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With recession, new administration in Washington, and war effort shifting from Iraq to Afghanistan, military recruiters are signing them up Date published: 2/15/2009
BY RUSTY DENNEN Anthony Parrish Jr. recently walked into the Navy recruiting office here and decided to join up. Parrish, 22, is well aware that, with the war in Iraq winding down and the focus shifting to Afghanistan, it's still a dangerous time to be in the military. But he figures that being on a ship will keep him out of harm's way, and he has other, practical concerns-- namely a better job and a career. "The economy is not the big factor, but I wanted more of a secure job," he said. Interest in the military tends to rise with unemployment. The Stafford County resident had been working at a local running store, and before that drawing blood as a phlebotomist. Parrish is among the hundreds of mostly young men and women who have visited local recruiters in recent months. The Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard all have offices in a small strip shopping center off State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. "My dad was in the Air Force, and I wanted a military career. I decided to join the Navy because I wanted to move to travel," Parrish said. "And it's the perfect way to pay for school." According to the Department of Defense, recruiting offices across the nation have been doing well in these uncertain times. During the last fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, 2007, and ended Sept. 30, 2008, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all were at or above recruiting goals for the period, signing up a total of 184,831 recruits. The "applicants," as the Navy calls them, typically are greeted by a recruiter who tells them about the process and what they need to do, and about the benefits of a Navy enlistment. Petty Officer Charles Jones, 36, with 18 years in the Navy, is one of four recruiters. He likes to make a good first impression. With close-cropped hair, a crisp uniform and a ready handshake, he is the Navy to walk-ins. "You don't want people coming in looking for a Cadillac and getting a Yugo," he says, smiling. "Mostly we try to make them feel comfortable, because it's a big step." Tuition, steady job
Date published: 2/15/2009
It is great that our Armed Forces are seeing this increase in people who are interested in joining ...
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