Recruiting focus of CSA meeting in Seattle
By Lt. Col. Michael Negard
July 11, 2005
SEATTLE, Wash.(Army News Service, July 8, 2005) – Less than two months after a Seattle high school was in the national spotlight for its attempt to bar military recruiters from the school, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker met with about 70 community officials in Seattle.
In May, Garfield High School’s Parent-Teacher-Student Association voted for a resolution to bar recruiting on the high school campus. When recruiters returned to the school, they were met by protests from parents.
The July 1 event at Seattle Seahawk’s Quest Field, sponsored by the Army’s Seattle Recruiting Battalion, was aimed at exposing Congressional staff members, law enforcement officers, retired military, business managers and academic administrators to some of the issues facing the Army.
But with the Army having just met its June active-duty and Army Reserve recruiting goals for the first time in four months, the discussion quickly turned to recruiting, re-enlistment, and the future of the all-volunteer force.
“We really challenged ourselves to grow the Army and we placed the bar very high,” said Schoomaker, referring to last year’s increased end-strength authorization of 512,400, up 30,000 from the previous year. “It’s the additional 30,000 Soldiers that’s challenging us.”
In responding to a Seattle TV reporter’s question about how he viewed attempts by groups to ban military recruiters from high schools, Schoomaker responded it was intrusive and unfortunate.
“It’s their right to act that way,” Schoomaker said. “I trust people will make the best decision if they are provided the options. I think that providing a person the opportunity to at least see what the options are so they can make their choices is important.
“What we’re finding out through surveys and other means is that this generation wants to serve,” he said. “And when they do we find this is an extraordinary generation of young people with tremendous talents who are serving with a great deal of honor and effectiveness. Overwhelmingly, these young people are serving with a great deal of honor and pride and to a great effect. We have a great armed force and one that reflects America’s values.”
The resolution currently posted on Garfield High School’s Web site states the PTSA’s concerns are to protect young students from the life-and-death decision that military service presents. Members of the PTSA object to the current war in Iraq, and fear that recruiters may not present a realistic picture of military life. They also disagree with policies that they feel discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
The resolution states, however, that each Garfield student should be made aware of – and be assisted in accessing — appropriate and affordable career opportunities and educational programs, including those about the military.
The No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law by President Bush in 2002, requires local educational agencies receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to give military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as they provide to postsecondary institutions or to prospective employers.
The educational agencies are also generally required to provide students' names, addresses, and telephone listings to military recruiters, when requested. However, parents of students may "opt out," or object to the information being released to recruiters without their prior written consent.
While the active-component and Army Reserve met and surpassed their recruiting goals of 5,650 and 3,610 respectively for the quarter, active-duty recruiting remains approximately 7,800 short of its year-end mission while the Army Reserve is 2,300 below its annual goal.
“I think we are hearing a drumbeat of the Army not making its goal. I think it’s important to know we set the bar high and the fact that we just came out of a period this spring that has been historically low,” said Schoomaker. “I think the glass is more than half full on this but everyone wants to talk about the 16 percent that we are still reaching for. We’re still optimistic we are going to do it but it’s going to continue to be a challenge.”
But recruiting is only half of the end-strength equation, Schoomaker said. Re-enlistment remains well above the goal with Soldiers re-upping at significantly high rates across the Army.
At the end of June, active-component re-enlistment was at 105 percent of its year to date goal and more than 112 percent in the National Guard and Reserve.
“Those who have been deployed are the ones who we are retaining at the highest rate,” said the Army chief of staff. “So given the opportunity to serve, people are finding out how important it is to be part of something that’s bigger than them and how rewarding it is to serve and to be surrounded by others like them who they can trust and who have the same values and pride.”
(Editor's note: Lt. Col. Michael Negard currently serves as the public affairs and media advisor to Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Army chief of staff.)
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