When University of Wisconsin sophomore Dan Fuhrmann decided to enlist in the military, the prime reason was saving money for college. However, after eight months of active duty training and nearly two years at Volk Field, Fuhrmann’s attitude towards the military has taken an unexpected about-face.
“I have really had a change of heart toward the military in the last two-plus years,” Fuhrmann said. “I first joined the guard for the college money, but now I am in it for other reasons. I am proud to serve this country, whether it be in times of peace or war. It has taught me so much about life and helped me mature as a person.”
Fuhrmann serves as an aerospace ground technician at Volk Field in Camp Douglas, Wis. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the mindset of those enlisting in the military has changed, but the overall mission — victory on the battlefield — has not.
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the military was expecting a sizable increase in enlistments. The increase did come but was not as large as recruiters expected. However, this was not bad news to the military, as any increase is welcomed. In fact, the military has been reaching its recruiting goals for a number of years.
According to Air Force News, the Air Force reached its yearly enlistment target for 2001 in May, four months ahead of schedule. The intended target was 34,600.
“This is a great accomplishment for our country, the Air Force and our recruiters,” said Brig. Gen. Duane Deal, Air Force Recruiting Service commander to the Air Force News. “We increased the number of our recruiters, utilized enlistment bonuses and continued an aggressive advertising and marketing campaign and basically worked very hard. However, we won’t let up; we’re definitely still hiring.”
Recruiters attribute the successful recruiting to attractive educational benefits and comprehensive benefits involved in military enlistment. One such benefit is 100 percent college-tuition reimbursement. In Wisconsin, the tuition reimbursement is applicable up to UW-Madison’s cost of tuition.
Immediately after Sept. 11, all active and reserve members were barred from separating and retiring under Stop-Loss rules enacted due to wartime demands. Months later, when USAF began lifting the rules, an expected mass exodus did not come.
The changing face of the military in light of 9/11 is having a profound effect on the roles each member is subject to. For example, the military has moved harder to a mobile force capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 48 hours. And since the number of persons in the military has declined nearly 50 percent since the late 1980s, each member is expected to undertake a greater role.
This means National Guard and Reserve troops must be ready to play a central role. After 9/11, thousands of Guard and Reserve troops were mobilized for extended periods of time, a sign of a changing U.S. military.
Guard and Reserve troops may be subject to two full years of involuntary duty, the longest since the Vietnam War. The increased role Guard and Reserve troops are expected to play is placing strains on their families, employers and others. Some have doubted the capability of the Guard and Reserve to meet an active-duty responsibility and have called for increasing the active-duty ranks, a move the Bush administration says would be too costly.
However, Fuhrmann said the Guard and Reserve are more than ready to assume the roles of their active-duty counterparts.
“We do the same training up until our base assignments,” Fuhrmann said. “We take our jobs and our training seriously. It depends on the base’s mission. If a unit is assigned to radar duty, then I’m sure they are more than capable of performing that mission if asked to.”
Despite the added responsibility and risks of military duty, UW sophomore Chris Severson said the sheer prestige of being “one of the elites” was reason enough for him to raise his right hand and take the oath.
“Being able to write down on a resume that I am in the United States Air Force says something about the type of person I am — that I am committed in serving my country and have that honor and privilege of being one of the elite.”
Severson leaves next summer for basic training.
“I am excited and nervous at the same time about leaving for basic training, but, yeah, I am excited about having enlisted and feel privileged that I can say I am in the United States Air Force National Guard.”
