Tuesday, October 9, 2001

Military recruiting numbers up
Local Armed Forces officials say training policies will not change
By James Zwilling
Staff Reporter

Armed Forces recruiters across the nation have seen an increase in Americans signing up to fight since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America, local officials said.

Officials from local recruiting agencies said Monday that while they do expect to see continued interest in military service in the wake of U.S. military action in the Middle East, they will not change any of their recruitment policies.

Erin Munger/PHOTO EDITOR Hugo Vigil (right), 18, of Fort Worth, enlists in the Marine Corps guided by Gunnery Sgt. Elliott Martinez, 36, of Fort Worth, while others wait to enlist.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Sean Fields, said people sign up for the Armed Forces for various reasons.

“Some people sign up for travel, tuition or job skill benefits,” he said. “Some sign up because of patriotism.”

Fields said his Arlington office has seen an influx in recruits since the attacks on the United States and said he believes they will see this trend continue as America combats terrorism.

Fields said the Marine Corps will welcome recruits and will have the same expectations of them as any recruit who signed up prior to Sept. 11.

“Some people come in ready to go to the Middle East,” he said. “But our goals and values are still the same. We make sure the recruits know that they will go through the same training that everyone else goes through.”

Marine Corps training begins with 13 weeks of recruit training followed by 17 days of combat training. Then, after a 10-day paid leave, recruits participate in military occupational training which could last anywhere from three to five weeks to more than a year.

Lt. Col. James House, professor of military science, said the goals and values of the TCU Army ROTC program have not changed.

“We’ve not changed our syllabus at all,” House said. “Our message is still selfless service and service to the country. Even before the attacks we looked for the same three things in all our students: scholarship, athletics and leadership. That has not changed.”

House said the students he works with are in a different position than the enlisted ranks.

“You could be enlisted personnel in the Army within a month if you wanted to,” he said. “But that’s not what our program is about.”

Instead, the officer corps program trains students to enter the service as second lieutenant officers, he said. House said about 70 percent of all officers in the Army come from these officer corps programs like ROTC.

House said the Army ROTC program teaches conventional ground combat skills, caring for the soldier and leadership — basic tools House said are needed for survival.

House said he thinks the terrorist attacks and the U.S. military action in the Middle East is having an effect on his students.

“People are much more apt to listen now,” he said. “There is a greater receptiveness and understanding about the importance of service now.”

Todd Anderson Army ROTC student batallion commander and senior history major said his feelings toward military service have not changed since the attacks on America but he said he is anxious to begin his service in the military.

“There is a real sense of urgency,” Anderson said. “I feel like I’m sitting around with my hands tied. I want to be out there helping my country.”

James Zwilling
j.g.zwilling@student.tcu.edu