August 11, 2006

What Lowering the Age Standards Means to a Marine, Citizen, and Son

Here's a guest blog from Sgt. Joe Duran.

A few years ago, I walked away from a comfortable job to fulfill a personal obligation to serve my country. It was also a family tradition as my father, grandfather, and uncles had served in every branch of the military. But I was running out of time. Had it not been for an age waiver granted to me by the Marine Corps, I would’ve come close to missing my chance. But that was then. According to the changes made by Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, David Chu, the age limits have been raised. A 42 year old can now, with an age waiver, enter the service as a soldier. We are healthier and living longer he says. Over the weekend I thought about how I felt about this change, and I’ve decided it depends on whether I see it as a Marine, a Citizen, or my father’s son.

If You Can’t Meet the Goal, Lower the Goal

As a Marine, I wish the Army recruiters well. They had missed their goals last year, recruiting almost 7,000 below their target. So it is understandable that in addition to beefing up their recruiting and referral incentives, hiring a new add agency, and lowering their recruiting goal by 8,000, the Army made their target this year by relaxing their age standards as well. But as stated in the excellent blog by Steven Urbanski, “With recruiters struggling to meet enlistment goals, the recruiters have begun looking the other way.” Now they won’t have to. Along with the acceptance of an older generation of men and women, the Army has to accept their past. According to the Army’s own numbers, waivers concerning prior misdemeanor criminal offenses, drug or alcohol issues or medical problems have been required by 15.5 percent of recruits compared with 12 percent for 2004 and 2003. Last year, when they did not meet their goal, they were at 15 percent.

In addition to the relaxation of age, medical, and criminal standards for recruits, the Army has also relaxed their testing standards, signing up those who score below 30 out of 99 on their aptitude test. The acceptance rate was 2%. Now it is 4%. In an article by the Wall Street Journal, Army General Rochelle said, “I am confident we will not be above the DoD goal of 4%. My advice to the General if it doesn’t pan out: If you can’t meet the goal, lower the goal.

Support the Troops, Join the Army

As a citizen, I remember the pride I felt putting the new Marine Corps Sticker on the bottom left corner of my rear window. With the lowering of the age standard, according to the Army's estimates, 22.6 million men and women will have the chance to feel the same pride and lend a hand. Now, instead of supporting the troops with a yellow ribbon on their car, they can drive their car down to the recruiting station and play an integral part in the foreign policy they are responsible for. That is honor, courage, and commitment. But since the lowering of the age standard, the Army has recruited only 5 soldiers aged 40 and over, and 324 people aged 35 and older since June. Maybe the word hasn’t gotten out yet. But, regardless of whether or not we get 22.6 million new recruits or a thousand, my hats are off to them for the sacrifice they make on behalf of others.

Not My Dad

But as a son, my perspective changes and the change in policy gets a little more difficult to accept. It is heartbreaking to watch the faces of the war dead as I read their names and see their relatively young ages on the roll call of those killed in action. I think of the ultimate sacrifice they and their mothers and fathers have made and the future they will no longer share. Today, as I spoke to my father about this subject and about the time he spent in the Army, I also thought of the change in policy and how we are slowly adding another generation to the rolls of those who may someday not come home to make up for someone elses misjudgments. Although it is happening now with the older reservist pulling more than their share of the load overseas, and dying, it is still hard to imagine a young 20 or 30 something losing a parent. Especially if that parent is yours. So this new standard change, like most policies, is okay as long is it doesn’t affect me. Right? Wrong! Now we have possibly 22.6 million more men and women, to serve proudly, as best they can, and hopefully come home too. Somehow, as a son, it doesn’t comfort me.



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