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SAN DIEGO -- The Marine Corps has been looking for, and finding, a few good men since 1775. Recruiting has been climbing with their successes. This year almost 100 percent of the males recruited in the Western Recruiting Region are alpha males and the attrition rate is historically low for the Marine Corps.
“The recruiters are given a mission for the quality of future Marines, and they achieved that mission, much like every mission Marines are given,” said Lt. Col. Arthur Woods, deputy, Assistant Chief of Staff Recruiting.
Applicants are categorized by their Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery score and their high school educations.
If an applicant scores between 50 and 99 on their ASVAB they are considered to be in the alpha range; if they score between 31 and 49, they are bravo range.
There are three tiers for the high school education. Tier one is a normal high school graduate; tier two is a graduate that has participated in an alternative program; and tier three is a high school dropout.
From October 2010 until May 31, 2011, the WRR has 75.7 percent of their applicants as Alpha males and 99.98 percent are tier-one applicants.
“We are looking for applicants who are fit, did well in school, and are not only able to complete recruit training, but also become outstanding Marines,” said Woods.
According to Woods, the perception that recruiting is easy because they are making mission early is not necessarily true. There are more motivated recruiters on the streets with better training.
“We have the right Marines doing the right job,” said Woods. “You can see it with the incoming recruits. Their education is better; they are smarter than they have ever been.”
The success is not entirely due to recruiting, said Woods. WRR works closely with the Recruit Training Regiment on planning how applicants should be prepared before leaving for basic training.
If RTR notices a trend in injuries, they inform WRR so that they can better prepare new applicants.
If we don’t provide them a quality, in-shape man, how can they train them, Woods questioned.
“It’s interesting that in a time of war the Marines are so successful with recruiting,” said Woods. “We are doing so well out there, and it’s not just due to patriotism. We have motivated recruiters and amazing officers and staff non-commissioned officers leading them.”
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2011 11:54 |
| Story ID: | 72536 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 826 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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