Military Recruitment Up Amid Job Crisis

Pending Iraq withdrawal also increasing appeal
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 19, 2008 2:45 AM CST
Military Recruitment Up Amid Job Crisis
Maria Thompson, 19, listens to a recruitment speech from a US Army Sergeant. The Pentagon reports interest in military careers in increasing as the economy worsens.   (AP Photo/Herminio Rodriguez)

More young people are considering joining the military as civilian jobs dry up and the US begins to prepare plans to withdraw from Iraq, reports USA Today. After years of difficulty finding recruits, a Pentagon survey shows a jump from 9% to 11% in the number of 16- to 20-year-old  Americans planning to join the military.

"We'd like to think we've bottomed out here and recruiting will continue increasing. A lot of that is because of the relatively good news out of Iraq," said a Pentagon personnel official.
(More Pentagon stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X