[5 articles]
More students heed the calls of military recruiters
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20100809/MAN0101/8090404/More-students-heed-the-calls-of-military-recruiters
2,700 Wisconsinites younger than 25 enter active duty in 2010
BY NICK PENZENSTADLER
August 9, 2010
MADISON Fred Machado, 18, walked across the Oregon High School
stage at his graduation ceremony in June. Now he's at a military
facility 2,000 miles away, training to become a Marine.
The Honduran immigrant joins more than 2,700 Wisconsinites younger
than age 25 this year entering active military duty.
Despite the dangers of military service at a time when the United
States is fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Machado and a
growing number of high school graduates in Wisconsin say they are
planning to join the armed services, according to data from the state
Department of Public Instruction.
A review by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows
that in 2009, the portion of Wisconsin public high school graduates
planning to join the military reached its highest level in the past
decade even more than right after the 9/11 attacks. The DPI data
provide more geographic detail for more than 400 school districts
than are readily available from military officials, whose recruiting
territories often cover large areas. DPI numbers for 2010 aren't yet available.
Machado, who comes from a family of eight children, said he was
looking for a way to pay for college while also developing a sense of
purpose for his life.
"I've looked into scholarships, but ever since I was a freshman, the
military has called to me," said Machado, who was courted by the Navy
and Air Force before settling on the Marines.
Recruiters say the lengthy economic downturn, which has created
double-digit unemployment rates in some parts of Wisconsin, and a
strong sense of patriotism, especially in rural areas, have made
recruiting easier.
The Janesville Marine recruiter who signed up Machado said he has
been "flooded" with applicants.
"Before, it was kind of tough to find people. Now ... they're coming
to you," Sgt. Jeremy McCormick said.
Statewide, 3.2 percent of graduating seniors, or 2,077 students, said
they planned to enlist in 2009, but some rural districts reported
much higher rates, DPI figures show. Topping the list was the
Frederic School District in far northwestern Wisconsin, which
reported 18.4 percent of its graduating seniors planned to enter the
military last year.
By comparison, the percentages of state students planning to join the
military varied from 2.4 to 3 percent since the 1999-2000 academic
year. The shift toward the military was accompanied by a dip in the
number of students planning to head straight into jobs after high school.
In Wisconsin, the Army by far the largest recruiter is above its
goal for the first time in five years, said 1st Sgt. Bobby Jones, who
supervises the recruiting effort for Wisconsin's southern Army
command based in Madison.
Critics of military recruitment point to billions spent on enticing
young people into the armed forces and easy access to high schools as
catalysts for the upswing in interest. They decry glitzy recruiting
pitches that can persuade unsophisticated teenagers to sign up for
potentially dangerous duty.
Recruiters insist they are up front about the hazards of military
service, including the strong possibility of deployment to a combat zone.
Machado, of Brooklyn, said the potential dangers were clear because
"when you enlist you know the Marines have a history of being the
first ones in and the last ones out."
Machado said he signed up for the Marines mainly for the educational
benefits, but also to demonstrate his patriotism and to make his
family proud. He signed his eight-year contract after gathering all
of his immigration paperwork showing he's a U.S. citizen.
Once Machado completes four years of active service, he will have to
decide whether to remain on active duty or fulfill the remaining time
in the reserves. He plans to get a bachelor's degree and become an officer.
The new recruit had questions for McCormick about Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I don't see myself going there," Machado said. "I would if I'm
required, if it's needed for Marines to be there."
But McCormick said the odds of being deployed to a combat zone are
about 50 percent since roughly half of the Marine Corps has been sent to fight.
"A lot is dependent upon the job that you're in and the unit you're
with," McCormick said. "If you're in the infantry, you'll deploy more
often than a truck mechanic."
As of July 10, 31 Wisconsin Marines had died in the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars. An additional 68 from the Army, two Air Force, and
four Navy members from Wisconsin had been killed. The U.S. Defense
Department said 731 Wisconsin service members were wounded in the two wars.
Jones said his Army recruiters are up front about the odds of
deployment into conflict zones.
