RI jobless turning to military
With unemployment high and no sign of easing soon, U.S. military recruiters are having little trouble signing up recruits.
In 2009, the Marines were just seven recruits short of their annual goal in Rhode Island, shipping 101 applicants to Parris Island, S.C., for boot camp. So far this year, 56 Marine applicants from Rhode Island have shipped to boot camp. The Marines' goal this year is 114.
Maj. Andrew M. Henning, commander of Army recruiting in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, says job opportunities in the area have fallen and young men and women graduating high school and college are looking at other options.
Nationally, the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy say recruitment is at 100 percent of the military's goal.
