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December 2, 2008 10:00:32 PM CST

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Army recruiting

Army recruiting news stories

12 Stories

Army School Gets Dropouts Ready to Serve

Military needs more eligible recruits
to fill its ranks

Associated Press Associated Press Aug 27, 08 6:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - The US Army today opened its first prep school to prepare high school dropouts for military service, the AP reports. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and not enough eligible recruits, the Army wants unqualified prospects to earn their GEDs. "Only three out of every 10 people of military age" qualify, says one Army rep. "We are going to have to do something different." More »

More about:  Iraq war • US military • US Army • high school • Afghanistan war • Army recruiting • military recruits

Cops Say Letters a Coincidence

Envelopes sent to lawmakers not related to Times Square bombing

New York Post New York Post Mar 7, 08 12:52 PM CST
(Newser) - A hundred members of Congress got envelopes yesterday stuffed with a political rant, a photo of a man in front of the Times Square military recruiting station, and the bold taunt, “We did it.” But, bizarrely, they weren't  connected to the blast that damaged the landmark yesterday morning, reports the New York Post. Authorities called it an "incredibly unbelievable coincidence." More »

More about:  military • bombing • Army recruiting • Times Square

NY Cops Probe
2 Similar
Bombings

Serial bomber
could be at work
in Manhattan

New York Times New York Times Mar 7, 08 5:10 AM CST
(Newser) - Police and federal agents are looking into striking similarities between yesterday's Times Square bombing and two earlier explosions to determine if there could be a serial bomber at work, the New York Times reports. The device, timing, method of delivery and suspect in the Times Square attack at a military recruitment center strongly resemble those in last year's bombing of the Mexican consulate and the 2005 bombing of the British consulate in Manhattan. More »

More about:  New York City • bombing • explosion • Army recruiting • Times Square

Letters Linked to NYC Bombing Claim 'We Did It'

They were sent to Capitol Hill; bomber remains unknown

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 6, 08 9:25 PM CST
(Newser) - As many as 10 Capitol Hill offices received letters today with a photo of a man standing in front of the Times Square military recruiting office before it was struck by a small bomb. A message with the photo reads, “Happy New Year, We Did It,” the AP reports, but it remains unclear who sent the letters. Also in the envelopes were an apparent manifesto against the Iraq war and an unidentified booklet, a Democratic aide says. More »

More about:  Iraq war • New York City • bombing • explosion • letters • Dianne Feinstein • Capitol Hill • Army recruiting • Times Square • Afghan Army • military recruits • aide

Explosion Hits Times Square Recruiting Office

None injured in blast that damaged entrance

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 6, 08 6:32 AM CST
(Newser) - Police are investigating an explosion that shattered the entrance to an Army recruitment office in Times Square early this morning, the AP reports. No one was injured, but police cordoned off the area, and prevented subway trains from stopping in the square briefly. “I was up on the 44th floor and I could feel it,” said a guest at a hotel four blocks away. “It was a big bang.” More »

More about:  terrorism • New York City • Army recruiting • Times Square • recruitment

Uncle Sam Wants ... Anybody

Military lowers standards, hits new low in recruiting high school graduates

Washington Post Washington Post Jan 23, 08 10:28 AM CST
(Newser) - The Army is lowering standards to meet recruiting goals, with the percentage of high school-educated recruits dropping to a new low of 70.7% last year, reports the Washington Post . The Army hasn't reached its goal of 90% since 2004. A new study also shows that the number of "high quality" recruits—high school graduates who score in the upper half of a military qualification test—has dropped more than 15% since 2004. More »

More about:  US Army • Army recruiting • tour of duty • recruiting • military recruits • high school graduates

Uncle Sam Wants You
(But He'll Talk to Mom First)

New bonuses offer help on mortgages, business startups

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Nov 30, 07 10:01 PM CST
(Newser) - Army recruiters will soon promise recruits hefty bonuses to buy a home or start a business in a bid to sway their parents that enlisting is a good investment, the Wall Street Journal reports. "We know most 18-year-old kids don't think about mortgages yet," says a Pentagon official. "We're going after the influencers." More »

More about:  US Army • war • Army recruiting

Army, Told to Grow, Focuses on Retention

With new recruits ever-harder to come by, keeping soldiers is key

Christian Science Monitor Christian Science Monitor Nov 8, 07 6:20 PM CST
(Newser) - Ordered to expand its forces, the US Army is shifting its strategy from recruitment to keeping the soldiers it already has. One reason is the decreasing number of suitable applicants. "We have to retain more soldiers if we're going to grow the Army [in full] by 65,000," a recruitment overseer tells the Christian Science Monitor . More »

More about:  US Army • Army recruiting

Got a Record?
No Problem

US military wants to ease entry, but some officers worry about 'problem children'

Associated Press Associated Press Nov 6, 07 8:19 PM CST
(Newser) - Seeking to swell enlisted ranks, the Pentagon may let more minor criminals enlist in the military, the AP reports. "I do believe it needs to be done," an Army official said of the proposed plan. "There are really anomalies out there"—like recruits who have youthful indiscretions, such as drugs, stealing, or setting a bee hive on fire by mistake. About three in 10 already need past crimes waived to sign up. More »

More about:  US military • Pentagon • soldier • Army recruiting • officer

For Fast Recruits, a Fast $20K

"Quick Ship" bonus meant to remedy enlistee shortage

Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune Aug 5, 07 12:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - An understaffed Army is testing out a tidy bonus to entice enlistees who agree to ship out to basic training within 30 days of signing up. The Army will be offering the $20K "Quick Ship" bonus until September to try and reach an increasingly ambitious recruiting goal of 80,000. More »

More about:  US Army • money • American troops • Army recruiting • enlist

Draft Won’t Solve Army’s Problems

Report forecasts a less effective—and not any fairer—force

Time Time Jul 23, 07 11:04 AM CDT
(Newser) - Despite calls for a draft to "fix"  the ailing US Army, it would be less efficient financially and less effective on the ground than the volunteer Army, a new study concludes. A Congressional Budget Office paper, reported in Time, says draftees make for less well-trained soldiers because they stay less time in uniform; training costs spike with the more-quickly revolving door. More »

More about:  Army recruiting • draft

Army Fights to Keep Up Quality

Report shows dip
in quality of
new soldiers

Boston Globe Boston Globe Jun 1, 07 12:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Army is attracting the lowest rate of high-quality recruits in a decade, the Boston Globe reports. Almost 40% of volunteers scored below-average on verbal and math scores in 2006, according to an analysis of Defense Department personnel statistics. Four years ago, that figure was 29%. The number of recruits who hold high school diplomas also fell. More »

More about:  US Army • military • Defense Department • Army recruiting • test score • aptitude

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