"It's very, very likely that you will go there," Jones said.
Among the recruiting tools the Army uses is showing off its elite
parachute team. A recent demonstration of the Golden Knights' prowess
at the Middleton High School football field sparked protests by
anti-war activists, who charged the school was being too
accommodating to military recruitment.
Federal law requires public schools to provide equal access to
students to all post-secondary institutions, including the military
and universities.
Pat Grobschmidt, an Army recruiting spokeswoman in Milwaukee, said
the branch makes no apologies for using the Golden Knights as a
recruiting tool.
"As far as the group that demonstrated in Middleton, one of the
things we fight for is the freedom of speech," Grobschmidt said.
"They (protesters) have every right to be there ... we just like them
to allow us to give our message as well."
Nationally, the Army draws mostly from less densely populated areas.
Jones credits a "rural upbringing with a focus on service to God,
country and family."
Will Williams, a member of the Madison-based Veterans for Peace who
served two tours in Vietnam, travels across Wisconsin informing
students of the consequences of joining the military. He thinks state
high schools don't insulate students enough from heavy-handed
recruiting efforts.
"It's no wonder when a recruiter is allowed to come in almost at will
throughout the year. The kids hear this stuff over and over," he
said. "It plays on their psyche, and many don't understand what
they're getting into."
--
Nick Penzenstadler: npenzen stadler@wisconsinwatch.org
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Amid slow economy, more Wisconsin students heed the calls of military
recruiters
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20100805/OSH0101/8050389/Amid-slow-economy-more-Wisconsin-students-heed-the-calls-of-military-recruitersBy-Nick-Penzenstadler
By Nick Penzenstadler
August 5, 2010
Gerald Blesch, an athletic 18-year-old, has set out on the road of
life with only destiny to guide him. His next stop is a military
facility more than 1,100 miles away to train for the Air Force.
The Winneconne High School graduate joins more than 2,700
Wisconsinites under age 25 entering active military duty this year.
Despite the dangers of military service at a time when the U.S. is
fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Blesch and a growing number of
high school grads in Wisconsin are opting to join the armed services,
according to data from the state Department of Public Instruction.
A review by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows
that in 2009, the portion of Wisconsin public high school graduates
planning to join the military reached its highest level in the past
decade even more than right after the 9/11 attacks. Numbers for
2010 aren't yet available.
Blesch, the oldest child in his family, said he wanted to follow in
the footsteps of his dad and grandpa, who both spent considerable
time in the Air Force and other branches of the military.
"And second, I wanted to be a little adventurous," he said. "The only
thing that bothered me was leaving home and trying to get used to
life on my own. Otherwise, I'm just going to go where the road takes me."
Financial incentives only sweetened the deal, he said.
Recruiters say the lengthy economic downturn, which has created
double-digit unemployment rates in some parts of Wisconsin, and a
strong sense of patriotism, especially in rural areas, have made
recruiting easier.
Sgt. First Class Joseph McGuigan, an Oshkosh Army recruiter, said the
boom in applicants has been particularly apparent in the past year.
"I'm seeing more people viewing the Army as a better way to get
health care or for paying off student loans or learning a skill set," he said.
Statewide, 3.2 percent of graduating seniors, or 2,077 students, said
they planned to enlist in 2009, but some rural districts reported
much higher rates, DPI figures show.
Topping the list locally is the Omro school district, which reported
6.7 percent of its graduating seniors planned to enter the military
last year. Oshkosh school district reported 4.4 percent, and
Winneconne reported 3.8 percent.
By comparison, the percentages of state students planning to join the
military varied from 2.4 to 3 percent since the 1999-2000 school
year. The shift toward the military was accompanied by a dip in the
number of students planning to head straight into jobs after high school.
Nationally, the armed forces reported in 2009 that they met or
exceeded their recruitment goals; critics noted that three of the
four branches had cut their recruiting targets. In Wisconsin, the
Army -- by far the largest recruiter -- is above its goal for the
first time in five years, said 1st Sgt. Bobby Jones, who supervises
the recruiting effort for Wisconsin's southern Army command based in Madison.
