Posted at: 10/20/2009 6:48 PM | WHEC.com
By: Lynette Adams

Military, RPD see jump in recruitment

More people are signing up to serve in the military. The downturn in the economy is forcing some to turn to new careers, and now both the military and the Rochester Police Department are seeing a jump in the number of recruits.

"I graduate high school, go to the air force, then go to college."

Keith Arnold is a 10th grader at Northeast College Prep in Rochester. His future plans are already set: he's headed to the military. And the sluggish economy has helped to solidfy his goals.

"I don't want to go down that road and get a good job and end up losing it," says Arnold. "So that's another reason I'm going to enjoy the Air Force when I get older."

The military is hearing that from a number of it's new recruits. People who ordinarily would not consider a military career are taking a second look. Nationwide recruitment numbers are through the roof. This year the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corp and the U.S. Air Force have all met 100 percent of their goals. The Army is exceeding it's goal by 8 percent.

Tech Sergeant Michael Lear is a recruiter for the U.S. Air Force. He says he's had to go after applicants in the past. Now they're coming to him.

"What I'm seeing is the military is option two. I definitely say it was a successful recruitment year."

The Rochester Police Department gives two officer exams each year. Recuitment officer Jesse Green says this has been a banner year for the RPD.

"You can only take the test once a year, so the second part of the year we expect the numbers to be a little lower," says Green. "They were a little higher than we expected. Again I'm thinking the recession had a lot to do with it."

The Pentagon says this is the first time the U.S. military has met all of it's goals since creating an all volunteer force in 1973.

Lear says while the economy is playing a role, he believes people are also joining for the opportunity to serve their country.