COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Recruiting: General
Eligibility Bar for Military Too High for Youths
Eunice Moscoso, Atlanta Journal Constitution
September 23, 2005
Washington --- More than half of America's young people are not qualified to serve in the military because they can't meet entry-level standards for health, education and other requirements, said a government study released Thursday."When you look at the demographics of the military, the pool is shrinking," said Derek Stewart, director for military and Defense Department civilian personnel issues with the Government Accountability Office, which issued the report.
In 2004, Stewart said, 58 percent of those between the ages of 16 and 21, the prime recruiting ages for the military, were ineligible to serve.
The total number of those ineligible was about 14 million, leaving only 10 million qualified. But of those, the report said 6 million go to college, leaving only 4 million potential recruits.
In addition, Stewart said, there is less willingness among young people to join the military.
The Army has been struggling to meet recruiting goals, a situation recruiters blame on nightly news footage of the war in Iraq and attractive employment alternatives to military service.
It has responded by adding at least 1,000 recruiters and offering sign-up bonuses worth up to $90,000 in cash and college tuition payments. The Army also is spending millions of dollars on television, print and radio ads targeting parents, coaches, teachers and others.
The report found that the military is becoming more racially diverse, is gaining more females, and has more soldiers who are married and have children.
African-Americans are overrepresented in the military, constituting 17 percent of the armed forces but only 11 percent of the civilian work force.
The number of African-Americans attracted to the military has been declining for several years, however, due in part to the influence of parents, coaches, teachers and preachers who are less likely to encourage military service, Stewart said.
Hispanics are underrepresented, partly because of high school dropout rates, which could disqualify them for service. Hispanics make up 9 percent of the military and 11 percent of the civilian work force.
Whites make up 67 percent of the military and 71 percent of the civilian work force.
The Defense Department's response to the findings is included in the report. It agreed with several recommendations to better track the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds of recruits, but said that it may not be necessary to report on all the areas every year.
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