In 2007 the Marines launched a program to reach a total of 202.000 Marines by 2012. The Corps is currently over the 200,000 mark. Much of the credit goes to the addition of 500 Recruiters and a budget for recruiting bonuses. The Marines have also retained much of their force. In 2008 35% of Marines re-enlisted. That is up from 24% in 2006. Army officials also reported meeting their goals for the third year in a row, adding 80,000 soldiers last year.
General Milstead said a teetering economy and a plunging job market may make enlistment more attractive, but he says the service remains attractive too. “Kids join the Marines because they want to be Marines, not because they are tired of flipping burgers.”
I did, and I am damn proud of the choice. The training is for life, and sticks. Semper Fi.
Interesting stats Mike, on the Few and the Proud. I’ve known a few men who have served proudly. Glad my husband and I got to meet you last night at the 4th Avenue Trolley.
Carolyn,
I see in your bio that you have some Jesuit training. Do you still involve yourself with Jesuit style retreats? I have attended many of them at the Benedictine Monastary in St. David. They were moderated by the “White House” out of St. Louis.
Would you like to organize one some day? A Retreat for all the TucsonCitizen bloggers? Now that would be a tea party eh?
No, Mike, no longer involved in any Jesuit retreats or activities. Not sure exactly what you have in mind for the Citizen’s bloggers…any website to refer to?
and you ase your “intolerant right wing bigot” label on what? that i don’t agree with you? that i don’t accept everything as okay?
i don’t agree with gays so i am a hate mongering bigot?
i don’t agree wth obama so i am a racist?
i don’t agree with whatever so i am a whatever?
so i have no right to disagree? so ihave not right to say i don’t want that? it would seem that you are the intolerant one.
your rants continue to prove my point.
you certainly are impressing everyone. keep up the good work.
are you sure that you and romeo aren’t related? you certainly do have the same line fo grey matter and vocabulary.
Please be reminded gents, this Outpost is suppose to be for “advocacy”. It is apparent that Tip needs no advocacy…. nor culture, nor literacy, nor protocol, nor wisdom.
Baiting Marines is not generally a suggested practice, but in this case we will let it flow, as I think that worms are becoming extinct.
I will forward Tips comments about ‘civilized human beings” on to General Jones the former Commandant of the Marine Corps, our 7th Marines Officer in Vietnam, and the current National Security Advisor.
I will defer to the Generals discernment about who is most impacted by nature or nurture. Marines or aberrant passive aggressive posters.
Maybe it’s another self-selecting process at work here, but Tip has a point about the marines and ex-marines who post here. They do seem, as a group, to be homophobes, racists and generally unquestioning of the myth of American “specialness”, among other things.
BTW, Mike, you generally seem less afflicted, but one of the subtexts of your comments is that you believe Tip’s comments are subversive; a threat to “American security” and worthy of reporting to the “proper authorities”.
I think a sociologist or a psychologist would be a better source of information about the effects of shared groups experiences. Asking another member of the same group is just asking for a biased answer.
Every organization has its own subculture. New members of the group are quickly indoctrinated with the message of the righteousness of the group’s particular culture. Over time, surrounded by constant reinforcement, most are bound to internalize the values of this or that group. It takes a certain type of individual and, often, a set of experiences that very strongly contradict what the individual has been taught for the individual to begin to question the values he/she has internalized. Witness the disaffected soldiers in Vietnam, ex-gang members or runaway teens from religious cults.
That was a joke leftfield, about deferring to General Jones. But then we all know that you cannot get intonations in postings or emails. I just thought the General, whom I do know btw, would handle the derogatory stuff better than I. My better angels were going on vacation there..
And thanks for the “less afflicted” comment. I am far from a rabid dyed in the wool Marine. Although I did serve two stints in Vietnam as a combat grunt and squad leader. Those who know me over the years will testify to my long time distaste for hard core partisanship. It serves no one but the SELF.
“They do seem, as a group, to be homophobes, racists and generally unquestioning of the myth of American “specialness”
and they say stupidity won’t fly. and yet, there it goes.
“Every organization has its own subculture. New members of the group are quickly indoctrinated with the message of the righteousness of the group’s particular culture. Over time, surrounded by constant reinforcement, most are bound to internalize the values of this or that group.”
to include socialist and communist? or does this just apply to beliefs that differ from yours?
and as far as American specialness …… you bet your bottom dollar lefty. with all of its flaws, the United States of America is still the greatest nation on the face of this earth.
“Witness the disaffected soldiers in Vietnam”
unless you are one ….. you have no concept.
and even though you have heard if before and probably decry the notion as have any meaning ……….. the Marines are a brotherhood, that even if you have a dissenting opinion or lifestyle, will stand and defend your right accordingly to that opinion and lifestyle …….. even unto death.
rant and rave all you want ……. the right to rant and rave grew from the blood of brave warriors. your right to dissent is shielded by the valor of brave warriors.
all of which you have no capability of understanding and sadly, you never will.
and tippy ……… you are not worth the time or effort. you use the stupidity of one poster to justify the slander of an honorable brotherhood.
“aberrant passive aggressive posters” hits you straight on you tippy head.
i salute those brave men and women who continue the proud honor of the Marines.
may God deliver us from the hand of the enemy and ……… may God deliver our enemies, both abroad and at home, into our hands.
Tip,
You would do well for yourself by reporting your concerns to the Editor, Mark Evans. This is not the place for shared venting that is clearly way off topic.
i agree mike. this is not the forum for the back and forth.
as the old saying goes, argue with a fool long enough and soon people begin to wonder who the fool is.
“First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our HONOR clean; We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine.”
Very informational post. Very clear commentary and suggested phrasing are most impressive. It feels good to see that people share theyr know-how !
you need a few months on the ground in iraq or afghan with a few of those “right wing bigots”. if you survive, you will come home with a different perspective. either learned or applied.
your self assumed cleverness just keeps on proving the level of your stupidity. but then based upon your posts elsewhere, it comes as no surprise.
“the cream of the crop need to explanation”
should read ……… the cream of the crop need no explanation.
Romeo and I have a “special” relationship based on shared ideals and mutual respect.
and of course that throws me in the lot.
i doubt that romeo is in fact a Marine, mainly becasue of his reply.
but of course, that never cross your small mind.