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thedrifter
04-02-08, 07:25 AM
Military recruitment at home in Mother Lode

Published: April 1, 2008

By LACEY PETERSON

The Union Democrat


Military recruiting has long been a controversial issue, both in times of peace and war.

In February the Berkeley City Council voted — and then rescinded its vote — to ban Marine recruiters in the city.

Conversely, Tuolumne and Calaveras counties support recruiters, who say they aren't grabbing people off the streets and pushing them into the service.

"Truth be told, I don't have to sell the Marine Corps," said Staff Sgt. Lance White, a local recruiter. "It sells itself."

White lives in Sonora, but is based in Modesto. He recruits in Stanislaus, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties, and has a satellite office in East Sonora.

White explained he has no quota to fill and does not solicit potential recruits. The Marines would ideally like the amount of new recruits each year to equal the number who leave.

If that doesn't happen, "the Marine Corps isn't going to shut down," said Sgt. Brian Reimers, who handles marketing and public affairs from an office in Sacramento.

"We don't want applications, we want commitment," White said.

In the 2006-07 fiscal year, White recruited 27 people in his four-county area, and says he spends most of his time driving and giving talks to high school students about leadership and values.

Marines classify themselves as an elite fighting force which needs people who want to be there. Recruiters will tell a person point-blank if they are not qualified to join.

"There's a standard that needs to be upheld," White said. However, he added, there are exceptions.

He gave the example of one man who wanted to become a Marine but was not physically fit enough. The applicant lost weight, got in shape and came back.

"Where there's a will, there's a way," White said.

Marine recruiters ask those interested a battery of questions about grades, any law violations, and health. Potential recruits must be between the ages of 17 and 32. High school students must be on track to graduate, and, unlike other branches of the service, the Marines do not accept many people who do not have high school diplomas.

"We don't really like GEDs, because if you can't commit four years to a high school then how can you commit four years to the Marine Corps?" White said.

For every 20 individuals who go to boot camp only one can have a GED, he said.

The Marines also distinguish themselves in that they do not offer any signing bonuses or incentives to join.

Recruiting doesn't seem to be a contentious issue on local high school campuses.

Summerville High School has a long history of students graduating and going into military service, said Superintendent John Keiter.

"I would say at Summerville High school, we have all kinds of different careers presented to students," Keiter said, adding that military recruiters aren't on campus very often — maybe two or three times per year.

Summerville had an ROTC program until declining enrollment made it untenable, he said.

"The community is generally supportive of the military. We don't have a large number of negative opinions expressed here," Keiter said.

That's not to say there is no criticism.

Marilyn Dungan of Tuolumne County Citizens for Peace says her group has surveyed some recruits and found that cash bonuses and training promised may only be delivered after clearing a lot of red tape.

"These recruiters are salesmen," she said.

The Sonora Army recruiting office has four recruiters who cover Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.

In fiscal 2006-07 they recruited 15 persons for active duty. In the last three years, an average of 8,000 Californians enlisted in the Army each year.

Sgt. 1st Class Darrin West is a busy man. He goes out around the community, talking to people, visiting schools and participating in community events.

The Sonora Army recruiting station participates in the Sober Grad activities and career fairs. "We do it all," said West, 36, of Sonora.

West leads all Army recruits through the process. The time between walking through the recruiting office doors and going to basic training can be anywhere from days to weeks.

The Army offers bonuses of up to $40,000 in cash, depending on the job recruits choose. They are paid once a person finishes training and arrives at their first duty station.

After completing job training, soldiers are asked to return to their home for "hometown recruiting," where they assist recruiters and get involved in the community. They tell their "Army story," West said.

Contrary to what some may think, the Army does not have access to lists of students about to graduate from high school. Interested people must get their transcripts for the Army to make sure they are on track to graduate, West said.

Career options and guaranteed training are among benefits considered by would-be recruits deciding between services, West said. Soldiers are offered 100 percent tuition assistance and can choose from 1,900 colleges to attend while in the service.

"Our job is to enlist all qualified people who want to join," West said.

When parents or possible recruits ask about when, or if, they will be deployed to a war zone, they are told they will not be deployed while in training. After that, it depends on which unit a person is assigned to.

"We tell them there is a possibility," West said. "It's up to the unit when they arrive."

West has been in the Army for 18 years and will be eligible to retire in two years. He decided to make it a career because "I guess, the sense of pride I get from being in the Army."

He has been in recruiting for 10 years. He likes it because there is always something different to do — Sonora is his fourth post.

"(I enjoy) helping out people who want to get into something with a lack of experience or if they want to go to college," West said. "This is a very supportive community."


Contact Lacey Peterson at lpeterson@uniondemocrat.com or 588-4540.

Ellie