[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Interesting article on the problem with military recruitment.

Any advice as to
1. why it has fallen and
2. how to increase it?

Addressing the U.S. Military Recruiting Crisis - War on the Rocks

Today's young generation has BETTER access to information that ours did, so, basically, they are making BETTER decisions. Our generation was too selfish!

[Boston-Sean]

Originally Posted by maggie1

You must be a fan of Tucker Carlson. And we know all about his credibility, don't we?

Oh brother.

Why don't you give us your opinion on Mark Milley? Perhaps explain what a great job he did getting us out of Afghanistan. Bonus points for explaining how droning those kids happened.

[Boston-Sean]

Originally Posted by Marine1974

Our Military is paid combat pay while serving in a war zone .

And don't forget separation pay if you were separated from your spouse while on deployment. Or as we used to call it "no p***y pay".

[rrtjp]

Originally Posted by Boston-Sean

And don't forget separation pay if you were separated from your spouse while on deployment. Or as we used to call it "no p***y pay".

Lol

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by ronwinger

I was drafted within months of graduating from High School. It was the only lottery I ever won, my number was 20. I did not know it at the time but, it was the best thing that happened to me. I wound up spending 3 years as I did not realize I had to work some place for the rest of my life therefore, I did not retire. Of course like everyone, I wish I would have stayed in. I believe that the US should require every male to spend a couple of years in the service. It would or should change their thought process and our outlook of the future would be brighter.

Bring back the draft for everyone, male, female, other. There are jobs that persons with handicaps could do and might enjoy and be proud to serve.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by collie1228

I believe it is cultural. When I turned 18, I knew that college was of no interest to me and going to work in the local large manufacturing plant seemed like jail to me at the time. There was no way my father was going to allow me to live at home for much longer, even if I was employed, so I took the next best option and joined the Navy. It turned out to be the best move ever, as the GI Bill paid for college four years later, and I learned how to be an adult, but I really didn't have much choice. If, like many (probably most) parents today, mine were willing to coddle me, give me a bed and food, wash my clothes, etc., I probably would have stayed home too. Thanks Mom and Dad for your conservative values and willingness to stick to them. It made my life a better place.

Interesting.

When I was 18, education was considered incredibly important to my family. At the time it opened doors to all kinds of possibilities that NOT going to college kept closed.

I couldn't become a doctor without a degree. Couldn't get a decent job as an engineer without at least an associates degree. Couldn't be a teacher without a degree, couldn't even be a police officer without going to the academy - which required more education. If you wanted to work for a newspaper, the owner of the paper would pick the person with the degree EVERY TIME over the person without one, all other qualifications being equal.

I had the choice: I could either go to school and my parents would co-sign the loan and invest in MY future by footing the bill for school expenses that the loan didn't cover -

Or I could stay at home, abide by their rules, get a job, and pay rent -

Or I could move out, abide by the rules of society, get a job, and pay rent.

I chose college. And after my first semester, I worked anywhere between one and four part-time jobs until I graduated with honors. I paid back my loan in full 11 years after I graduated, and from the time I was 16 and 30 days of age (the minimum required to work in my state at the time) until two years ago, I worked almost continuously barring vacations and injuries. Even when I didn't "have to" work for a living, I worked, because my parents instilled a strong work ethic in me. I didn't need the Armed Forces for that. Education was the opener of doors, and service to others was - rather than a contractual obligation via the Armed Forces, was just an expected part of being a human being.

When I graduated, I was then qualified, and educated, and had the opportunity to CHOOSE which kind of career I would go into or whether I would CHOOSE to continue studies for a career that required more education. Society didn't impose that choice on me. No, I didn't become a doctor, or engineer, or teacher. But it was because I chose not to - not because I wasn't authorized to try.

No Navy necessary. No risking my life necessary. No obeying orders no matter what necessary. I didn't have to give up my freedom, to attain my freedom. I only had to allow new thoughts and ideas into my mind, and embrace life as a never-ending education.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

Let's face it...
After the "Greatest Generation" this country has produced and allowed mostly ____.......
......and if you disagree, you are part of the problem!

Who were the parents of the generations to follow? What did THOSE people do wrong, to fail their children so horribly?

[Djean1981]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Today's young generation has BETTER access to information that ours did, so, basically, they are making BETTER decisions. Our generation was too selfish!

Speak only for yourself. How was it selfish that we went into the military (to serve our country and provide for your safety) and worked every day of our lives into our 60s?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Interesting.

When I was 18, education was considered incredibly important to my family. At the time it opened doors to all kinds of possibilities that NOT going to college kept closed.

