In an attempt to reach its recruiting goals amid the Iraq war, the U.S. Army today raised its maximum enlistment age by another two years. People can now volunteer to serve in the active-duty Army or the part-time Army Reserve and National Guard up to their 42nd birthday. Reuters:
It marked the second time this year the Army has boosted the maximum age for new volunteers, raising the ceiling from age 35 to 40 in January before now adding two more years.
More than three years into the war, the Army continues to provide the bulk of U.S. ground forces in Iraq. Army officials have acknowledged the war has made some recruits and their families wary about volunteering.
The Army Reserve, along with the regular Army and Army National Guard, missed its fiscal 2005 recruiting goal, and it currently lags its fiscal 2006 year-to-date goal by 4 percent.
Army Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, the new Army Reserve chief, said he does not expect the Reserve to reach its goal of 36,000 recruits for fiscal 2006, which ends September 30.
"We think we'll come in right around that 96 (percent), 97 percent range," Stultz told reporters.
The Army Reserve is a part-time force of federal troops who can be summoned to active duty by the Pentagon in times of need. The Army National Guard is another part-time force whose soldiers are under the command of state governors for use in emergencies such as natural disasters, but also can be mobilized to active duty by the Pentagon
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
And your opinion is?
--Mike
It is another sign that our military is dnagerously overstretched. We cannot afford the burden of so many troops in Iraq.
I guess my real question is, why isn't it up there? The point of a blog isn't to repost articles (or parts of articles), but to relate your opinion, get feedback, and either support your opinion or change your opinion.
--Mike
Now there's no excuse for some war supporters ot to join up and risk their lives... Don't hold your breathe though.
I dont care what age people can be, as long as there is never a draft again. I will move to canada if they did that, i would never want my boyfriend in the army.
There will never be a draft. War has become far too unpopular, and the drug supply is too great (remember Vietnam?)
--Mike