Opponents of military recruitment point to billions spent on enticing
young people into the armed forces and easy access to high schools as
catalysts for the upswing in interest. They decry glitzy recruiting
pitches that can persuade unsophisticated teenagers to sign up for
potentially dangerous duty.
Recruiters insist they are up front about the hazards of military
service -- including the strong possibility of deployment to a combat zone.
Last spring, President Barack Obama acknowledged the flush numbers
and lower goals by reducing the Defense Department's budget for
recruiting from more than $7 billion to $6.2 billion. Between 2004
and 2008, funding had more than doubled for recruiting efforts, from
$3.4 billion a year to $7.7 billion.
College money draws recruits
Sarah Schreiber, an outgoing 18-year-old from Oshkosh, said the
potential dangers of enlisting in the U.S. Navy were clear.
"The immediate connotation is death," she said.
The 2010 graduate of Lourdes High School said she took the risk of
signing a 9-year contract – more than the traditional eight years –
mainly because the military will pay for her college education.
Once Schreiber completes five years of active duty, she intends to
fulfill her remaining time in reserves while pursuing a degree in nursing.
"The only thing holding me back (from college) at this point was
money. So I thought I'd do some service for the country, get some
worldly experience and, all in all, it will be a good thing," she said.
Omro High School graduate Michael Matulle wanted to join the military
since childhood. At age 18 he chose the Marines for the elite
reputation, which he believes will look better on his resume, even
though his choice carries one of the highest risks of seeing combat.
"If I do get deployed, well, that's what I volunteered for," he said.
The odds of being deployed to a combat zone are about 50 percent
since roughly half of the Marine Corps has been sent to fight, said
Janesville Marine recruiter Sgt. Jeremy McCormick.
"A lot is dependent upon the job that you're in and the unit you're
with," he said. "If you're in the infantry, you'll deploy more often
than a truck mechanic."
As of July 10, 31 Wisconsin Marines have died in the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars. An additional 68 from the Army, two from the Air
Force, and four Navy members from Wisconsin have been killed. The
U.S. Defense Department said 731 Wisconsin service members have been
wounded in the two wars.
Jones said his Army recruiters were upfront about the odds of
deployment into conflict zones.
"It's very, very likely that you will go there," Jones said. "You
have to realize that if you do get deployed, you'll go with a unit of
trained professionals doing everything they can as a soldier to
complete the mission."
Recruiting up in Wisconsin
In the most recent ranking available from 2009, Wisconsin was in the
bottom third of states in Army recruits per capita, according to the
Army's recruiting command at Fort Knox, Ky. The lower participation
is due in part to the lack of a prominent military installation aside
from Fort McCoy, a training facility near Sparta, said Pat
Grobschmidt, an Army recruiting spokeswoman in Milwaukee.
With the newfound interest in joining the military, the pressure to
recruit Wisconsin high school students has eased for some branches in
the past year, local recruiters say. This summer, McCormick and two
other recruiters are capped at four recruits a month at their
Janesville office. He said about 15 people show interest in those
four Marine Corps spots each month.
Jones said there's been a similar upswing in the Army.
"We're a little ahead of schedule as far as graduates and seniors
compared to the last two years," Jones said. "We've probably seen a
15 percent increase over the past two years."
With higher unemployment and many parents out of work, McCormick said
more young Wisconsinites are seeing the military as a viable option.
Native American graduates were the most likely to sign up in 2009,
state data showed. Of the 848 Native American graduates in the state,
5.3 percent said they planned to enlist. That's higher than any other
group, including Hispanics at 3.8 percent; whites at 3.2 percent;
blacks at 2.5 percent and 1.9 percent of Asian students.
Rural students more likely to enlist
Under federal law, public high schools must provide military
recruiters with equal access to students as compared to other post
secondary institutions, such as colleges. In Wisconsin, no state
standard of access exists, so practices vary widely from district to district.
Department of Public Instruction data show a wide range in enlistment
percentages across the state.
