ROTC Enrollment On Campuses Surges

[kandace]

The number of college students in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps has grown 50 percent since the 2005-06 school year, with the Army outpacing its goals for minting new officers as it sees a surge of patriotism at schools across the country.

Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Army saw national ROTC enrollment jump from 28,470 during the 2000-01 school year to more than 30,800 two years later. But as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq waged on, the number steadily dropped to a low of 24,312 in 2005-06.

The Army says it is now outpacing its mission, after years of falling short of meeting its commission goal or barely beating it. During the 2011-12 school year, the Army commissioned 5,880 officers and reservists, surpassing its goal of 5,350. That number is expected to increase in coming years, as large incoming classes mature.

[dsummoner]

They are in for a rude awakening when the DoD cuts hit.

[slapshot]

Patriotism may be driving some of the interest, but the high cost of tuition and the poor economy for the parents who usually foot the tuition bill, is also a contributor.

[can you hear me now!]

They are in for a rude awakening when the DoD cuts hit.

the AF is already thinning their ranks....the plus side for anyone who takes this route is they do get an education, which is not a bad thing at all....

[dsummoner]

the AF is already thinning their ranks....the plus side for anyone who takes this route is they do get an education, which is not a bad thing at all....

Agreed on the emphasized. The cuts, however, are coming and some are suggesting even more cuts beyond what the DoD itself has suggested.

Given the clout wielded by the Center for American Regress... one may very well see the following:

But the report recommend a range of cuts in areas such as nuclear weapons and research, and criticized the “military industrial complex” for successfully pushing astronomically priced programs even as most Americans say they want less defense spending.

The report also endorsed the Pentagon’s 2012 budget plan to begin reducing military pay increases – which it says have pushed military salaries thousands of dollars above civilian equivalents -- starting in 2015. The change would save $16.5 billion over five years, the report says. An additional $15 billion could be saved during that time by raising Tricare fees for working-age retirees, as well as other changes. Reform of the retirement system by replacing the current plan with a 401k style arrangement could save $13 billion over five years, and $70 billion by 2042, the report said.

[jessup270]

Surely the miserable economy is driving many students into ROTC.

Educational benefits and a sure job upon graduation, looks good considering the job prospects under the Obama led economy.

[kandace]

Surely the miserable economy is driving many students into ROTC.

Educational benefits and a sure job upon graduation, looks good considering the job prospects under the Obama led economy.

The diminished prospects of dying in never ending, directionless wars are no doubt contributing factors as well.

[jessup270]

The diminished prospects of dying in never ending, directionless wars are no doubt contributing factors as well.

Good points for sure.

George Bush senior and Clinton were both wise leaders when it came to war. Neither would allow our military forces to be bogged down for years in military conflicts.

George Bush senior tossed Saddam out of Kuwait in a matter of days and than was smart enough to end our commit of blood and treasure in the area.

George W. Bush was lead about by Dick Chenney on the matters of war and committed blood and treasure for 10 years in Iraq.

One TRILLION dollars, 40,000 wounded and over 4,000 dead to end the reign of Saddam. In reality one drone would have done the job.

[kandace]

And let's not forget the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, maimed, and traumatized by a wanton act of aggression against their country.

[dsummoner]

Along with the trillions of Serbians and Libyans killed by the US blundering into places where it had no business being and no actual national security interests at stake.

[can you hear me now!]

Agreed on the emphasized. The cuts, however, are coming and some are suggesting even more cuts beyond what the DoD itself has suggested.

Given the clout wielded by the Center for American Regress... one may very well see the following:

There are all kinds of cost cutting measures going on throughout the DoD....I get to hear about them everyday....some are sorely needed, some are a little higher on the risk management scale...

this type of budget cutting is not new....cutting back on defense started under GHW Bush...remember the peace dividend? Clinton continued the practice...all of that changed 9/11/2001...however, with the cessation of "hostile" activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need to rebuild is no longer valid...

cutting the DoD budget is really an exercise of political wills...the Military/Industrial complex has thrived on congress overrriding the Pentagon when it comes to new programs...

there does come a point where you have sufficient weaponry to defend yourself against any known military threat on the planet...

there is one growth area in DoD...cyber....unlike a physical war, the cyber war requires lots of brain power.....

[dsummoner]

There are all kinds of cost cutting measures going on throughout the DoD....I get to hear about them everyday....some are sorely needed, some are a little higher on the risk management scale...

this type of budget cutting is not new....cutting back on defense started under GHW Bush...remember the peace dividend? Clinton continued the practice...all of that changed 9/11/2001...however, with the cessation of "hostile" activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need to rebuild is no longer valid...

The 'peace dividend' was a fallacy (as was to be expected). Such is what comes from a lack of strategic vision and intelligence on the part of the US government (regardless of who holds office; a most excellent job on the part of Carter/Ray gun in relighting the fire of expansionist Sunni Islam). I do agree that there are things to be cut but this requires, first, a change in US foreign policy objectives (otherwise one will be seeing Mogadishu repeated).

cutting the DoD budget is really an exercise of political wills...the Military/Industrial complex has thrived on congress overrriding the Pentagon when it comes to new programs...

there does come a point where you have sufficient weaponry to defend yourself against any known military threat on the planet...

The use/misuse of the US military has long been one of other things (e.g. democracy spreading, R2P, meddling and other similar crapola) besides national defense. Such is why foreign policy objectives need to change first (otherwise one is left with a military that is unable to meet the grandiose demands placed upon it).

there is one growth area in DoD...cyber....unlike a physical war, the cyber war requires lots of brain power.....

My copy of 'Statistical Methods in Counterterrorism' (differentiated from 'Mathematical Methods in Counterterrorism' which is turning out to be a fascinating read) arrived today. Interestingly enough, the vast majority of the book deals with biometric identification, biometric surveillance and digital infrastructure protection. Thankfully, the math (especially on time series analysis) is directly portable from biomedical signal analysis.

[can you hear me now!]

The 'peace dividend' was a fallacy (as was to be expected). Such is what comes from a lack of strategic vision and intelligence on the part of the US government (regardless of who holds office; a most excellent job on the part of Carter/Ray gun in relighting the fire of expansionist Sunni Islam). I do agree that there are things to be cut but this requires, first, a change in US foreign policy objectives (otherwise one will be seeing Mogadishu repeated).



The use/misuse of the US military has long been one of other things (e.g. democracy spreading, R2P, meddling and other similar crapola) besides national defense. Such is why foreign policy objectives need to change first (otherwise one is left with a military that is unable to meet the grandiose demands placed upon it).



My copy of 'Statistical Methods in Counterterrorism' (differentiated from 'Mathematical Methods in Counterterrorism' which is turning out to be a fascinating read) arrived today. Interestingly enough, the vast majority of the book deals with biometric identification, biometric surveillance and digital infrastructure protection. Thankfully, the math (especially on time series analysis) is directly portable from biomedical signal analysis.

you'll get no argument from me on the lack of strategic vision and misuse of policy...history speaks for itself...

your reading materials make my head hurt :-) (but I like your papers)...