Economy

For about 12 years, I worked in and around military recruiting as a Naval officer.

One thing I learned over and over again, is that if the Navy made their recruitment goal easily and quickly, the economy was probably not doing well. If the Navy failed to make goal, the economy was doing outstanding.

This does not apply to the other services or the Marines. The Army usually never makes goal because they need so many people but sometimes they change the goal numbers to give them a win. The Marines are a brand that is highly specific and only attracts a certain type of person. And the Air Force has a waiting list. They need less people and provide outstanding educational and morale opportunities for enlisted.

Yeah, for the Navy it is the reverse of what most people expect. But people join the Navy in droves when the job market sucks because the Navy has large numbers to fill and does provide educational opportunities that are easily transferred to civilian jobs.

Right now the Navy made their annual goal 3 months ahead of time. Our economy is in serious trouble.