Army recruiter in Fontana. "But in reality, we're a multibillion-dollar business, and if you come work for us, you're building a foundation."

That foundation - a chance to get work experience, high-tech training and money for college - is something many local recruits say they want and will need as they prepare to enter an increasingly competitive job market.

"I know with the skills I'll have, I'll be able to go work for (Southern California) Edison or the department of water and power," said Andy Issar, a 29-year-old Fontana resident who will ship out for Army basic training in June. "In the Army, whatever you put in, you'll get out. If you put in 110 percent, you'll come out very happy."

Issar is already studying business administration and philosophy at Cal State Fullerton. He says he'll be able to continue earning a degree while he's in the Army.

Steven Parks, a Colton resident who will graduate from Colton High School in June, said he's joining the Navy in large part because of the college money he'll receive.

"It'd be pretty hard" to afford college otherwise, he said. But even if he had the money, he said he'd probably go to the Navy first. He wants to get a job in the medical field - maybe as an X-ray technician.

"I'll get experience and, when I get out, I'll already be qualified for a job," Parks said.

Howe said the economy is just one of the reasons young men and women have been flocking to the armed forces.

"People are not risking their life solely for pay and benefits," he said.

Amanda Salcedo, a San Bernardino resident who graduated from Cajon High School in 2008, said the college money and the job training are nice, but she has other reasons for joining the Navy.

"The job wasn't the reason - it's a plus," said Salcedo, who will head to basic training in Illinois in June. "I want to do something good with my life."

Issar, who immigrated to the U.S. from Canada and traces his family roots to India, said he wants to show the rest of the world the kind of opportunity America offers.

"I hope I do get to go to Iraq or Afghanistan," he said. "I feel I'm (the country's) best foot forward. I'd be showing people what this country has done."

But Howe and other recruiters do acknowledge that the troubled economy and the country's shortage of good jobs have made more potential recruits - and their parents and guidance counselors - aware of the benefits the military offers.

"Kids are out there today, and they can't go and get a job at McDonald's," Rhoades said. "They realize they need to go to school. And so then they ask, `How am I going to put myself through school?"'

That's meant more people, and more well-qualified people, are looking to the armed forces.

Far from looking for the down-and-out, recruiters are more and more focusing on the better, brighter potential soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. And more college-educated and collegebound men and women are signing up.

Today, Howe said the average Army recruit has at least a few college credits when they enlist.

Years ago, Rhoades said, recruiters gave out waivers - bending the rules, essentially - to sign up otherwise unqualified recruits. Waivers for some criminal records, he said, were more common.

"It used to be that if you had a couple misdemeanors, you'd still be good to go," Rhoades said. "Not anymore."

To enlist, would-be recruits have to take a test called the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. Rhoades said the standard minimum score for Navy recruits used to be 35, but now he typically looks for a minimum score of 50.

Chief Petty Officer Diana Bullwinkle, a Coast Guard recruiter in Colton, said the Coast Guard used to look for ASVAB scores of 45 but now looks for closer to 70.

"We used to take waivers, do cold calls, do a lot of active recruiting in schools," Bullwinkle said. "But this office has been lucky. We have a lot of walk-ins, and we turn down a lot of people."

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_15194005?source=rss#ixzz0pUR6sB1d

[phkrause]

I would say one reason is probably the economy and the loss of jobs for many. If I could re-enlist I would, But I don't think they want someone over 35 (62) heheheheheh

pk