Number Of Older Recruits Joining The Army Increasing Due To Unemployment

Older Recruits Challenge Army and Vice Versa

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

Pfc. Shane Dixon, 38, right, gets advice from a fellow trainee half his age, Stephen Miles, 19, in basic training at Fort Sill, Okla.

By JAMES DAO
Published: June 17, 2009


FORT SILL, Okla. — Pfc. Shane Dixon is known as Old Dix. Specialist Jason Ness goes by Gramps. Pfc. Christopher Batson’s nom de boot camp is Pops. None of them are over 40, but to the 18-year-old soldiers in basic training here, they are as ancient as a first generation Xbox.

Yet in the three years since the Army raised its age limit for enlisting to 42, from 35, a steady stream of older recruits has joined the ranks, pushing creaky muscles through road training, learning to appreciate — or at least endure — Army chow and in some cases deploying to combat zones.

And while the number of such recruits, more than 3,800, is small by Army standards, the pace of over-35 enlistment jumped sharply in the first months of this year. Motives vary, from a yearning for midlife adventure to a desire to serve their country. But rising unemployment is also a major reason, say Army officials, recruiters and training officers.

“It’s a guaranteed job, as long as you go to work every day,” said Capt. Jared Auchey, company commander of the Army Experience Center in Philadelphia, who estimates that one in 10 of the enlistments at his high-tech marketing office are over 35. “There are no layoffs in the Army.”

The Army recruits about 80,000 soldiers a year, and the older recruits are having an impact even on basic training, Army officers say. At classes here, as many as one in seven soldiers are over 35, and many drill sergeants now look to the older soldiers as mentors, or proxy disciplinarians.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/us/18recruit.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

no layoffs in the funeral industry, either....

Sounds like S&M. Oh well, at 58, I'm to old. (for the army)

My 30-something year old best friend with a wife and two kids who I worked with at Ford joined the army in the mid-70's after we both got laid off.

He wanted me to join up with him. I was always good (lucky?) at finding a job in a pinch so I never considered it.

Don

Why else would they outsource jobs, under-educate Americans and destroy the middle class? To force people to join the only job left to them by a country that needs it's wars in order to spread Imperial 'Democracy' and 'Freedoms' around the globe. The military.

It's really quite simple. Make sure you manipulate the population so you get what you need in order to gain power. Bush did it in 8 years. Not bad as far as achieving PNAC goals.