According to David Newman's Sociology, people with few opportunities are likely to join the military. Newman states, "To people with limited educational and occupational opportunities, military service holds out the promise of stable employment, comprehensive insurance coverage, a living wage, free schooling, the development of marketable skills, and an escape from poverty." People living in economically depressed, rural areas are much more likely to join the military (Newman, 2010).
According to a Washington Post article titled "Youths in Rural U.S. Are Drawn To Military" by Ann Scott Tyson, people in sparsely populated areas are much more likely to join the military than those in major cities. In fact, 40% of enlistees come from the South and 24% from the West. Many people in these rural areas are financially limited. "Nearly two-thirds of Army recruits in 2004 came from counties in which median household income is below the U.S. median," according to Tyson. People are being "pushed" from their communities into the military, which offers stable employment.
Recruiters are targeting these areas. For example, the military had its worst recruiting year in 2005; but in the unemployment-stricken area of Martinsville, PA (unemployment 12.1%), recruiters signed up 94% of their targeted recruits. One recruiter, Mr. Barber, in Martinsville attributed his success to the fact that "The job market is dwindling, and it's hard for a young man or woman to find something other than the fast-food business" (Tyson, 2005).
Sadly, American casualties in recruits from these rural areas are high. According to David Newman, "By 2006, 34% of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq came from the poorest quarter of families, while only 17% came from the richest quarter" (Newman 2010). In this way, the government benefits from the economic struggle of those in rural areas. Though many people join the military out of patriotism, it's a fair prediction to say that as long as there are few other options, people will choose the military.
Newman, David. Sociology. Ed 8. 2010.
Tyson, Ann Scott. "Youths in Rural U.S. Are Drawn To Military." The Washington Post. 4 November 2005. Online http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110302528.html
I have always found this aspect of the military system very frustrating despite my understanding of why it is the case. I think recruitment age has a really large part to play as well. In high school the world seems huge and intimidating and signing up for the armed forces is an option that is presented as the best way to make a living for a lot of kids.
ReplyDeleteThis was one aspect of the reading that got me sad and disappointed. Could it be that they recruit the so called military personnels from low-class families to more dangerous areas of the war zone?
ReplyDeleteI don't think I like it either.. the articles I read on it didn't shine a negative light on the practice, though. I hope they don't use lower class people in more dangerous areas, but who knows? My high school only had about 150 kids, but recruiters came to chat about once a month. You'd think their time would have been better spent at a large school.
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