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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 11, 2005 A pedestrian is reflected in the U.S. Army recruiting office window at the Medford Center. Local Army recruiters fell far short of their goal. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Army recruitment falls off here Recruiters hit less than 35 percent of goals for Medford this past year; other services do fine By PARIS ACHEN and DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune U.S. Army recruitment in Medford hit the lowest mark of any location in Oregon during the past year, reaching less than 35 percent of its target. At the Medford recruiting station 30 soldiers signed up, though the Army had aimed for 87 during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Gary Stauffer, public affairs officer for the Portland-based U.S. Army 6th Recruiting Battalion, blamed the low number on insufficient recruiting staff. "If you don’t have enough recruiters you can’t talk to as many people," he said. "For new recruiters, they have to learn how to go out and sell the Army." Other recruiting offices reported no slowdown in sign-ups. Advertisement Sgt. Teddy Rose at the Medford Marine recruiting station said he had seven new soldiers last month, ahead of the goal of six. "The Marines here in Medford — we meet our mission every month," he said, noting that in Oregon, recruiting has met goals for the past 90 months. Rose said he thinks the Army recruiting station has five recruiters. "We have two recruiters and we don’t have a problem meeting our mission," he said. A recruiter at the U.S. Air Force recruiting station in Medford, next door to the Army station, said his office had exceeded goals for the past year. He said he didn’t have the authority to release the goals. However, the recruiter, who declined to be identified, said the goals were lowered last year. The Portland-based U.S. Army 6th Recruiting Battalion covers southwest Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Marshall Islands. Stauffer said the battalion recruited 1,800 soldiers for the Army for the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. The goal was 2,727, so the Army in the region achieved 66 percent of its target number. The Grants Pass Army recruiting station fared much better than Medford, signing up 26 soldiers during the past fiscal year. Its goal was 39. The Gresham station had the highest recruitment in the state. Nationwide, the Army hasn’t been able to meet recruitment goals of 80,000 set by Congress in the middle of the fiscal year. Sgt. 1st Class Scott Irving, with the Army National Guard, said he hasn’t had any problems recruiting officer candidates. Still, he added, "I wouldn’t say it’s been the easiest couple of years." Overall, he said that because of demands on the Guard with efforts in Iraq and after hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, "We’re stretched pretty thin." Irving, who teaches military science at Southern Oregon University, said most Guard members who come back from the war believe progress is being made, though a few don’t. "You’ll run into somebody who did not like what is going on and didn’t support the war," he said. Despite reports to the contrary, he said, "Our morale is high." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Army recruitment falls off here ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s