Battleland

The Good News about Endless War?

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A bad economy means new recruits (Photo: Senior Airman Antoinette Gibson/Released)

I’ve written more than most about the cost in blood and treasure of the seemingly endless wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. We’ve also heard a lot about the well-founded concern about the endless grind creating a “hollow Army,” drained of talent like the post-Vietnam era.

These are all valid concerns, of course. But there are a few other trends worth noting. Before you type that nasty gram, let me be clear I’m not somehow cheering the upsides of a decade of war. These are just important trends also.

The first is that everybody — and in particular the elite military units — has upped their game. A Ranger platoon leader now conducts mission that ten years ago would have been reserved for a Special Forces A Team, maybe even a unit from Delta. Yes, Special Operations units are constantly deployed. Yes, the stress is unbelievable. Yes, the Civil Affairs guys might as well give up on their marriages and their day jobs.

But they are also lean and mean and everybody is doing stuff they could not have pulled off a decade ago.

Second is the upside to another tragic story — the awful economy helps military recruitment. Even in the middle of endless wars, people need to put bread on the table. Admittedly, the military has resorted to recruitment waivers more than most would have liked. But the numbers aren’t bad at all. Here is the latest from the Pentagon today:

The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through June.

o     Active Component.

o    Recruiting — Year to Date.  All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through June.

o Army — 49,873 accessions, with a goal of 49,000; 102 percent
o Navy — 24,550 accessions, with a goal of 24,550; 100 percent
o Marine Corps — 18,926 accessions, with a goal of 18,886; 100 percent
o Air Force — 21,025 accessions, with a goal of 21,025; 100 percent

o   Retention.  The services are on track to meet their fiscal year-to-date 2011 retention goals.

o     Reserve Component.

o   Recruiting.  Five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through June.

o Army National Guard — 38,350 accessions, with a goal of 39,108; 98 percent
o Army Reserve — 22,892 accessions, with a goal of 20,901; 110 percent
o Navy Reserve — 6,257 accessions, with a goal of 6,257; 100 percent
o Marine Corps Reserve — 7,753 accessions, with a goal of 7,233; 107 percent
o Air National Guard — 5,179 accessions, with a goal of 5,179; 100 percent
o Air Force Reserve — 6,899 accessions, with a goal of 6,887; 100 percent

o    Attrition.  All reserve components are on target to achieve their fiscal year attrition goals.