[Mb-civic] CBC News - U.S. MILITARY WANTS TO ACCEPT OLDER RECRUITS

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U.S. MILITARY WANTS TO ACCEPT OLDER RECRUITS
WebPosted Fri Jul 22 14:40:02 2005

---The United States is looking at a plan to jumpstart its fading army
recruitment drive by increasing the age limit for people enlisting
from 35 to 42.

The Pentagon asked Congress this week to consider a proposal that would
apply to all branches of the service, said Pentagon spokeswoman Lt.-Col.
Ellen Krenke.

The move could add millions of potential recruits as the U.S. military
falls short on personnel to serve in places such as Iraq.

The American air force, navy and marines have all met their recruitment
goals, but the Army National Guard has missed targets for the past nine
months and is 21 per cent behind so far this year.

The regular army is 14 per cent behind for the year.

 INDEPTH: Casualties in the Iraq war

The army provides most of the 140,000 troops deployed in Iraq, but the
mission also depends on the National Guard and army reserves.

Those two bodies already have an age limit of 39 that applies to recruits
with previous military experience.

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