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Recession Makes Military Recruiting Easier

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Dec 10, 2008 6:53 pm US/Mountain

Recession Makes Military Recruiting Easier

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) ― As the economy stumbles and jobs disappear, people are turning to jobs that may mean risking their lives.

Business is booming at military recruitment offices. Not long ago, the armed forces struggled to recruit new troops, but not now.

Enlistees can make up to $40,000 in cash bonuses; get college benefits, medical and dental insurance for their family and a 30-day paid vacation.

"Army recruiting is going very well," Lt. Col. William Medina with U.S. Army Recruiting said. "While the economy certainly does have an impact, I think there are a lot of other factors to consider."

In Colorado and around the country recruiters are meeting their quotas.

Chris Hill recently gave up his job repossessing cars to join the Army.

"I just see America struggling a little bit," Hill said. "Jobs are difficult to find here because I know because I've been job to job."

The war in Iraq has taken a turn for the better. Deployment lengths have been reduced, however the war in Afghanistan may be picking up steam. But retention of those already on duty has improved as well.

Staff Sgt. Deidre Perrault is a recruiter who says the job sells itself.

"If it's college that you're looking for, there's the adventure, there's the traveling, meeting different people," Perrault said. "You can get everything out of it."

Three years ago a CBS4 investigation found some recruiters willing to accept fake diplomas, help a teen fudge on a drug test and accept members of gangs.

Despite the need for soldiers in other branches of the service, there's certainly no guarantee of being accepted by recruiters.

"The one thing that has not changed is the challenge of finding those three out of ten in our primary demographic who are qualified," Medina said.

These days that means a high school diploma, citizenship or legal residency, and passing the military tests.

The active duty age limit for the Army is now 42.

(© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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