The average number of high school graduates indicating they planned
to enter the military was 3.2 percent for 2009. Graduates in larger
cities expressed less interest, with 2.6 percent of Milwaukee
graduates and 0.6 percent of Madison graduates saying they planned to
join the armed forces.
Topping the list were rural areas dotted around the state, many with
fewer than 100 graduates. At Frederic High School, about 100 miles
northwest of Eau Claire, nearly one out of five graduates in 2009
planned to enter military service.
Frederic's Principal Ray Draxler said his school has a good
relationship with recruiters and doesn't limit visits.
"It does seem like the last couple of years we've had more (students)
than usual head into the military," Draxler said. "There aren't a lot
of good, high-paying jobs in our immediate area, so if you're not
going on to post-high school education, job hunting could be difficult."
Nationally, the Army draws mostly from less densely populated areas.
That leads to a disproportionate number of rural recruits, according
to its national recruiting command.
Jones with the Army in Madison said his branch has much more success
recruiting in rural areas. He credits a "rural upbringing with a
focus on service to God, country and family."
Peace activist criticizes access
Will Williams, a member of Veterans for Peace who served two tours in
Vietnam, travels across Wisconsin informing students of the
consequences of joining the military. He doesn't like the term
"counter-recruitment," but he thinks state high schools don't
insulate students enough from heavy-handed recruiting efforts.
Williams said the boost in recruitment could be due to the easy
access recruiters have to some students.
"It's no wonder when a recruiter is allowed to come in almost at will
throughout the year. The kids hear this stuff over and over," he
said. "It plays on their psyche, and many don't understand what
they're getting into."
Williams doesn't tell students not to enlist. Rather, he wants to
ensure they make an informed decision when joining the military. He
believes the state should set a standard for the number and type of
visits recruiters can make.
He pointed to Dodgeville as a model for the state. Dodgeville High
School Principal Jeff Athey said he schedules recruiters to come in
on specific days to connect with interested students, instead of
allowing them full access to all students.
Oshkosh public high schools also limit recruiter visits to one per
branch per month. Recruiters must stay in the guidance office while
at the school, and students are only allowed to visit a recruiter
once during school hours, school officials said.
Jones said if he had it his way, recruiters could talk to any high
school student anytime.
"Unlimited access is the goal, that would be nirvana," Jones said.
"But at the same time, we understand that's not possible."
Selling the military to recruits -- and the public
Aside from the daily grind of finding recruits and keeping mounds of
paperwork straight, Jones said one constant battle is public perception.
"People think that as long as our mouths are going, we're lying,"
Jones said. "They think we're going to lie, cheat, beg, borrow and
steal to get my son into the Army. That's as far from the truth as
could possibly be."
That perception is fueled by a 2006 U.S. Government Accountability
Office report citing a rise in overly aggressive tactics and even
criminal activity, including falsifying documents and sexual
harassment -- none of it tied to any specific region. The report
suggested that some overworked recruiters were resorting to unethical
tactics to meet out-of-reach recruiting goals.
Jones, with the Army, said his branch has taken steps to ease the
pressure, including a 2009 directive that mandated a cap on work hours.
McCormick, the Marine recruiter, said he's sometimes unfairly
compared to a used-car salesman. He insists his job isn't to sell the
Marines but help young people make informed decisions -- and get the
best recruits available.
"We are taught sales, but we're not trying to sell you a cheap car,"
McCormick said. "At some point in time they'll be working for us, so
we want the best of the best."
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Many soon-to-be-grads see military as a pathway to college, careers
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20100815/CWS0101/8150346/1982/WRT04/From-students-to-soldiers
By Ashley A. Smith and Nick Paulson
August 15, 2010
A struggling economy and the cost of college are significant reasons
why recent high school graduates are choosing now to enlist in the military.
The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism found that in 2009,
the portion of the state's high school graduates planning to join the
military reached its highest level in the past decade -- more than
right after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Josh Lafaze is one of those graduates.
A class of 2010 graduate from Wausau West High School, Lafaze is
joining the Army.
