Recruiting Off as Military Image Is in Retreat

WASHINGTON — The military is losing the qualified young people it needs to fill its ranks because of falling advertising budgets and misconceptions about defense cutbacks, personnel officers said Tuesday.

Many potential enlistees believe “the military is not hiring or, worse yet, is going out of business,” said Lt. Gen. Matthew T. Cooper, deputy chief of staff for manpower and reserve affairs in the Marine Corps, in testimony before a House panel.

Nicolai Timenes Jr., principal director of military manpower and personnel policy in the Pentagon, said budget cuts have meant fewer recruiters available to talk to American youth.

Timenes told the House Armed Services military forces and personnel subcommittee that the defense budget for 1994 provides $108 million for advertising, down from $152 million in 1991.

The Pentagon has been criticized for spending millions on advertising when it is carrying out a major reduction in force strength. But Timenes said the armed forces still need to recruit 200,000 people for active duty service this year to fill vacancies and maintain a young, future-oriented force.

He said a survey of young people’s attitudes toward enlistment showed that 37% in 1992 were influenced by reports of military cutbacks, up from 21% in 1991.

Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Carney, deputy chief of staff for Army personnel, said youth interest in enlisting in the Army dropped 31% in two years. He said black interest was down 45% since 1989.

Lt. Gen. Billy J. Boles, deputy chief of staff for personnel in the Air Force, said the Air Force had cut recruiters by 17% since 1990, and had cut its advertising budget 65% in the past three years.

“The volunteer force is a fragile one. I just hope we don’t break it.”