I couldn't become a doctor without a degree. Couldn't get a decent job as an engineer without at least an associates degree. Couldn't be a teacher without a degree, couldn't even be a police officer without going to the academy - which required more education. If you wanted to work for a newspaper, the owner of the paper would pick the person with the degree EVERY TIME over the person without one, all other qualifications being equal.

I had the choice: I could either go to school and my parents would co-sign the loan and invest in MY future by footing the bill for school expenses that the loan didn't cover -

Or I could stay at home, abide by their rules, get a job, and pay rent -

Or I could move out, abide by the rules of society, get a job, and pay rent.

I chose college. And after my first semester, I worked anywhere between one and four part-time jobs until I graduated with honors. I paid back my loan in full 11 years after I graduated, and from the time I was 16 and 30 days of age (the minimum required to work in my state at the time) until two years ago, I worked almost continuously barring vacations and injuries. Even when I didn't "have to" work for a living, I worked, because my parents instilled a strong work ethic in me. I didn't need the Armed Forces for that. Education was the opener of doors, and service to others was - rather than a contractual obligation via the Armed Forces, was just an expected part of being a human being.

When I graduated, I was then qualified, and educated, and had the opportunity to CHOOSE which kind of career I would go into or whether I would CHOOSE to continue studies for a career that required more education. Society didn't impose that choice on me. No, I didn't become a doctor, or engineer, or teacher. But it was because I chose not to - not because I wasn't authorized to try.

No Navy necessary. No risking my life necessary. No obeying orders no matter what necessary. I didn't have to give up my freedom, to attain my freedom. I only had to allow new thoughts and ideas into my mind, and embrace life as a never-ending education.

Who do you think was "protecting" your freedom and "risking their life" all that time?

[coralway]

Probably because about 48% of them have developed bone spurs

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by coralway

Probably because about 48% of them have developed bone spurs

Just can't help yourself...

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Interesting.

When I was 18, education was considered incredibly important to my family. At the time it opened doors to all kinds of possibilities that NOT going to college kept closed.

I couldn't become a doctor without a degree. Couldn't get a decent job as an engineer without at least an associates degree. Couldn't be a teacher without a degree, couldn't even be a police officer without going to the academy - which required more education. If you wanted to work for a newspaper, the owner of the paper would pick the person with the degree EVERY TIME over the person without one, all other qualifications being equal.

I had the choice: I could either go to school and my parents would co-sign the loan and invest in MY future by footing the bill for school expenses that the loan didn't cover -

Or I could stay at home, abide by their rules, get a job, and pay rent -

Or I could move out, abide by the rules of society, get a job, and pay rent.

I chose college. And after my first semester, I worked anywhere between one and four part-time jobs until I graduated with honors. I paid back my loan in full 11 years after I graduated, and from the time I was 16 and 30 days of age (the minimum required to work in my state at the time) until two years ago, I worked almost continuously barring vacations and injuries. Even when I didn't "have to" work for a living, I worked, because my parents instilled a strong work ethic in me. I didn't need the Armed Forces for that. Education was the opener of doors, and service to others was - rather than a contractual obligation via the Armed Forces, was just an expected part of being a human being.

When I graduated, I was then qualified, and educated, and had the opportunity to CHOOSE which kind of career I would go into or whether I would CHOOSE to continue studies for a career that required more education. Society didn't impose that choice on me. No, I didn't become a doctor, or engineer, or teacher. But it was because I chose not to - not because I wasn't authorized to try.

No Navy necessary. No risking my life necessary. No obeying orders no matter what necessary. I didn't have to give up my freedom, to attain my freedom. I only had to allow new thoughts and ideas into my mind, and embrace life as a never-ending education.

Nice post.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Djean1981

Speak only for yourself. How was it selfish that we went into the military (to serve our country and provide for your safety) and worked every day of our lives into our 60s?

Too selfish and materialistic. Remember the movie where the star said, "Greed IS Good"? That IS an example of what I mean by SELFISH. I hope this generation does NOT go that route.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by ronwinger

I was drafted within months of graduating from High School. It was the only lottery I ever won, my number was 20. I did not know it at the time but, it was the best thing that happened to me. I wound up spending 3 years as I did not realize I had to work some place for the rest of my life therefore, I did not retire. Of course like everyone, I wish I would have stayed in. I believe that the US should require every male to spend a couple of years in the service. It would or should change their thought process and our outlook of the future would be brighter.

Why ONLY males.......is it because that IS the way it has ALWAYS been thought about?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Drdoug49

there is a labor shortage everywhere, with declining birth rates, a booming economy young people can get jobs anywhere. Also the number one reason why recruits are rejected, is obesity

Obesity IS very sad. Does NOT bode well for the US future. US processed food producers act like they are purposely trying to weaken US strength by adding huge amounts of salt and sugar to EVERYTHING. Hard to have a strong society without strong physical fitness.