thedrifter
07-27-09, 03:35 PM
Some military recruits must wait to report for duty
By Chuck Crumbo, McClatchy Newspapers
Stars and Stripes online edition, Sunday, July 26, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. — On graduation day just before July 4, 1,200 freshly minted soldiers wearing gray-green camouflage uniforms and black berets marched past the Fort Jackson grandstand packed with cheering relatives and friends.
Historically, the almost-weekly event draws its largest crowds July through September. That's when 60 percent of recruits reported for basic training during the "summer surge" months.
But this summer, the "surge" is more of a small bump. Fort Jackson has stayed busy throughout the year as the bulk of recruits — about 57 percent expected of 2009's projected total of 47,000 — arrived before Memorial Day.
A sagging economy, declining casualty rate in Iraq and a resurgence in the U.S. military's popularity appear to have contributed to a strong recruiting year, Army leaders said.
And the steady training schedule at Fort Jackson is likely to continue into next year as recruits find themselves on a waiting list to report for duty.
"Shipping dates are anywhere from six weeks to two to three months out," said Sgt. 1st Class Jay Jenkins, who works at the Army's downtown Columbia recruiting station.
If recruiting continues at its current pace, the Army could have about 40,000 recruits in the future soldier program by Oct. 1, Army officials said. That compares with 11,000 who were in the program a year earlier.
Recruits in the program included people who want to wait until they graduate from high school or college, and those who can't enter until there is a seat available in a training school, said Leslie Ann Sully, spokeswoman for the Columbia Recruiting Battalion.
Those who sign up can wait up to a year before reporting for duty, Sully said.
Having such a large pool of people waiting to report to Fort Jackson helps smooth out training schedules, said Col. Kevin Shwedo, deputy commander.
"The summer surge has been problematic for years," Shwedo said, explaining additional staffing was needed for a short period.
But with thousands waiting to ship, Fort Jackson commanders can "establish a straight line" in the training schedule, Shwedo said. "You don't have to build any slack into your personnel training schedule."
This year's training scene at Fort Jackson contrasts with 2005 when chow halls were closed and civilian staff were laid off because of the low recruit numbers.
Recruiting has been so heavy that many local offices have already reached their goals for the 2009 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, and are working toward 2010. The Army has yet to establish a recruiting goal for 2010.
Through June, the Army had enlisted 48,565 for active duty — 4 percent above its goal.
The Columbia battalion already has rolled past its 2009 goal, signing up 2,166 men and women. Its goal for the year was 1,853.
The battalion recruits western North Carolina, the Charlotte and Augusta areas, and South Carolina except for the Charleston area.
Army officials say the economy, with unemployment nationally at 9.7 percent, has had an impact on recruiting.
"With every 10 percent increase in the number of people unemployed, there's a 6 percent boost in recruiting," said Douglas Smith, spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky.
Also, the military is becoming increasingly popular. A Gallup poll in June showed the public's confidence in the military is near the high rating it enjoyed after the Gulf War in 1991.
Even if they need a paycheck and want to join right away, Jenkins thinks it's a good idea for some people to know they'll have to wait to get in the Army.
"This is not Wal-Mart, Microsoft or anything like that," Jenkins said. "You're signing a binding federal contract to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. That means you're willing to lay down your life for your country."
Ellie
By Chuck Crumbo, McClatchy Newspapers
Stars and Stripes online edition, Sunday, July 26, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. — On graduation day just before July 4, 1,200 freshly minted soldiers wearing gray-green camouflage uniforms and black berets marched past the Fort Jackson grandstand packed with cheering relatives and friends.
Historically, the almost-weekly event draws its largest crowds July through September. That's when 60 percent of recruits reported for basic training during the "summer surge" months.
But this summer, the "surge" is more of a small bump. Fort Jackson has stayed busy throughout the year as the bulk of recruits — about 57 percent expected of 2009's projected total of 47,000 — arrived before Memorial Day.
A sagging economy, declining casualty rate in Iraq and a resurgence in the U.S. military's popularity appear to have contributed to a strong recruiting year, Army leaders said.
And the steady training schedule at Fort Jackson is likely to continue into next year as recruits find themselves on a waiting list to report for duty.
"Shipping dates are anywhere from six weeks to two to three months out," said Sgt. 1st Class Jay Jenkins, who works at the Army's downtown Columbia recruiting station.
If recruiting continues at its current pace, the Army could have about 40,000 recruits in the future soldier program by Oct. 1, Army officials said. That compares with 11,000 who were in the program a year earlier.
Recruits in the program included people who want to wait until they graduate from high school or college, and those who can't enter until there is a seat available in a training school, said Leslie Ann Sully, spokeswoman for the Columbia Recruiting Battalion.
Those who sign up can wait up to a year before reporting for duty, Sully said.
Having such a large pool of people waiting to report to Fort Jackson helps smooth out training schedules, said Col. Kevin Shwedo, deputy commander.
"The summer surge has been problematic for years," Shwedo said, explaining additional staffing was needed for a short period.
But with thousands waiting to ship, Fort Jackson commanders can "establish a straight line" in the training schedule, Shwedo said. "You don't have to build any slack into your personnel training schedule."
This year's training scene at Fort Jackson contrasts with 2005 when chow halls were closed and civilian staff were laid off because of the low recruit numbers.
Recruiting has been so heavy that many local offices have already reached their goals for the 2009 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, and are working toward 2010. The Army has yet to establish a recruiting goal for 2010.
Through June, the Army had enlisted 48,565 for active duty — 4 percent above its goal.
The Columbia battalion already has rolled past its 2009 goal, signing up 2,166 men and women. Its goal for the year was 1,853.
The battalion recruits western North Carolina, the Charlotte and Augusta areas, and South Carolina except for the Charleston area.
Army officials say the economy, with unemployment nationally at 9.7 percent, has had an impact on recruiting.
"With every 10 percent increase in the number of people unemployed, there's a 6 percent boost in recruiting," said Douglas Smith, spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky.
Also, the military is becoming increasingly popular. A Gallup poll in June showed the public's confidence in the military is near the high rating it enjoyed after the Gulf War in 1991.
Even if they need a paycheck and want to join right away, Jenkins thinks it's a good idea for some people to know they'll have to wait to get in the Army.
"This is not Wal-Mart, Microsoft or anything like that," Jenkins said. "You're signing a binding federal contract to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. That means you're willing to lay down your life for your country."
Ellie