thedrifter
04-02-09, 08:26 AM
Many are charging into the offices of military recruiters
By yourpenntrafford
Created Apr 2 2009 - 12:00am
With an increasing national unemployment rate, the U.S. military is seeing record-high recruitment rates.
Since the recession started in December 2007, the military has seen an increase in enlistments that often have exceeded recruitment goals.
Fiscal year 2008, spanning from October 2007 to September 2008, marked the first time in four years each branch met or exceeded its recruiting goal.
"We always see more people coming into the recruiting stations when the economy is in a downturn," Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Siegrist, a Navy mass communications specialist, said. "Unlike a civilian company focusing on a bottom line, we don't have to do that since our needs have remained the same."
Nationally, every branch met or exceeded recruitment goals in February. The Marine Corps exceeded its national goal by 36 percent, which was higher than any other branch.
Maj. Brian Hawkins, commanding officer at the Marines' Pittsburgh recruiting station, said local recruiting rates have held steady. But since he came to the office in 2007, he has never has missed his recruitment goal.
"I think the economy is one of many factors contributing to enlistment," Hawkins said. "But enlistments are not up dramatically."
Since January, the Marines enlisted 156 recruits from the Pittsburgh region. Hawkins said he expected that many recruits, but he has seen more applications coming in and has had to turn away more applicants.
"When the initial surge was on (in the Middle East), there was a large push on recruiting," Hawkins said. "We exceeded to the point we now have a reduction of the number of applicants we're sending to boot camp -- we can't just open the floodgates and let everyone in."
The military reserves have seen a recruiting upturn, as well.
During the first five months of the current fiscal year all branches of the reserves have exceeded recruitment goals by a combined 11 percent.
Siegrist said the reserves have become more popular, with people joining to reap collegiate benefits ranging from full tuition reimbursement to monthly education stipends, which usually come with an obligated service contract after graduation.
Reservists must attend drill sessions one weekend per month and two weeks each summer, and they could be pulled into active duty whenever needed.
Between 1 and 3 percent of graduating seniors at Franklin Regional, Plum, Penn-Trafford and Norwin school districts enlist in the military or reserves, or join Reserve Officers Training Corps programs.
"We haven't seen any effect (on enlistments) from the economy this school year, but it could become a viable option for students looking for help financially," said Ami Zachetti, a Franklin Regional High School guidance counselor.
At Gateway, guidance counselor Colleen Tortorella said student enlistments have gone down consistently over the last few years, dropping from 2 percent in 2005 to about 1.1 percent last year.
"I would speculate having a war going on is key, and I know of a few that won't go into the military out of fear," she said.
Tortorella said two seniors have committed to the military, but more could join as graduation approaches.
Although few turn to the military right after high school, more have been charging to the armed services during college.
Capt. Marty Carter, commandant of cadets with Air Force ROTC Detachment 730 at University of Pittsburgh, said the office has seen more college students coming in for training.
"As of the beginning of this semester, I've seen a huge increase in walk-ins," he said. "More juniors are looking into the program, and I expect to see more coming in the fall as sophomores and from high school."
ROTC provides officer training for students interested in military careers. It also provides scholarships.
Plum High School lets students get involved in ROTC earlier to earn military rank and college credits through classes sponsored by the Air Force. More students are taking advantage of the program.
"It has really exploded over the last three years, and there are a ton of students interested," said Brian Betta, a guidance counselor at Plum High School.
Air Force Maj. Scott Kolar, program supervisor, said the program has grown from 70 students to more than 200 between grades nine and 12.
Plum's Junior ROTC offers the district's students a series of classes ranging from aviation history and space exploration to survival and drill courses.
"No matter where you go, kids are always going to enlist," Kolar said.
"But we encourage secondary education and do whatever we can to help them get there. It's not our goal to get them to enlist, but they get to know what it's all about."
Ellie
By yourpenntrafford
Created Apr 2 2009 - 12:00am
With an increasing national unemployment rate, the U.S. military is seeing record-high recruitment rates.
Since the recession started in December 2007, the military has seen an increase in enlistments that often have exceeded recruitment goals.
Fiscal year 2008, spanning from October 2007 to September 2008, marked the first time in four years each branch met or exceeded its recruiting goal.
"We always see more people coming into the recruiting stations when the economy is in a downturn," Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Siegrist, a Navy mass communications specialist, said. "Unlike a civilian company focusing on a bottom line, we don't have to do that since our needs have remained the same."
Nationally, every branch met or exceeded recruitment goals in February. The Marine Corps exceeded its national goal by 36 percent, which was higher than any other branch.
Maj. Brian Hawkins, commanding officer at the Marines' Pittsburgh recruiting station, said local recruiting rates have held steady. But since he came to the office in 2007, he has never has missed his recruitment goal.
"I think the economy is one of many factors contributing to enlistment," Hawkins said. "But enlistments are not up dramatically."
Since January, the Marines enlisted 156 recruits from the Pittsburgh region. Hawkins said he expected that many recruits, but he has seen more applications coming in and has had to turn away more applicants.
"When the initial surge was on (in the Middle East), there was a large push on recruiting," Hawkins said. "We exceeded to the point we now have a reduction of the number of applicants we're sending to boot camp -- we can't just open the floodgates and let everyone in."
The military reserves have seen a recruiting upturn, as well.
During the first five months of the current fiscal year all branches of the reserves have exceeded recruitment goals by a combined 11 percent.
Siegrist said the reserves have become more popular, with people joining to reap collegiate benefits ranging from full tuition reimbursement to monthly education stipends, which usually come with an obligated service contract after graduation.
Reservists must attend drill sessions one weekend per month and two weeks each summer, and they could be pulled into active duty whenever needed.
Between 1 and 3 percent of graduating seniors at Franklin Regional, Plum, Penn-Trafford and Norwin school districts enlist in the military or reserves, or join Reserve Officers Training Corps programs.
"We haven't seen any effect (on enlistments) from the economy this school year, but it could become a viable option for students looking for help financially," said Ami Zachetti, a Franklin Regional High School guidance counselor.
At Gateway, guidance counselor Colleen Tortorella said student enlistments have gone down consistently over the last few years, dropping from 2 percent in 2005 to about 1.1 percent last year.
"I would speculate having a war going on is key, and I know of a few that won't go into the military out of fear," she said.
Tortorella said two seniors have committed to the military, but more could join as graduation approaches.
Although few turn to the military right after high school, more have been charging to the armed services during college.
Capt. Marty Carter, commandant of cadets with Air Force ROTC Detachment 730 at University of Pittsburgh, said the office has seen more college students coming in for training.
"As of the beginning of this semester, I've seen a huge increase in walk-ins," he said. "More juniors are looking into the program, and I expect to see more coming in the fall as sophomores and from high school."
ROTC provides officer training for students interested in military careers. It also provides scholarships.
Plum High School lets students get involved in ROTC earlier to earn military rank and college credits through classes sponsored by the Air Force. More students are taking advantage of the program.
"It has really exploded over the last three years, and there are a ton of students interested," said Brian Betta, a guidance counselor at Plum High School.
Air Force Maj. Scott Kolar, program supervisor, said the program has grown from 70 students to more than 200 between grades nine and 12.
Plum's Junior ROTC offers the district's students a series of classes ranging from aviation history and space exploration to survival and drill courses.
"No matter where you go, kids are always going to enlist," Kolar said.
"But we encourage secondary education and do whatever we can to help them get there. It's not our goal to get them to enlist, but they get to know what it's all about."
Ellie