thedrifter
12-21-06, 09:12 PM
Recruiters Say Possible Military Expansion Makes Job Harder
Opinions Mixed On Troop Levels
POSTED: 7:36 pm CST December 20, 2006
UPDATED: 7:53 pm CST December 20, 2006
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Opinions vary on President George W. Bush's possible increasing of the U.S. military.
An expansion would also make military recruiters' jobs more challenging.
"It is always challenging for us. We have everything that's going on in the world, certainly, makes people think a little bit harder about joining the military," said Staff Sgt. Bill Lisbon of the Marines.
Increasing soldiers in the Army and Marines will fall on the shoulders of recruiters such as 1st Sgt. Lenzy Morris.
"The mission is tough. It's a tough mission. However, we've been achieving," Morris said.
The Army has been just as successful this year with recruiting as last, officials said.
"The Army made it's recruiting goals for the year. We wanted to put 80,000 people and assess them into the Army and the Army achieved that," Morris said.
As of now, the Marines also have to find about 700 to 800 recruits in Iowa and Nebraska each year and say if they have to increase those numbers, the Marines love a challenge.
"(We're) definitely up to the challenge. If we need Marines, we'll find them," Lisbon said.
It's often a tough sell for recruiters, although they said many people want to serve their county.
"You find young men and women interested in military service. Often times, it's winning over the parents and the influencers in their lives," Morris said.
Although polls show most don't agree with the president's handling of Iraq, many favor increasing the military to deal with the reality.
"I think we should increase the troop level at this point, but the problem is, we should have gone in and wiped them out to begin with," said Dave Van Horn, of West Des Moines.
"I think we ought to be very sure before we send anybody else over there. That it will do some good, it will make some changes," said Barbara James, of Des Moines.
"I think we should. It's either an all or nothing kind of thing. Either totally withdraw or commit everything and get the job done right," said Jacob Howard, of Virginia.
The president said he hopes to decide about whether to increase troop levels after the first of the year.
To help convince young men and women to enlist, recruiters offer incentives such as bonuses of up to $40,000 and more cash for college.
Ellie
Opinions Mixed On Troop Levels
POSTED: 7:36 pm CST December 20, 2006
UPDATED: 7:53 pm CST December 20, 2006
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Opinions vary on President George W. Bush's possible increasing of the U.S. military.
An expansion would also make military recruiters' jobs more challenging.
"It is always challenging for us. We have everything that's going on in the world, certainly, makes people think a little bit harder about joining the military," said Staff Sgt. Bill Lisbon of the Marines.
Increasing soldiers in the Army and Marines will fall on the shoulders of recruiters such as 1st Sgt. Lenzy Morris.
"The mission is tough. It's a tough mission. However, we've been achieving," Morris said.
The Army has been just as successful this year with recruiting as last, officials said.
"The Army made it's recruiting goals for the year. We wanted to put 80,000 people and assess them into the Army and the Army achieved that," Morris said.
As of now, the Marines also have to find about 700 to 800 recruits in Iowa and Nebraska each year and say if they have to increase those numbers, the Marines love a challenge.
"(We're) definitely up to the challenge. If we need Marines, we'll find them," Lisbon said.
It's often a tough sell for recruiters, although they said many people want to serve their county.
"You find young men and women interested in military service. Often times, it's winning over the parents and the influencers in their lives," Morris said.
Although polls show most don't agree with the president's handling of Iraq, many favor increasing the military to deal with the reality.
"I think we should increase the troop level at this point, but the problem is, we should have gone in and wiped them out to begin with," said Dave Van Horn, of West Des Moines.
"I think we ought to be very sure before we send anybody else over there. That it will do some good, it will make some changes," said Barbara James, of Des Moines.
"I think we should. It's either an all or nothing kind of thing. Either totally withdraw or commit everything and get the job done right," said Jacob Howard, of Virginia.
The president said he hopes to decide about whether to increase troop levels after the first of the year.
To help convince young men and women to enlist, recruiters offer incentives such as bonuses of up to $40,000 and more cash for college.
Ellie