WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsLaid off workers not seeing military as option

Laid off workers not seeing military as option

ROCK COUNTY (WKOW) -- Military recruiters say their numbers are as high as ever, but the recession is not playing as big a role as you might think.

In Rock County, where unemployment is more than 6.5 percent, recruiters they are not seeing much interest from people affected by plant closures.

Regardless, in November, every branch of the military hit their recruiting goals. The Navy was the only branch not to exceed its goals. The Army National Guard had the best performance recruiting 113 percent of its goal.

"I don't know if I could definitely attribute it to one (thing) or the other, but the important thing, from my perspective, is you continually have young men and women willing to step forward to serve their country," remarked Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, Wisconsin Assistant Adjutant General.

Statistics don't explain why people are joining the military. Recruiters say everyone who walks into their offices is looking for something different.

"A lot of them come in for the intangibles. They want the pride of belonging, they want to be a Marine, they want to serve their country," said Staff Sergeant Matthew Cartier, a Marine recruiter.

Sergeant First Class Michael La'Haye, an Army recruiter, said "You have a mix of people that are coming in, either for the job options or career options or education options, or you have your true, so called, patriots that want to come in and do something for the country."

The average age of a person joining the military is 20. Meanwhile, recruiters have observed most people being affected by layoffs are usually older. Many of them might not even meet the military's maximum age requirements. That ranges from 27 for the Air Force to 42 for the Army.

Only thirty percent of the US adult population meets the physical and health requirements for enlistment. Beyond that, many are disqualified for educational requirements or felony convictions. La'Haye says he has to turn away about four people for every one he is able to sign up.

"(There is) a stereotype where the army will take anyone with law failures, no that's totally false," explained La'Haye.

Anderson remarked, "While everybody could be laid off, not everyone could be in the military."