RE: Soft Economy Aids Army Recruiting Effort

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

A class analysis of this trend would be most helpful.
We have seen recent documents that purport an end to the recession, yet poor
folks seem to be getting either poorer or  nowhere, while their ranks swell
with more members through precipitation.

How convenient that the Army appears right where it is needed to help with
rising tuition costs?  One might almost believe that increased problems for
students getting into college actually benefit the US Army (imperialism).


Response Jim C:

Just look at the ads for both reserves and active duty--they know their
market and what is really driving recruitment rates. The ads don't say "Join
the ---- and kill Commies/Arab "Terrorists" for Jesus; they don't say stuff
like "Do your patriotic duty..." or "Be a critical cog in the national
security machine of America"; or even stuff like "Freedom has to be
defended, do your part..." That shit comes later in boot camp when they
pound it into your skull the "real--and patriotic--reasons" you enlisted to
help you over any angst or possible cognitive dissonance problems because
when you joined it was all about you and your needs and you didn't give a
fuck about the patriotism/defending "freedom" shit...

No they say stuff like: "An Army of One" or "The Few, the Proud..." for
those with low self-esteem problems and/or on an Audie Murphy trip. Or they
speak of earning college assistance, gaining critical skills (maybe the
demand and labor market for snipers will be widening soon), adding notches
to meager resumes of the young (can't get a job because I have no
experience; have no experience cause no one will give me a job--Catch-22),
travel, adventure, new friendships, assistance in gaining maturity,
uniforms/ribbons that will help you score at the ol single's bar and/or get
or "show" the high school sweetheart who dumped you for Biff the high school
quarterback, a place to go TO when running FROM somewhere else...

Jim C.


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