Peace Time: June 5, 2001

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The U.S. Army's new ad campaign, led by the slogan; "An Army of One" has turned out to be more like an "Army of None." Three months after the new campaign was running, the army missed it's recruiting goal. No problem. The goal was reduced to match the decline and the army announced that it had met its recruiting goals. The army says it lowered the goal because it had extended the enlistments of some troops. This practice, while legal, is meant for emergencies, not to make up for a failed recruiting campaign. Involuntary extension of enlistments also hurts recruitment as the soldiers in question eventually leave the service with a bitter attitude towards such treatment, and the army. Not the sort of word-of-mouth the recruiters want.