European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pvt. 1 Chris Wilson Hope they pick me. Pal 1 Rodney Ned fit a getting somewhat thinking about re enlisting then pit worry. Cutbacks Cloud future for new soldiers by Ron Jensen staff writer w Hue pvt. Rodney Helaire was putting his signature at the Bottom of his enlistment papers last fall serious minded men in East Germany were plotting to throw a Monkey wrench into his plans. A i was looking to make some kind of career of the military a says Helaire of new Orleans. I figured it would be the Best move i could make.1 but then the Berlin Wall went to pieces. The Iron curtain parted. The cold War became a memory. And the United states began to wonder about the need for  a Large military budget. So the . Army a the largest of the three services and the one most affected by All of this a began to seriously talk about troop cuts that a bureaucratic talk that Means Helaire a Best move maybe Wasny to. On the morning in Early june that Helaire and a few dozen other new soldiers arrived at the 21st replacement in at Rhein main a West Germany for european assignments the stars and stripes ran this Banner headline voluntary Early out program for 58,000  announced. Just As Helaire and his compatriots Are coming in the military is trying to get people out. Helaire however is putting his worry on hold. If in a really getting somewhere and thinking about re enlisting then in a worry a he says. Quot if i think in a progressing a lot ill worry  1 pvt. 2 Lindell Dright of Mansfield la., decided when he was in the ninth Grade that the army would be his life. So far it has been just six months with no certainty about the future. A tomorrow is not guaranteed Quot he says while waiting for his assignment. He knows things have changed since he enlisted last fall. He has heard the talk and seen the headlines. A a it a got me thinking of alternatives he says. He will become a civilian Mechanic if his military dream fades he says. Spec. Kyle Fischer Wasny to thinking of a military career when he joined eight months ago. Quot but now that in a in i think its pretty Cool Quot says the Vero Beach Fla. Native Quot retiring at 37 a that a  with his new Outlook however comes a new concern a will he be Able to have a career if he wants it Quot in a kind of worried a he says. A i Don t want to have 15 years in and have them say a Well sorry but we have to let you  Quot y that s a legitimate concern says the spokesman for the . Army recruiting come Headquarters in Illinois. And recruiters Are having to answer that question when talking with a Young Man or woman who wants an army career. Quot the general answer is that there Are still opportunities for advancement promotion professional scholarship and a career a says it. Col. Alexander Angelle. Quot the caveat is that it will be More  the army is enlisting 85,000 people this year Down from the previous year s target of 120,000. That Means soldiers will be vying for fewer slots and against a higher Caliper of Competition Angelle says. He suggests a new Soldier work hard stay out of trouble and in physically Good shape take available educational courses and see How he stacks up against the others when time for pvt. 1 Pat Motherly promotion comes along. This is the same pattern that has existed for years Quot he says. A a it a just More  Angelle says it is not known if the recent reports about cutbacks in the army Are slowing the Stream of interested people into recruiting offices. Quot we done to have any data that would support that Quot he says. Quot it might be possible that some Are failing to enlist because of that  but Angelle has a message for them our doors Are still  of 1 s-6nt but a news release that says a we re still hiring a a the says. Comimo one of those doing the hiring is sgt. 1st class William Martinsen a Recruiter in Frankfurt. He says the army s increased requirements for enlistment Means that the recruits Are better so they la have a better Chance of Success. Quot we re recruiting nothing but High Quality a he says. Quot i Tell them that their chances of making the army a career Are Good because they re High  yes he admits the Competition will be Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes pvt. 1 Michael Rucker have Given an army career some thought. Right now not it looks favourable. My is enlisting only85,000people this year Down from 120,000 the year before but one official says Quot our doors Are still  a in -&Quot.&Quot. But there Are also All those people o joined in the past 10 years before e requirements were raised. They Are the ones who will be unable compete with the new recruits. Those Are the people who will be acted by the cuts Quot he says. Pvt. 1 Nichelle Jones of Atlanta ga., s been in the army for four months. E and her Recruiter talked about the cutbacks she says Quot but it was t a major  she says she wants now Only to finish her first four year tenure before thinking about More years in uniform. Pvt. 2 Tim Collins of Anderson ind., has been in the army for 10 months and wants a career. But he has doubts about that possibility. Quot in be been hearing that my military occupational speciality is going to be in turmoil Quot says the ammunition specialist. He Hopes hell be retrained but he worries that hell be Quot thrown  pvt. Michael Rucker joined the army six months ago because his finances pvt. 1 Nichelle Jones made it hard to go to College in his Hometown of Bridgeport it. Quot so far its going Well a lot better than i thought it would a he says of his Brief tenure. Quot i have Given an army career some thought. Right now it looks  but he adds he knows that might not be possible pvt. Pat Motherly of Summers s.c., signed up for the army last halloween. She does no to think the army will play trick or treat with her anytime soon. Quot they re not looking toward the e-1s because they figure we re at the Bottom a she says. She d like to stay in pvt. 2 Lindell Dright 20 years but says Shell be Content if she can finish 15 years. Pvt. Fred Robbins of port Arthur tex., joined the army so he can afford College but he does no to like this talk of cutbacks. Quot i done to like to see the army cutting Back a he says. Quot i think it should stay at a standstill. Cutting Back too much will Hurt  plus he says Quot after four years i might decide to stay  and then there s pvt. Chris Wilson of Midland Texas. He s been a Soldier for six months and figures that s Long enough. He does no to mind All this talk of cutbacks and Early outs Quot i Hope they pick me Quot he says. 20,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 15