thedrifter
02-17-09, 06:15 AM
Montana ranks low in Army recruits' diploma rate
By MARTIN J. KIDSTON
Independent Record
HELENA - The active-duty Army missed its benchmark for the number of recruits with a high school diploma last year, marking it the fourth straight year the goal has been missed, according to a national study released last week.
Compiled by the National Priorities Project, based in Northampton, Mass., the study found that only 74 percent of Army recruits in 2008 were considered "tier one," meaning that they had earned a high-school diploma.
The Army's goal was 90 percent, and while the 2008 findings improved 3 percent over last year, the figures were still down from a high of 83 percent in 2005, according to the study.
"I think it signals a struggle for the Army to find qualified recruits," said Suzanne Smith, research director for the study. "It points to whether the Army is exhausting its potential pool of recruits. We should be paying more attention to whether we want to have such a wide global footprint."
The report, which was released on Tuesday, shows that just 65 percent of Army recruits in Montana were considered to be tier one. The state ranked 45th overall, with Nevada ranking last and Connecticut scoring best with 82 percent of its recruits considered tier one.
"I find it difficult to believe Montana is that low," said Capt. Rufus Shumate, who oversees Army recruiting in Western Montana. "Our objective and goal is to find quality people."
While the Army prefers recruits with a high school diploma, Shumate said, it's not the only pathway future soldiers have into the Army, and it doesn't exclude those with a GED, those who were home-schooled or graduates of the Army's Youth ChalleNGe program.
All applicants, however, must take the Armed Forces Qualification Test. The test, which Shumate compared to the ACT, looks at math, English, mechanical and sorting skills, among other aptitudes.
"We like to see every applicant score above 50 percent on that," Shumate said. "If they don't pass, we have a program to help them improve."
While the state ranked low in the number of tier one recruits it turns out, it scored far better when it came to what the Army calls "high-quality" recruits, meaning they had both a high school diploma and they scored well on the qualification test.
In that study, NPP found, Montana ranked 23rd overall. Of the state's 286 Army recruits, more than 46 percent were considered to be high quality, an improvement from 41 percent in 2007.
"By regulation, we're not able to coach people to pass the applicant test, but we can mentor them, check their progress, and get them in touch with people who can help them improve their score," Shumate said. "We will give them the tools to be successful."
The study also found that Montana ranked 10th nationally in 2008 in its overall number of Army recruits. The study showed that 2.1 youth from every 1,000 in the state joined the Army, well above the national average of 1.6.
"A lot of it is a matter of pride," Shumate said. "It's selfless service. Montanans believe in their country and they want to support their country."
Smith, however, posed other questions beyond the study's reach. Does the Army put more recruiters into Montana per capita than other regions? Does it focus on areas of the country that have a proven history of military service?
"We've found that rural areas have higher recruiting rates than urban areas," Smith said. "It may be economic conditions, where the Army is seeing an opportunity there. If there are fewer opportunities in Montana, then their recruiting rates may be higher, because they're seeking alternatives to the jobs they can't find."
NPP doesn't provide the same study for the other branches of service, nor does it provide recruiting numbers in Montana over the same period for the Marine Corps, the Navy or the Air Force.
"We'd love to have looked at the Marines, but they don't respond to our (Freedom of Information Act) requests," Smith said. "For lack of resources, we haven't pursued it."
Published on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.
Last modified on 2/17/2009 at 12:47 am
Ellie
By MARTIN J. KIDSTON
Independent Record
HELENA - The active-duty Army missed its benchmark for the number of recruits with a high school diploma last year, marking it the fourth straight year the goal has been missed, according to a national study released last week.
Compiled by the National Priorities Project, based in Northampton, Mass., the study found that only 74 percent of Army recruits in 2008 were considered "tier one," meaning that they had earned a high-school diploma.
The Army's goal was 90 percent, and while the 2008 findings improved 3 percent over last year, the figures were still down from a high of 83 percent in 2005, according to the study.
"I think it signals a struggle for the Army to find qualified recruits," said Suzanne Smith, research director for the study. "It points to whether the Army is exhausting its potential pool of recruits. We should be paying more attention to whether we want to have such a wide global footprint."
The report, which was released on Tuesday, shows that just 65 percent of Army recruits in Montana were considered to be tier one. The state ranked 45th overall, with Nevada ranking last and Connecticut scoring best with 82 percent of its recruits considered tier one.
"I find it difficult to believe Montana is that low," said Capt. Rufus Shumate, who oversees Army recruiting in Western Montana. "Our objective and goal is to find quality people."
While the Army prefers recruits with a high school diploma, Shumate said, it's not the only pathway future soldiers have into the Army, and it doesn't exclude those with a GED, those who were home-schooled or graduates of the Army's Youth ChalleNGe program.
All applicants, however, must take the Armed Forces Qualification Test. The test, which Shumate compared to the ACT, looks at math, English, mechanical and sorting skills, among other aptitudes.
"We like to see every applicant score above 50 percent on that," Shumate said. "If they don't pass, we have a program to help them improve."
While the state ranked low in the number of tier one recruits it turns out, it scored far better when it came to what the Army calls "high-quality" recruits, meaning they had both a high school diploma and they scored well on the qualification test.
In that study, NPP found, Montana ranked 23rd overall. Of the state's 286 Army recruits, more than 46 percent were considered to be high quality, an improvement from 41 percent in 2007.
"By regulation, we're not able to coach people to pass the applicant test, but we can mentor them, check their progress, and get them in touch with people who can help them improve their score," Shumate said. "We will give them the tools to be successful."
The study also found that Montana ranked 10th nationally in 2008 in its overall number of Army recruits. The study showed that 2.1 youth from every 1,000 in the state joined the Army, well above the national average of 1.6.
"A lot of it is a matter of pride," Shumate said. "It's selfless service. Montanans believe in their country and they want to support their country."
Smith, however, posed other questions beyond the study's reach. Does the Army put more recruiters into Montana per capita than other regions? Does it focus on areas of the country that have a proven history of military service?
"We've found that rural areas have higher recruiting rates than urban areas," Smith said. "It may be economic conditions, where the Army is seeing an opportunity there. If there are fewer opportunities in Montana, then their recruiting rates may be higher, because they're seeking alternatives to the jobs they can't find."
NPP doesn't provide the same study for the other branches of service, nor does it provide recruiting numbers in Montana over the same period for the Marine Corps, the Navy or the Air Force.
"We'd love to have looked at the Marines, but they don't respond to our (Freedom of Information Act) requests," Smith said. "For lack of resources, we haven't pursued it."
Published on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.
Last modified on 2/17/2009 at 12:47 am
Ellie