About Face In National Guard Recruitment

(CBS)  Eighteen-year-old Manuel Caceres signed up for the Army National Guard today.

He is part of a dramatic turnaround in what had been a losing battle to fill the ranks. With the National Guard serving — and dying — on the front lines in Iraq, those ranks had fallen to a new low by the summer of 2005, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

"We had to take some different actions because what we were doing was not working," said Col. Mike Jones, the Guard's head recruiter.

Jones now pays members of the Guard $2,000 for every recruit they can deliver to basic training.

"That absolutely turned the corner," Jones said. "We've had over 35,000 people brought into the National Guard in the last 19 months as a result of the recruit assistance program."

Tabitha White is a private in the Guard and now a part-time recruiter. She'll get $1,000 for bringing Caceres in, and another $1,000 when he reports to boot camp.

For her, it's easy money.

"You can just walk into a store and you just stop somebody and tell them about the program," she said. "Very simple; it's just all about communication, about talking."

The Guard has also doubled the number of full-time recruiters to 5,000 and increased the enlistment bonus from $10,000 to $20,000. Surprisingly its ads emphasize the risks as much as the rewards.

One says: "We know the sacrifices. We know the consequences. We don't have a safe job and we're all willing to accept that."

"We're very candid that serving in the National Guard today is sometimes a dangerous business," Jones said. "Believe it or not, that message is selling."

It will have to keep selling because the Guard plans to add another 7,000 soldiers in the coming months.

[ajmarine1]

"This war is meaningless. Why should anyone die?"

Posted by long_rider

Did you hear that one and a half hour long tape that the Al-Qaeda # 2 man put out the other day? He wants all Muslims to join and attack the West.

[long_rider]

This war has been so mis-managed, from the chimp down to the lowest ranked general. Who in their right mind wnat to enlist?

This is worse than the Nam, we were there for 364 and a wake-up. These troops have been extended how many times, sent back early how many times, and given what plan of action?

If they pulled this *** in Nam they would have been shot. I could just picture some Lt. coming up to my squad and tell us that we were extended for another six or twelve months. That slob would have more holes than swiss cheese.

Our troops are on the edge now, just little more of this BS and they will wise up. They will also revolt, soldiers are pretty smart, and when they get fedup watch out.

Myself, I would find me a nice place to watch them kill each other. If they came after me I would kill everyone in a two block area. Leave me alone and I will leave you alone. Screw the officers let them patrol the streets, and draw fire.

This war is meaningless. Why should anyone die?

[gabbysmomrs]

"Very simple; it's just all about communication, about talking." It's all about bribes and knowing that for each $2000 spent perhaps 10 soldiers will die.

[random_radar]

How does fighting a war in Iraq make it harder for terrorists to attack us here? Is there something magical about occupying Iraq that keeps the terrorists from attacking us here? I don't think so.

If we left Iraq, how would that open the door to terrorists bringing the war here? If they want to do that, they are just as capable of doing it now as they would be later. In fact, their motivation for doing it now is greater than it would be after we leave Iraq. It would be a tremendous public relations boost to do a spectacular attack here in rataliation for invading Iraq.

The truth is that killing Iraqis does nothing to make America safe. And leaving Iraq will not make America less safe. The reason the terrorists have not successfully attacked us here is because of domestic security. Fighting a foreign war has nothing to do with it at all.

Anyone who says that fighting foreign wars preserves our security is a Jingoist liar. The real reason we are fighting foreign wars is for corporate imperialism. The reason the "terrorists" choose to do battle in foreign countries is because they sincerely want to oppose our imperialism. Otherwise, they would bring the battle to our shores.

We are the aggressors and oppressors. America is killing a hundred times more innocent people than the terrorists. Terrorists have killed thousands and America has killed hundreds of thousands. But Americans believe in their cause without any conscience or remorse. I feel sorry for America.

[feelfree1]

veteran71 at 01:10 PM,

Excellent points.

[dcm412]

Having served on active duty in the Army, I thing there is no better time to join the military. If we don't prosecute these Islamic radicals oversees we will end up cleaning up after their suicide bombers here in our own streets. I am proud of the men and women who choose to serve in our military and anyone else that has the dedication to join!

[toldyouso21]

jdweymouth,

Re: "The enemies we engage do not regard human life and hide behind civilians."



Spoken from the same group of people who say "we fight them there, so we don't have to fight them here"

so... what you are saying is that we take OUR war to them and have an entire civilian from another country die and suffer for it--but we are better than people who use their hide behind civilians.

Hmmmm: the lesson: To the neo cons--having an entire country be a proxy for our war and suffering is noble, but for those who resist us to do a similar thing on a lesser scale is not.

[toldyouso21]

Attention potential recruits:

Your lives and your dignity are worth far more than $2,000. Don't waste your life in exchange for these crumbs!
Posted by FeelFree1 at 07:21 PM : Jul 05, 2007

the recruits don't get these "crumbs." The recruiter who snags them for the military gets the bonus NOT the new soldier. Evidently, for the recruiter, those lives are worth 2K each. Sort of like procuring slaves for sacrifice and being paid a bounty for each one.

[toldyouso21]

Tabitha White is a private in the Guard and now a part-time recruiter. She%u2019ll get $1,000 for bringing Caceres in, and another $1,000 when he reports to boot camp. For her, it's easy money.
"You can just walk into a store and you just stop somebody and tell them about the program," she said. "Very simple; it's just all about communication, about talking."

I wonder if she bothers to tell them about dying also....or that the war may very well be illegal and is based on acknowledged lies and half truths. I wonder if she told them that if they get hurt, the VA and the DOD will do as much as possible to avoid or minimize paying for their care. I wonder if she told him that for the most part, he will be fodder, no matter which branch he thinks he is picking. (you can pick the AF and end up in Army infantry).

I find it sickening, that what cannot be accomplished without a bonus now all of sudden has improved. What in the world are the recruiters doing differently? Lying? now that money is at stake? or finally putting the effort in that they should have put in all along?

[mbcsmith]

Anyone that joins the military right now must be in a pretty desperate situation or not thinking very clearly. My son's friend joined as a 74F which is a software analyst - he thought he'd be safe from the front lines. So he signed up, went to boot camp, and then they told him there were no openings in the 74F school. So while he's waiting for an opening, guess where they sent this freshly trained soldier? That's right - Iraq. And they won't tell him how long it is before there's an opening either so he's feeling really screwed and is planning on spending the next 12 months there - at least. Nice huh?
Posted by hungry1968 at 08:29 AM : Jul 06, 2007


Patriotism is DEAD in the LIB party. Is it possible these brave young men and women in the military are PATRIOTIC? Some nerve for you to assess why anyone joins the military! I see your kid is following in your worthless footsteps!