WASHINGTON
The number of Blacks joining the military has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began. Other job prospects are soaring and relatives of potential recruits increasingly are discouraging them from joining the armed services.
According to data obtained by The Associated Press, the decline covers all four military services for active duty recruits. The drop is even more dramatic when National Guard and Reserve recruiting is included.
The findings reflect the growing unpopularity of the wars, particularly among the family members of potential recruits.
Walking past the U.S. Army recruiting station in downtown Washington, D.C., this past week, Sean Glover said he has done all he can to talk Black relatives out of joining the military.
“I don’t think it’s a good time. I don’t support the government’s efforts here and abroad,” said the 36-year-old Glover. “There’s other ways you can pay for college. There’s other ways you can get your life together. Joining the Army, the military, comes at a very high price.”
The message comes as no surprise to the Pentagon. At the Defense Department, efforts are underway to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps so the country can better wage what the military believes will be a long battle against terrorism.
