European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 25, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Volunteering opinions on today s army by Wayne v. Hall staff writer since the All Volunteer army started 20 year Sago questions have simmered Over the Quality of  the draft yank the Best Talent fro America s Pool docs the All Volunteer system produce the Best Force the Best soldiers in the army were the draftees said sgt. Maj. William Burke stationed in Hanau Germany. Guys did t mind working Back  Burke joined the army in 1970. Today people come in the army because it s just a Job. Communication Between leaders is bad senior noncommissioned officers Lack the knowl Csc that cos had in the past. This has caused a loss of critical skills that arc needed to make the army work. Soldiers today arc highly educated and sophisticated but they arc not workers. They Lac William Burke the inia Tive soldiers had in the past. We be become an army that is accustomed to luxury. It s technical and full of smart people but there Are no  another Hanau sergeant major Herman Puni haole was drafted in 1967. Today s soldiers Are better education Wise highly motivated by a steady income and have some sense of patriotism he said. The army emphasizes Edu Herman Punihaole today s soldiers Are better education Wise. Have some Flentse of  cation both before entering and while  Punihaole noted that soldiers who stay in Benefit the army by applying the education they have gained. They re giving part of it Back to the  of the different incentives offered to prospective volunteers Job experience travel and Money for col lege education Are just a few. The reason i chose to stay in the army was for the travel. It s one of the things i like about the army Punihaole said. A High school graduate interested in joining the army today who scores so percent or better on the armed services vocational aptitude Battery test and qualifies for certain jobs can qualify for the army College fund. For a two year enlistment a Soldier can earn $20,000 for College $25,000 Over three years and $30,000 for four years of service said sgt. 1st class continued from Page 5 demeaned the accomplishments of Blacks in the Mili that s not to say a Case can t be made for having All Young people give something Back to their coun try in some Way. Moskos is a longtime proponent of National service and one of the chief architects of the Clinton administration s proposal that is being de bated in the House. The plan would give youths aged 17 and older $5,000 a year for higher education or Job training in Exchange for Community service. Participants would also get a wage and would have up to 85 percent of their health and child care benefits paid for by the government. I think some form of service for All Young men and women whether in the military or doing something else would be a positive thing Moskos said. Bandow also supports the idea that people should serve their coun try in some Way. And we should be talking about How to create an needs to do which is safeguard the National defense. And forcing people into uniform is the wrong Way to do  some military officials worry that a National serv ice plan May make their recruiting Job harder but Moskos thinks it would actually help the military. A lot of kids from Well off families would opt for the military Given a Choice Between that and Community service he said. Not to sound too cold about it but if it was a Choice Between taking care of an alzheimer s patient for a year or serving a stint in the military learning a skill and getting to travel a bit i think a lot of kids would choose the  Chuck Vonch army advertising investment trend ethic of service that reaches the privileged As Well As the no Privi legend he said. But As far As the military is concerned the Bottom line has to be How to prepare the military to do what it 89 dollars in millions 73.2 71.8 99 40 48.5 40.8 28.8 30 1mi 1990 1911 1991 1993 1994 Harold Martin source. Department or Uei Ense James Terrell station. Commander of the . Army recruiting Sta Tion in Frankfurt Ger Many. Despite the draw Down of forces the army is still hiring. Interested graduates can even Contact recruiters Here in eur  How do soldiers coming in compare with Vietnam Era. Draftees Punihaole a 26-year Veteran said when i was a draftee i went straight into a conflict Vietnam. It s hard to say How disciplined draftees were. In the Early 1970s the War and the military were not popu Lar. Most people brought into the army then had a lower level of  discipline level has. Seemed to increase with the maturity level of the sol  Why Volunteer when i joined in 1983, there were no openings in the Job Market said sgt. Dale Mcginness a native of Lincoln neb., stationed in Hanau. A person s desire to join is increased when the opportunities offered get better said spec Dave Beall a Mechanic who joined the army in 1990. The army s not for everyone though. It All de pends on what a person  people Are still trying to guess How current is sues facing tomorrow s army will effect the enlistment decisions of probable volunteers. Key issues include the draw Down and the potential lifting of the ban on homosexuals. Tomorrow s army will be a smaller Force of i. In that is More rapidly de Sonj Hines Playa blk said staff sgt. Sonja mines stationed in Hanau. It will be filled with smarter soldiers most of which will probably be College  with the draw Down going on the army is still a stable career Choice said pfc. Harold Martin in Hanau. The army is How this nation was founded and will stay number one. However i Don t think that it will Ever be the Quality it used to be. One negative effect the draw Down is having is that there Are too Many cuts. Most of the experienced soldiers Are being Cut. Why keep bringing so Many new people in when they re putting so Many experienced people out All the talk about the proposed lift of the ban on homosexuals is going to Hurt a lot of people regard less if they re homosexual or not Mcginness said. Most of the homophobia in the military has been influenced by the me Dia s playing up of the Issue. I had a former Roommate who was Gay and i never knew it u until he was being put out of the  lifting the ban on homosexuals will have Little effect on soldiers serving today Puni haole said. I Don t think it la Hurt the mor ale of the soldiers _. _. Overall. If the com Dale Mcginn Mander in chief says it s to be done it will be  tomorrow s Soldier is one who has the desire to Excel whether he is going to make the army a career or  Mcginness said. Said Punihaole i Don t really know if tomorrow s army can handle All the missions and future mis Sions As Small As we Are. It will rely on technology and technology u based on Money. Can we continue to upgrade i Don t think  Page 6 sunday july 25, 1993