Tag Archives: Marines

Politics, Veteran Legislative Update

More Leathernecks

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Once a Marine, always a Marine
Once a Marine, always a Marine
The few and the proud in the Marine Corps are not as few they used to be, according to Brig. General Robert Milstead Jr. of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command. The General tells us that the Corps has grown by 27.000 in the past two years. That is half the time that was allotted for expected growth.

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.

Health, Politics, Veteran Pals, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Some Not So Rosy News

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Veteran Suicides on the Increase
Veteran Suicides on the Increase
It has been reported by the Department of Defense that 33 Marines have killed themselves in 2009. We have seen an increase in suicides over the past three years, and we have four months remaining. The outreach and prevention programs have never worked so hard to isolate the problems, with videos, briefings on the signs and symptoms and confidential counseling. With all this the trend has actually worsened. All suicides have been male and 27 of them were between the ages of 18-24. There is no evidence that ones Military occupational status is the contributing factor. 18 Marines were reported to have attempted suicide in July. At this pace it would be about 165 attempts for the year, the most since the invasion in 2003. Rest assured this perplexing phenomena is being addressed on a daily basis.