MILITARY MISSING RECRUIT TARGETS FORCES FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADS.Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer With recruitment numbers slumping and U.S. troops facing continuing combat overseas, military recruiters have a tough sell as they pursue graduating high school seniors during what is typically the year's biggest enlistment ENLISTMENT. The act of making a contract to serve the government in a subordinate capacity, either in the army or navy. The contract so made, is also called an enlistment. See, as to the power of infants to enlist, 4 Binn. 487; 5 Binn. 423; Binn. 255; 1 S. & R. 87; 11 S. & R. 93. period. The Army is expected to report Friday that it will miss its May recruitment goals - already lowered - by as much as 25 percent. Other branches of the armed forces have had similar difficulties signing up new recruits. ``It's a challenge. (Potential recruits) are a little more hesitant this summer than last summer,'' said Cpl. Sebastian Luna, a Marine recruiter based in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . The lingering lin·ger v. lin·gered, lin·ger·ing, lin·gers v.intr. 1. To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. See Synonyms at stay1. 2. war in Iraq, mounting casualty figures - including more than 1,600 U.S. troops - and an improving domestic economy continue to draw down enlistee numbers. Anti-war groups at local schools and increased pressure to limit military recruitment Military recruitment is the act of requesting people, usually male, to join a military voluntarily. Involuntary military recruitment is conscription. Recruitment is necessary to maintain an effective standing army in countries that have abolished conscription or which operate a have also forced local recruiters to scale back their expectations. Luna faced a typical situation when he approached Zoraya Rojas, an 18- year-old graduate of Monroe High School For other uses, see James Monroe High School. Monroe High School may refer to:
She was open to the idea of a military career but asked him: ``Isn't it hard?'' ``I think I would miss my family,'' she added. With every question, Luna replied calmly with a short explanation of the advantages of joining the Marines. She filled out a card with her phone number and a few referrals. Luna will call her back in a few days. Rojas, like many of the teens Luna will be targeting this summer, is beginning to feel restless. ``My mom is telling me I need to do something,'' said Rojas, who works for $300 a week in the mall. ``I feel like I need to do something more and interesting but I would be afraid of dying.'' Watching her friends enlist en·list v. en·list·ed, en·list·ing, en·lists v.tr. 1. To engage (persons or a person) for service in the armed forces. 2. To engage the support or cooperation of. v. and others enroll in college, she is beginning to feel nervous about spending another summer without a career path. If she doesn't find a better-paying job soon or buy a car, she may just sign up. Recruiters, who were recently admonished to not make promises they can't keep to potential inductees, are preparing new campaigns ahead of the summer season. Last April, the Army fell 15 percent short of its fiscal year recruiting goals, and the Marines dropped 2 percent below their goal. The Army has tried to reverse the trend, recently adding new recruiters and upping the enlistment bonus. The Marines will release a new ad campaign over the coming months. ``We are hoping for a strong summer this year because we were behind in our mission,'' said Douglas Smith Men called Douglas Smith include:
See also: Number ).'' The Army - which makes up the bulk of wartime troops - expects to enlist at least 11 percent of its active-duty recruits in August alone. The Marine Corps will sign up nearly 40 percent of its new recruits from June to September. About half of their new recruits are high school seniors. ``Most of those we enlist in the summer months are those that have come to the end of the line,'' said Staff Sgt. Christopher Olivares, a Santa Clarita-based Marine recruiter. ``They have come to realize, 'I haven't enrolled in college, taken the SAT,' and they think 'What now?' '' No longer able to turn to the schools where many recruiters found captive audiences and spent months cultivating relationships, recruiters scan fairs, amusement parks This page contains a list of amusement parks by
In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. those still-unsure graduates. ``Now, it's like let's get out and meet individuals,'' Olivares said. On a recent weekday afternoon, Luna and Cpl. Eddie Chaidez were out scouting scouting: see Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts. scouting Activities of various national and worldwide organizations for youth aimed at developing character, citizenship, and individual skills. Scouting began when Robert S. young recruits at the Panorama Mall. Unlike previous waves of grads, this year's ``Class of 9-11'' is more often motivated by patriotism Patriotism See also Chauvinism, Loyalty. America, Captain comic-strip character known as the “protector of the American way.” [Comics: Horn, 155–156] American elm traditional symbol of American patriotism. than by a package of benefits. In part that's because the arcs of these teenagers' lives have unfolded along with the war in Iraq and have been exposed to war's grim reality. Despite those concerns, Mike Reyes, an 18-year-old Kennedy High School student, enlisted in the Army last month. ``I didn't want to waste my summer not knowing what I was doing,'' said Reyes, who holds down a part-time job at a sandwich shop. ``I decided on my own that this was the best thing to do. I know what to expect, what is going to happen.'' Luna speaks with hundreds of potential recruits like Rojas and Reyes. Many don't qualify or are too afraid of the war to enlist. ``We explain there is a chance they might go. It's not true that every Marine goes to combat,'' he said. ``But let's be realistic: you are joining the Marine Corps and you may go to Iraq. The funny thing is that many of these kids are looking for infantry jobs.'' Rachel Uranga, (818) 713-3741 rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, chart Photo: At the Panorama Mall on Wednesday, Marine recruiter Cpl. Sebastian Luna speaks with, from left, Johanna Navarro, Zoraya Rojas and Daniel Morales Daniel Morales (born December 6, 1975 in Jaú) is a Brazilian footballer. Currently (as of 2007) he is playing for Lokomotiv Plovdiv as a midfielder wearing number 4; he joined from CSKA Sofia in 2006. He has also previously played for Cherno More Varna and PFC Naftex. about career possibilities in the Marine Corps. David Sprague/Staff Photographer Chart: ARMY RECRUITS Recruit or Army recruit is a term often colloquially used to refer to the lowest military rank in various armed services. It usually implies that the soldier so labeled has not yet completed basic training. More formally, "recruit" means a person attending boot camp. FALL SHORT SOURCE: Department of Defense Daily News |
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