Army recruiters report continued success

PORTLAND – Despite the ongoing war in Iraq, Army recruiters in Maine report continued success in convincing young men and women to enlist.

More than 400 Mainers signed up during the 2007 fiscal year and reported for active duty. That’s the third-highest per capita in the nation. For fiscal 2008, which runs through Sept. 30, the number of Maine enlistees stands at 230.

Capt. Robert Jones, who oversees recruiting efforts throughout the state, says Maine recruiters are as successful now as they’ve been over the past three or four years.

Maine’s success appears to buck the overall trend. A high-ranking Pentagon official recently reported a nationwide decline in recruitment, spurred by the Iraq war, a negative view of military life and rising obesity rates.