Army Desertion Rate Highest Since 1980

Apparently the Military isn't for everyone...

These Statistics just in...
While the totals for desertion are still far lower than they were during the Vietnam War, when the draft was in effect, they show a steady increase over the past four years and a 42 percent jump since last year.
The Army defines a deserter as someone who has been absent without leave for longer than 30 days. The soldier is then discharged as a deserter. He/she, of course, has less chance of dying while being SHOT AT or BOMBED...
According to the Army, about nine in every 1,000 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, compared to nearly seven per 1,000 a year earlier. Overall, 4,698 soldiers deserted this year, compared to 3,301 last year.

There are four main ways that soldiers can leave the Army before their first enlistment contract is up:

• They are determined unable to meet physical fitness requirements.
• They are found to be unable to adapt to the military.
• They say they are gay and are required to leave under the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
• They go AWOL.

In contrast, the Navy has seen a steady decline in deserters since 2001, going from 3,665 that year to 1,129 in 2007.

The Marine Corps, meanwhile, has seen the number of deserters stay fairly stable over that timeframe - with about 1,000 deserters a year. During 2003 and 2004 - the first two years of the Iraq war - the number of deserters fell to 877 and 744, respectively.

The Air Force can tout the fewest number of deserters - with no more than 56 bolting in each of the past five years. The low was in fiscal 2007, with just 16 deserters. THAT’S BECAUSE THEY ALL WANT TO BE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOTS...DUH...