Maintenance of the Military

ATTRITION: Why The Reserve Officer Shortage
http://www.strategypage.com//fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=HTATRIT.HTM

March 9, 2005: For the first time in five years, the U.S. Army failed to meet its recruiting goals, falling 27 percent short in February, 2005. That means there were 2,000 fewer recruits than were needed. The army reserves failed to meet their recruiting goals for the second month in a row, coming up 330 recruits short. The current size of the active army is 512,000.

Although blacks of military age comprise 14 percent of the population, 22.7 percent of army recruits were black in 2001. This went down to 19.9 percent in 2002, 16.4 percent in 2003 and has recently been 13.9 percent

The U.S. Army spends $250 million, and uses 7,000 recruiters, to find 80,000 new recruits each year. . .The army reserves (including the National Guard), which have 550,000 troops, compared to 500,000 active duty, have to recruit about 90,000 new people a year. Currently, the reserves are about 10,000 people short per year

Military resources are strained under a scenario where the Draft is ruled out. Adjustments can be made, but the basic shortage will remain. The Military should use Service retirees as Recruiters, rather than Active serving personnel. Educational standards have been lowered to increase the acceptance rate of Applicants; the Reciprocal should also be granted: A contractual guarantee that all active Military can apply for and achieve a Civilian-employable Training and apprentice MOS in the last year of Service. A reverse draft need be formalized, but one which starts at the Top; needed Troop complements can have their Terms of Service time doubled, but starting with Officers. Troop[ acceptance of the later provision will be dependent upon the serving Personnel being able to unionize and negotiate Payscales. This Program will work for active and Reserves elements.

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/03/what_are_the_ma.html

What are the macroeconomics of depopulation?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on March 15, 2005

It stands as the best argument for reintroduction of the military Draft, though Tyler would be the last to accept that statement. lgl