Why do war waits for army recruits?
OLUMBIA, S.C. – C — On graduation day just before July 4, 1,200 freshly minted soldiers wearing gray-green camouflage uniforms and black berets marched past the Fort Jackson grandstand packed with cheering relatives and friends. Historically, the almost-weekly event draws its largest crowds July through September. But this time, Fort Jackson has stayed busy throughout the year as the bulk of recruits — about 57 percent expected of 2009’s projected total of 47,000 — arrived before Memorial Day. A sagging economy, declining casualty rate in Iraq and a resurgence in the U.S. military’s popularity appear to have contributed to a strong recruiting year, Army leaders said. And the steady training schedule at Fort Jackson is likely to continue into next year as recruits find themselves on a waiting list to report for duty. “Shipping dates are anywhere from six weeks to two to three months out,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jay Jenkins, who works at the Army’s downtown Columbia recruiting station. I
With Army recruiting up, war waits for some By Chuck Crumbo | McClatchy/Tribune news July 26, 2009 OLUMBIA, S.C. – C — On graduation day just before July 4, 1,200 freshly minted soldiers wearing gray-green camouflage uniforms and black berets marched past the Fort Jackson grandstand packed with cheering relatives and friends. Historically, the almost-weekly event draws its largest crowds July through September. But this time, Fort Jackson has stayed busy throughout the year as the bulk of recruits — about 57 percent expected of 2009’s projected total of 47,000 — arrived before Memorial Day. A sagging economy, declining casualty rate in Iraq and a resurgence in the U.S. military’s popularity appear to have contributed to a strong recruiting year, Army leaders said. And the steady training schedule at Fort Jackson is likely to continue into next year as recruits find themselves on a waiting list to report for duty. “Shipping dates are anywhere from six weeks to two to three months out
