“COMMAND PERFORMANCE”
The Arthur Magazine Email Bulletin
No. 0046
August 13, 2006
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Glad tidings,
1. “US ARMY SEEN REACHING RECRUITING GOAL DESPITE WAR”
Thursday Aug 10, 2006
(Reuters)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army, which fell short in recruiting last year, made its 14th straight monthly goal in July and is expected to hit its 2006 target despite the Iraq war making recruiting harder, officials said on Thursday.
Jeff Spara, in charge of Army recruiting policy, denied the Army has been making its recruiting goals by taking lower-quality volunteers who previously might have been rejected, as some experts contend.
“It looks very good right now,” Spara said of the active-duty Army reaching its goal of 80,000 new soldiers in fiscal 2006, which ends September 30. It fell about 7,000 recruits short of the same numerical goal in fiscal 2005.
Spara said it was “too close to call” whether the Army’s part-time components, the National Guard and Reserve, will reach their 2006 targets. Both missed their July quotas and fell short last year.
The Army provides the bulk of U.S. ground forces in Iraq. Spara said the war continues to complicate recruiting, with parents and other influential adults more likely than in the past to counsel potential recruits against volunteering.
The Army sent 10,890 recruits into boot camp in July, exceeding its biggest goal of the year of 10,450 and pushing it 4 percent above its year-to-date goal. The Army has landed 62,505 recruits through July, and needs 17,495 more in the final two months of fiscal 2006 to meet its goal.
The Army National Guard missed its July goal by 25 percent and stood 1 percent behind its year-to-date goal. The Army Reserve missed its July goal by 13 percent and also was 1 percent behind its year-to-date goal.
The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force made their July recruiting goals. The part-time Navy Reserve missed, and trailed its year-to-date goal by 16 percent.
*** Spara attributed the Army’s success to several steps taken to boost recruiting, including monetary enlistment incentives, raising the enlistment age limit to a person’s 42nd birthday, adding recruiters, and relaxing a ban on certain types of tattoos.
*** Some critics have questioned the quality of some recruits entering the Army. They note the Army is taking more recruits with criminal records, mostly misdemeanors; with body weight exceeding maximum body weight standards; and who fall into the military’s lowest acceptable quality category.
“They’re taking in less-qualified people,” said Lawrence Korb, an assistant secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan. “Now, what they (Army leaders) will argue is that they are still above the minimum standards.”
But Korb, an analyst with the Center for American Progress, said when the Army brings in more people who do not meet its highest standards, it increases the chances of misconduct in the ranks and of having a less-capable force.
*** Spara defended the quality of the new recruits, saying, “You know, it’s a question of whether you want a bagel or you want angel food cake. They’re both bread.”
“They are qualified medically, physically and morally,” he added
The U.S. military moved to an all-volunteer force in 1973, during the tumult of the Vietnam War era. Some analysts have said if the military cannot attract enough recruits, the United States might have to consider reinstating the draft.
2. WHAT ARTHUR MAGAZINE IS DOING TO COUNTER THE MILITARY’S RECRUITING EFFORTS.
“So Much Fire to Roast Human Flesh”
a benefit album curated by Josephine Foster
“All profits from sales of this compilation will be distributed to specific counter-military recruitment and pacifist organizations and programs. We hope to assist them in their efforts promoting peace and non-militarism in the United States.
“All of the musicians represented here are US citizens. Our voices join with many others across this land that freely question and openly oppose war.” — Josephine Foster
Track listing:
THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS – “Dragonfly” (live)
FEATHERS – “Dust”
MICHAEL HURLEY – “A Little Bit of Love for You”
MEG BAIRD – “Western Red Lily (Nunavut Diamond Dream)”
ANDREW BAR – “Don’t Trust That Man”
GOATGIRL – “President Combed His Hair”
DEVENDRA BANHART – “I Know Some Souls” (demo)
KATH BLOOM – “Baby Let It Come Down On Me”
CHARLIE NOTHING – “Fuck You and Your Stupid Wars”
DIANE CLUCK – “A Phoenix and Doves”
JOHN ALLINGHAM & ANN TILEY – “Big War”
JOSEPHINE FOSTER – “Would You Pave the Road?”
ANGELS OF LIGHT – “Destroyer”
RACHEL MASON – “The War Clerk’s Lament”
PAJO – “War Is Dead”
MV & EE – “Powderfinger”
KATHLEEN BAIRD – “Prayer for Silence”
LAY ALL OVER IT – “A Place”
Cover artwork by Fred Tomaselli.
All labor donated.
Edition of 1,000.
Available NOW NOW NOW NOW — purchase with PayPal at
$12US/14Can/17World postpaid
Available in coming days at stores serviced by Revolver Distribution.
Info on Josephine Foster:
http://www.myspace.com/josephinefoster
You can’t hold a slaughter if there aren’t any butchers,
Arthur Militant Peaceheads
Los Angeles, California
Arthur Magazine 