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2005-08-16 Home Front: WoT

StrategyPage: U.S. Army Encounters Strange Recruiting Patterns

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Posted by ed 2005-08-16 08:52|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Non-citizens appear to make better soldiers and sailors.

This comes as no surprise at all.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-16 10:15|| 2005-08-16 10:15|| Front Page Top

#2 I agree with bomster. They come to the table with a much greater level of gratitude for the privilige of serving.

Posted by anymouse">anymouse 2005-08-16 10:23|| 2005-08-16 10:23|| Front Page Top

#3 Some of this is due to higher re-enlistment bonuses, but those re-enlisting (and 35 percent of them do it in a combat zone) often say they believe strongly in what they are doing, and thatâs why they volunteer to keep doing it.

When I was responsible for the installation reenlistment program 25 years ago, the Army sent out an service wide analysis that showed even then that while people enlisted for many reasons, people reenlisted at around 40% for 'traditional' reasons [re:duty, honor, country]. Always thought it was a mistake not to push that even greater in the recruiting side of the house.

Areas where the unemployment rate is the lowest tend to be the toughest for recruiters.

Which is consistant whether it is peacetime or wartime. Recruiting is and has been far more in sync with the employment picture. You don't think recruiting was tough during the 80s and 90s other than during temporary recessions in the economy?

Posted by Jirt Omager7355 2005-08-16 11:24|| 2005-08-16 11:24|| Front Page Top

#4 Agree with B-a-r. They're aspiring citizens. They've chosen to become Americans. They're willing to give their life for the sake of their freedom, that of their loved ones, and the American ideal. They must be very focused and believe very strongly in what they're doing. Most American citizens either made a similar choice or their ancestors did.

The people who have chosen not to come to America are different. Make no mistake -- it is a choice every adult in the world has been facing for over 200 years.

I suspect there is a genetic component to the tenacity, purposefulness, and practicality evinced by most people who chose to leave their land, relatives, and friends for America. Over time, the accumulated behaviour is selecting for --and against-- certain traits. The Moonbats strike me as failed Americans. Good genes can be overcome by bad ones, as well as by insane nurture.

Posted by Kalle (kafir forever) 2005-08-16 11:33|| 2005-08-16 11:33|| Front Page Top

#5 The disparity between Red and Blue states is no suprise. Concepts like duty, honor and patriotism are readily scoffed at in the the urban areas that provide the dominant voting blocks in Blue states. But get away from the urban areas and while the state may appear Blue on the political map the country side looks pretty red.

Posted by Thavick Clese8558 2005-08-16 13:44|| 2005-08-16 13:44|| Front Page Top

#6 There is another facet as well, Kalle. Moonbats tend to have few to no children, in fact tend to be weaker overall at commitment-making, ie other-oriented, behaviours. This suggests to me that moonbattery is a countersurvival worldview within species Homo sapien. As for the Nature v. Nurture argument, the former Mrs. Sheehan's son's behaviour seems a lovely example.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-08-16 14:12|| 2005-08-16 14:12|| Front Page Top

#7 and is up in the South
Hard Wired.

Posted by Shipman 2005-08-16 18:11|| 2005-08-16 18:11|| Front Page Top

#8 I have no problem with someone working their way to citizenship like this. Awesome!

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-08-16 18:22|| 2005-08-16 18:22|| Front Page Top

#9 "those re-enlisting (and 35 percent of them do it in a combat zone) often say they believe strongly in what they are doing, and thatâs why they volunteer to keep doing it."

Now that's gotta hurt if you're a lib!

Posted by ex-lib 2005-08-16 20:04|| 2005-08-16 20:04|| Front Page Top

#10 By "non-citizens" must mean "legal/permanent residents", and dual residents from approved nations such as the Philippines, where the USA has agreement that Filipinos with verified military service in their nation's armed forces but whom afterwards join the US armed forces can have their service time credited in US equivalency. CHALK IT UP TO "GLOBAL CORRECTNESS", as oppos to mere US-specific PC!?

Posted by JosephMendiola 2005-08-16 23:18|| 2005-08-16 23:18|| Front Page Top

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