<The spike in interest -- but not in enlistment -- also occurred during the Persian Gulf War. Recruiters say it reflects the fact that it takes most young people a long time to decide to enlist.

"The days of young men walking in, raising their right hands and shipping out to basic training are over," Smith said. "The World War II image doesn't apply."

Although recruiting is difficult during times of economic prosperity, all four services achieved their goals in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30

[emphasis mine]

At least one local Army recruiter is a regular customer at the store; I asked her the other day how 'business' has been. "Lousy," she said, repeating the basic point of the article: inquiries without follow up. Maybe that's partly because this area is a huge university with a town attached, surrounded by farmland - in other words: 40,000 people of recruitment age busy maximizing their career earning potential, and 5,000 more trying to get their rent paid and their kids back from Children and Youth Services.

Could also be, in case you hadn't heard, that this is a new kind of war - cannon fodder need not apply. Guys and girls like Justin and his peers are needed and wanted, but not en masse... you did see that the Armed Services filled their quotas for FY 2001, didn't you?

The kicker, of course, is "recruiting is difficult during times of economic prosperity". I believe that's the first time since GWB's election that I've heard we still live in prosperous times. That would explain the layoffs and plant closings, I guess.

E'