Revelry for recruits on U.S. Army's birthday

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But on Saturday, the 18-year-old sat huddled with Vega and hisfather at the Lake Worth Recruiting Station. He leaves Wednesdayfor basic training, the beginning of his career in the ArmyReserves. By January, Lazo expects to be starting his firstsemester at Florida International University, tuition courtesy ofthe U.S. government.
"I'm nervous, but I'm excited too," Lazo said. "I just want to makeit. I think I can do it. It's going to be an opportunity in mylife. I can go to the university I want."
The recruiting station celebrated the 233rd birthday of the U.S.Army with a handful of its new recruits who are days away fromleaving for boot camp. Some say they joined to bring some challengeand direction to their lives. Some talk of the benefits, which caninclude paid college tuition, repayment of tuition loans or signingbonuses between $5,000 and $40,000 - all effective lures in theselean economic times.
Whatever the reason, all branches of the military have beatenrecruitment goals for 2008, according to the Department of Defense,even as the U.S. remains locked in two wars. In April 2008, theMarine Corps blew by all other branches, signing 2,233 recruits,142 percent of its goal. The Air National Guard, Army Reserves andArmy National Guard all came in close behind, singing 130, 120 and112 percent of their target numbers.
Recruiters at the Lake Worth station expect to sign about eight newsoldiers every month, double the enlistment rate from this timelast year, said Sgt. First Class Eugene Barnes, the station'srecruitment head.
Every recruit Saturday had a different story.
"I've been thinking about doing this for years," said 18-year-oldKeiondra Sanders, also a recent graduate of Lake Worth High wholeaves for boot camp at Fort Jackson, S.C., next week.
Is she nervous? "A little," she admits. "I'm ready to get it overwith."
Good things wait for her when she does. Sanders said she will useher tuition benefits to enroll in Florida A&M University, whereshe plans to major in nursing, join the ROTC and graduate anofficer.
"Ultimately, that sense of service to country is still out there,"Barnes said.
She knows she may end up on the battlefield but that she can't backout of her decision, if that's where it leads her. Her parents areproud of her. Her 14-year-old sister Kennetra, who stood by herside Saturday, was less confident.
"The main thing I'm worried about is her getting hurt or scared,"said Kennetra, wrapping her in a bear hug. "She's my sister."
The decision was more complicated for Brittany Butler, 18, whointroduced Sanders to the recruiter. "It was a battle when I wasgoing through enrollment," Butler said. Her Army aspirations pulledat her from one side, while her mother, who is in poor health,pulled from the other.
"My mom wants me to stay so I can be close to home," Butler said."I have to live for myself. If I go, I can make a great career inthe Army and give back to my mother."
Despite all the enticements, Barnes said none has more impact thanthe fundamental sense of duty.
"Ultimately, that sense of service to country is out there," Barnessaid.
~ paul_quinlan@pbpost.com