"I was definitely thinking about doing the military throughout high
school," said Lafaze, 18, of Wausau. "But I settled on it over the
last six months because of the benefits."
Pathway to college
Although there was pressure from Lafaze's family to look into the
Navy, Air Force or higher education, he knew the Army would be the
best direction and could assist him with eventually going to college.
"I did look into going to college a little bit," said Lafaze. "But I
decided if I go into the military they can help me pay for college.
So I figured what better way to go to (school) than to serve my
country and have it paid for."
Sgt. 1st Class James Brandt, a station commander in the Plover Army
Recruiting office, said the No. 1 reason high school graduates enlist
is the pathway the military provides toward a college education.
"With the economy taking a hit, either they themselves or their
parents can't afford college," said Brandt, who directs recruitment
in the Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield areas.
"The Army provides $80,000 for school."
The No. 2 reason -- "We can offer them a job," said Brandt. "We can
provide a guaranteed paycheck."
Few jobs besides military
The rise in those enlisting could be attributed to recruiters, but
also the lengthy economic downturn, said Brandt.
"The economy isn't the strongest it can be," said Brandt. "With the
Army they have the opportunity of getting some job training and
leadership skills."
And like Lafaze, there are many reasons now than during the last 10
years that the military has become a feasible option for graduates.
"With the economic condition right now," said Pittsville High School
Principal John Olig, "I would think in a lot of cases it has made
recruitment easier because there's not a lot of jobs to be had for
kids to go into the work force."
Some recruitment offices and branches also have placed a cap on the
number of recruits they can have over a month or year.
Brandt said there is a cap for the Army Reserves that has quickly
filled up. For active Army, they're already placing people into
positions for the next fiscal year, because of how quickly it has filled.
Recruitment in schools
Statewide, 3.2 percent of graduating seniors, or 2,077 students, said
they planned to enlist in 2009 -- the latest data year provided by
the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. However some smaller,
rural districts in Portage, Wood and Clark counties reported much
higher rates, because one more or one fewer student joining the
military a year can drastically swing the percentage.
The statewide trend is more evident in larger areas such as the
Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids school districts.
At Stevens Point Area Senior High, military recruiters are treated a
little differently than college recruiters. The military can set up a
table in the south commons area during lunch periods, but
representatives cannot solicit students, principal Mike Devine said.
They can only talk to students who approach them. Universities set up
in the career center, but also cannot solicit students.
"Our policy is they can be there for kids who are interested," Devine said.
Large schools such as SPASH, which had almost 600 graduates in 2009,
garner more interest than the smaller districts. Devine estimated
that between the four branches, a recruiter is in the building about
every six weeks during the school year.
At the smaller districts such as Almond-Bancroft, a recruiter comes
by only a few times a year, principal Jeff Rykal said.
"They don't see us as a target-rich environment," Rykal said.
Neither Rykal nor Devine said they had gotten complaints about having
recruiters on campus. They also haven't noticed any changes in the
way recruiters are talking to students, besides one athletic
challenge a few students participated in at Almond-Bancroft last year.
"They're not really pushy when they are here," Rykal said. "Probably
two to three kids will gravitate toward the table. Otherwise they
don't get a whole lot of attention from the students."
Both parents and students can always opt to not be approached by a
recruiter in school, said Olig.
Olig said besides actual recruitment in the school, students also
participated in the National Guard ropes course at Volk Field near Tomah.
"They do have exposure to the military when they go out to the ropes
course," said Olig. "But it's more of a team-building thing."
And every student each year is given the Armed Services aptitude test
because it is useful as a career inventory and standardized test for students.
"Our kids haven't had any pressure about wanting to sign up for the
military," said Olig. "It shows you where you are as a student. It's
very easy to tell the recruiter you're not interested in serving and
I don't see the military people as being overly pushy."
Olig said in his experience, students become seriously interested in
the military around their junior and senior years.
But it wasn't recruiters in Lafaze's high school that encouraged him
to sign up. Only after speaking to some of his friends who had
already enlisted did Lafaze seek out recruiters on his own outside of school.
