See Chart Here.

1. You sure about this? I didn’t see this on NBC.

   Comment by T.A Gray — July 11, 2008 @ 7:14 am

2. See what happens when you lower the goal. you can make the goal and claim success. You can let felons, crazies, and grandpas join and it helps too.

   How many were Stop Lossed ??? I wonder.

   Comment by Tag — July 11, 2008 @ 5:42 pm

3. Um, you obviously know nothing about the military. Stop losses cannot count for new recruits nor re-enlistments. Re-enlistments are through the roof (did you see the historic re-enlistment of 1215 troops in Baghdad on the 4th of July?) and we’re trying to expand the numbers. It’s been 35 years since this was an all volutneer military and in a time of war to have Americans step up and serve is incredible.

   You cannot put a negative spin on this. The quality of soldier (education level, economic background, etc.) is higher than the general population.

   FYI:
   Military Not Lowering Recruiting Standards
   Who Is Volunteering for Today’s Military?

   Myth: Military recruits are less educated and of lower aptitude than American youth.

   Fact: The opposite is true. Over 90 percent of military recruits have a high school diploma – a credential held by only about 75 percent of their peers. A traditional high school diploma is the best single predictor of “stick-to-it-iveness” and successful adjustment to the military. Recruits with a high school diploma have a 70-percent probability of completing a three-year term of enlistment, compared with a 50-percent likelihood for non-graduates.

   Nearly two-thirds of today’s recruits are drawn from the top-half of America in math and verbal aptitudes – a strong determinant of training success and job performance..

   Myth: The Military attracts disproportionately from poor or underprivileged youth.

   Fact: Military recruits mirror the US population and are solidly middle class.
   A recent report shows that more recruits come from middle income families, with far fewer drawn from poorer families (Figure 2). Youth from upper income families are represented at almost exactly their fair share.

   Data show that patterns in recent years are simply reinforcing this trend (Figure 3). More recruits are coming from families in the mid-scale and upper socioeconomic strata, while fewer are coming from families with lower earnings.

   Myth: A disproportionate number of military recruits come from urban areas.

   Fact: Urban areas are the most underrepresented. Data show that urban areas are actually underrepresented among new recruits. Suburban and rural areas are overrepresented.

   Comment by Amy Proctor — July 11, 2008 @ 9:38 pm

4. In other words, Tag this is the best educated, most literate, mature, and upwardly mobile military ever, despite the charges and insinuations from your side that they are a bunch of hicks and embittered blue collar types with nothing else going for them, they still keep enlisting. Have a nice day! :)

   I like your picture of Benedict, Amy.
   Te Deum laudamus, te Domine confitebur!

   Comment by T.A Gray — July 11, 2008 @ 10:08 pm

5. LOL. I did not say they were not smart, mature, or literate of course. Literate?? why did you throw that one in your list of BS ?? funny. We know they are smart because they are giving more campaign contributions to Obama.

   Lower the goal then cheer when you make that lowered goal seems a bit disingenuous to me.

   Comment by Tag — July 13, 2008 @ 5:54 pm