October 20. 2010 ^.lorflattò (Dhscrner Page 7 ARMED FORCES _____S P e c i a I E d it io n Men and Women Joining the Military Armed Services meet enlistment goals it has been in the past. New figures show that the milt- taty serv.ces have jus. completed a banneryearforrecrum ngandreten- ally missed its recruiting goal to stay within end-strength limits. The serv.ces also set quality those who are wearing a uniform today, and we're still proud to have that in our active and our reserve “ 'd ' “ * d '” "“ 1" a w he' a'd X T th e m ilita ry and Only three o f every 10 Amen- private industries are t o c X " i - cans in the pnm erecruhing group o f Son for these primeTecmits ? ", ■ ... . „ The services met their overall re- records with 100 percent o f th ere- cruitsin the Army and Marine Corps components, and our Guard." 17 to 24 years ofage are even quail- Mr. Stanley said the propensity fied to enlist, he added. "R ecruitingisalw aysgo.ngtobe a challenge " M r s Z k v S “ lfS o f Americans to enlist is higher than still a challenge " ® cruitingnuinbersand exceeded quali- having a high school diploma. In the tative goals, Clifford Stanley, the Air Force, the percentage with at undersecretary of defense for per- least a high school diploma was 95 sonnel and readiness said last week, percent and in the Navy, 98 percent. The Air Force recruited 28,493 While the high unemploymenl Airmen, topping a goal o f 28,360. rate has helped spur recruiting, it The Army had the highest recruit- was not the biggest reason young disqualified for medical, educational " ° Many candidates, he said, are U.S. Navy recruits stand at attention during training at The Great Lakes Recruit Training Command in North Chicago, III. ing goal with 74,500 new Soldiers, and it recruited 74,577. The Navy had a goal o f 34,180 Sailors and recruited 34,140. The Marine Corps recruited 28,041 young men and women on a goal o f 28,000. All o f the reserve components made their fiscal-year goals, with the exception o f the Army National Guard. The Army Guard intention- men and women decided to join the military, Mr. Stanley said. "As we look at where we are right now in terms o f the challenges fac­ ing us, it’s more to it than the economy," he said. "To a person - serving their nation, doing it with honor, being patriots - seems to be the recurring theme that comes up every time we look at and talk to Deployment to Afghanistan Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn M. Richardson, a 1992 g ra d u a te o f M ad iso n H igh School, recently began an al­ most five-month deployment to Afghanistan. Richardson is assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Bat­ talion 133, a unit whose primary mission in Afghanistan will be providing construction support to improve the living and work­ ing quarters for the 30,000 American troops needed in the country. The battalion historically pro- vides responsive military con­ struction support to Naval, Ma­ rine Corps, and other forces in military operations; constructs base facilities; and conducts de­ fensive operations as required by the circumstances o f the de­ ployment situation. In times o f national emergency or disaster, the battalion also con­ ducts disaster control and re­ covery operations in the United States, including emergency pub­ lic works functions. Richardson joined the Navy in April 1996. • Up to $20,000 in signing bonuses (for specific part-time jobs) • Student loan repayment programs • Montgomery Gl Bitl/Tuition Assistance • Low-cost TRICARE health and dental insurance No military experience? We ll train you. Find out more today! w, A IR F O R C E R E S E R V E V AFReserve.com/MC • 800.289.6695