"I really want to get a lot of valuable leadership skills and work
ethic," Lafaze said. "I just want to find a drive to get motivated
and get a life going and the Army will help carry that over into
going to college."
Brandt said recruiters don't sugarcoat the military to young men or
women interested in signing up.
"We've been at war for such a long time," said Brandt. "That honestly
the kids nowadays, they know they're going into the military during
war. We tell a kid or even a 30-year-old, if you sign up for four
years, it's guaranteed you're going to spend one year deployed.
Although parents are usually the ones who are a little hesitant,
they're pretty open to it."
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Military Enrollment Up in Down Economy
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/GI-Janes-and--99972539.html
By BRIAN THOMPSON
Aug 4, 2010
Credit the sour economy and sky high college tuition, along with a
heavy dose of patriotism: The U.S. military, including the national
guards, is easily meeting their recruiting numbers so far this year.
And that means recruiters can be more selective.
"The bar has been raised" on the quality of recruits, according to
Lt. Col. John Sheard, 45 of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
"I'm gonna become the Army's next new soldier," said Zorangelys
Alvarado, 18 and a recent graduate of Hopatcong High School in
Jefferson, N.J. at an Army National Guard recruiting office in Paterson.
On average, 20 prospective recruits a day enter the Paterson
recruiting office, which will take maybe 36 by the end of the year,
officials said.
"Everybody is looking to get their college paid for," said Sgt. 1st
Class Manny Vazquez,46, who has been recruiting for most of his 27
years in the Guard.
Aileen Niver, 20 of Bloomfield, N.J. is one of them. She attends
Seton Hall University in part to get ahead, and also to avoid the
current job market.
"I know a lot of students that are recently graduated and actually
don't have jobs and they have $30 thousand to $40 thousand
debt(tuition) to deal with," Niver said.
Niver hopes to get a law degree after finishing her National Guard commitment.
In all, the New Jersey National Guard is looking to replace about 900
retiring soldiers a year but that's down from just a few years ago,
according to Lt. Col. Sheard.
"Our focus has been on retraining," he added, which allows his
recruiters to "raise the bar" even higher among those who are recruited.
But, while free college tuition and an ailing economy may drive many,
old-fashioned patriotism is still in style.
That includes Christian Briones, 19 and a recent graduate from
Paterson Charter School.
The Peruvian-born Briones has resident status but has lived in the
United States just three years.
Nonetheless, he is trying to join up because he sees it as a "great
opportunity to serve this country because this country game me a lot
of opportunity, education."
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Renewed interest in military careers
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/military/renewed-interest-in-military-careers
31 May 2010
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Despite the obvious sacrifices, it seems
more people are looking to the military as a career option.
Recruiters say renewed interest in the armed services is a benefit
for every branch.
"In my opinion, when you're fresh out of high school you only have
two choices, that's college or the military, both of them are great
career paths," said Joseph Green.
As Green finishes college, he hopes to find work in the Navy and
hopes to find a secure pay check like many job seekers.
The Navy estimates a 30 to 40 percent increase in college graduate
applicants since last year. Commander Chris Jones says many are being
put in the delayed entry program.
"A lot of folks are staying in the Navy or staying in the military
because of the economy," he said. "So that minimizes your numbers on
the front end of who you need to put in."
At the Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Dana Pittard says
the Army is also seeing a larger pool of applicants.
"Recruiting is going very well right now," said Pittard. "I think
it's a combination of the economic situation over the past year, year
and a half. As well as just this feeling, this feeling in the
upcoming generation to serve."
Increased interest means recruiting for the armed services is much
more selective.
"We as an Army, really we as a military decided we're not going to
lower the standard," said Pittard.
Pittard says waivers for physical conditions or criminal pasts are no
longer available to help less qualified candidates get into the Army.
While more educated applicants like Green are considering the
military, some may face delays. For example, there can be a gap of
months, even a year between signing up and shipping out to boot camp.
And since there is no paycheck until boot camp, college grads can get
discouraged. The Navy looks to a younger market -- like high school
students -- who are more likely to endure a pay delay.
.
