Gone are the days of draft cards and empty recruitment promises. The U.S. Army is now filling its ranks through incentives, including sign-up bonuses totaling up to $40,000 and paying up to $70,000 for college expenses.Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brodeur, battalion commander for the U.S. Army Denver Recruiting Battalion, said the new incentives are offered to qualified candidates between the ages of 18 and 40. He was in Falcon to get the message out to potential candidates wishing to join the Army Special Forces.Brodeur said a deep commitment to “service to country” is the No. 1 reason recruits join the Army, but today the Army is paying them what they’re worth as well.When a young adult shows an interest in joining the Army, Brodeur said they prefer the interview take place at the dining room table. They have to be comfortable with their decision, he said, because a great deal of training and education is needed before they reach their first duty station.And Brodeur said that parents, grandparents and friends are what recruiters call “influencers.””These people will have a big say in whether or not a young person will sign up for the Army,” he said. It’s important they are a part of the recruitment process.”Recruiters cannot make any promises, because they don’t know if a person is going to qualify for specific programs,” Brodeur said. But once a person does qualify, the Amy will state in writing the bonus and position an applicant will receive.First, a recruit must pass the physical and legal background check. The “Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Scores” are then entered into a computer, and all the open positions they qualify for be available online, Brodeur said.Not all recruits receive the $40,000 sign-up bonus, which is paid in installments. The bonus a person receives depends on his or her scores and education. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree automatically qualifies for an $8,000 bonus. Additional bonus money is added based on job descriptions.Brodeur said Army personnel have nine weeks of basic training and then begin job-specific training for anywhere from 12 weeks to a year. After their training, they are assigned to their first duty station and 30 days later will receive the first installment of their bonus, usually amounting to $10,000. The remainder of the bonus is paid annually over the next three years.The Army College Fund, which is separate from the sign-up bonus, also is a great sign-up incentive Brodeur said. He said he likes the program because it is paid directly to students enrolled in college. They may use the money to pay for any college related expense, including computers and day care expenses for their children while they are attending college. The college benefit pays up to $70,000 and covers 36 months of college education at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.Brodeur said he thinks the new incentives will allow the Army to maintain its high standards and recruit an educated work force needed for the increasingly technically advanced U.S. Army.
