Yeah, THAT'LL work....

[Sauron]

Cause I'll bet they're homesick for Sarge....

Marine Corps will ask thousands to come back

By Gordon Lubold - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 19, 2007 22:23:02 EST

The Marine Corps plans to ask up to 100,000 former Marines released from the ranks since September 2001 whether they would like to come back.

[Ensign Steve]

It happens all the time. I just had dinner with a friend the other weekend who couldn't wait to get out of the Air Force. Within a year after getting home he signed up for the National Guard, and now he works full time there.

The government, and the military, offer stable and nearly guaranteed employment, and that is huge when someone is having a hard time finding a job elsewhere.

[biochemgirl]

Originally Posted by Ensign Steve

It happens all the time. I just had dinner with a friend the other weekend who couldn't wait to get out of the Air Force. Within a year after getting home he signed up for the National Guard, and now he works full time there.

The government, and the military, offer stable and nearly guaranteed employment, and that is huge when someone is having a hard time finding a job elsewhere.

Ditto that. My best friend's husband was an active duty Marine for 8 years, got out and went into the Guard and is now AGR also. Especially Marines, I think they take the "Once a Marine, always a Marine" thing very seriously.

I guess at least they're "asking" instead of pulling IRR. Which I'm sure that will be coming.

There is something to be said for free health insurance, low cost life insurance, housing allowance, etc. Yes, even though it comes with a price it is very attractive when you are just scraping by.

[quiet bear]

My brother was in, got out for two years, and went back in. He said he missed the structure.

In total, he's been a US Marine for over 16 years now. 3 tours in the desert.

Personally, I couldn't wait to get out. I did 3 years active, 3 years in the reserves. Plenty enough US Army for me.

[California Tanker]

I wonder what (re)enlistment bonus they'd be eligible for?

NTM

[Sauron]

In times of high unemployment, I can understand it. But we don't have that now; unemployment is economically manageable. Plus, we're at war. Those are two big strikes going against this plan.

The other thing that struck me as laughable were the numbers involved (red, in OP). From the article:

The Corps has about 180,000 Marines, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced last week that it would grow by about 22,000 people at a rate of about 5,000 per year to a total end strength of 202,000 by 2012.

[biochemgirl]

Originally Posted by Sauron

In times of high unemployment, I can understand it. But we don't have that now; unemployment is economically manageable. Plus, we're at war. Those are two big strikes going against this plan.

The other thing that struck me as laughable were the numbers involved (red, in OP). From the article:

The Corps has about 180,000 Marines, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced last week that it would grow by about 22,000 people at a rate of about 5,000 per year to a total end strength of 202,000 by 2012.

I'm confused, what do you find so laughable?

[Sauron]

Originally Posted by biochemgirl

I'm confused, what do you find so laughable?

Current USMC strengths: 180,000
New recruiting pool: 100,000

Gap to fill: 5,000 year / five years

So they're combing 100K people to find 5K more (this year), in anticipation of a policy that increases the USMC size over the next five years. Ignoring:

* a 19 to 1 recruiting ratio;
* an unpopular war being conducted;
* an economy that isn't hurting, so non-military options are present;
* bad publicity about how soldiers are not getting what they need (armor, etc).;
* lack of support from the govt after returning home;
* the personnel policy will probably change in 2008 after national elections anyhow;
* if the US withdraws from Iraq in the near future - as now seems imminent - there will be little stomach for expanding the USMC or the Army;

It just seems that personnel policy is being made in an ivory tower, oblivious to the current environment or the likely future reversals to said policy.

[biochemgirl]

Lower enlistement standards, dramatically if need be, and increase sign on bonuses. How do you think the Army made their goal this year? Yes, with unemployment being low it's not as attractive but when you have up to a $20,000 sign on bonus (I though I saw the Army was talking about increasing to a $40,000 max bonus) it still looks damned attractive.

I mean you have valid points, but just seeing the steps the Army took to make goal (definitely not saying I necessarily agree with them), I could see it happening. Perhaps not goal, but close.

Not that everything would make it through Congress but I think Congress is also reluctant to vote against funding of the military right now.

[D. Scarlatti]

[godfry n. glad]

Lower enlistment standards?

Hey, here in Puddle City, they were willing to enlist a young man with autism. Can the standards go much lower?

[D. Scarlatti]

Look at the standards for Commander in Chief.

[California Tanker]

In fairness to the Marines, I think they can do it. Unlike the Army, they've made their recruiting goals last year without lowering any standards. I think that the mindset of someone who wants to become one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children is such that they're not joining just for the money or a safe, secure job: The Army, Air Force and Navy are available for such people.

There's no denying that 5,000 a year is a tough goal: It's a 15% increase on what they had been allowed to take in until now, but even of only 2,000 of the 100,000 asked to return take it up (Which I don't see as an unreasonable number) they can provide quite a bit of breathing room for the first year. I don't see this as being too far different from the situation the military was in for the Korean War: a lot of troops were enticed back into uniform after having gotten out at the end of WWII at the ranks they held previously, or at higher rank. I know one guy got let out in 1946 as a 1LT, he came back for Korea as a Major.

The advantage that I can see to asking some of the former Marines to come back in is that they have the option of increasing not just the number of recruits, but also a number of Marines who have stripes and experience, if rusty, to help balance it out a little.

NTM

[godfry n. glad]

So... Is this a usual thing for jarheads?

They think they can spin the cylinder one more time and place the barrel to their temple?

"Like...hey...ain't never hurt me before."

D'oh!

[Ensign Steve]

Originally Posted by California Tanker

I know one guy got let out in 1946 as a 1LT, he came back for Korea as a Major.

Niiiice!

The advantage that I can see to asking some of the former Marines to come back in is that they have the option of increasing not just the number of recruits, but also a number of Marines who have stripes and experience, if rusty, to help balance it out a little.

Excellent point. 20,000 (or whatever) extra people is not really going to help much if it's a big gaggle of newbies.

[godfry n. glad]

20,000 extra soldiers, no matter whether they are newbies or battle-hardened veterans, ain't gonna do shit.