November 19, 2008 Military recruitment numbers on the rise Play video

(NECN: Brian Burnell, Hartford, Conn.) - The economic storm clouds have a silver lining where the military is concerned. Recruitment, which had lagged for several years, is up.

There are a couple of factors at work, including the tough time finding a job right now. Military officials do say more young people are looking at the service as a career choice.

According to a survey conducted by the Pentagon, the percentage of young people who say they would consider joining the military increased from 9% to 11% during the first half of 2008. Officials say the improved situation in Iraq is a big reason why, but the difficult economic situation here in the U.S. is also a factor.

"If the economy is at the point now in a lull or a low, our recruiting numbers are good," says Lt. Col. John Whitford of the CT Army National Guard.

And, right now they are very good.

"For the month of October, which just passed, this was the best month of October for the Army National Guard in 11 years," says Maj. Charles Jaworski of the CT Army National Guard.

And, 2008 has been the best recruiting year for the Guard in CT in eight years. There was a surge of sign ups after the 9/11 attacks. It lagged as the war in Iraq bogged down and has picked up as things there improved.

Recruitment is an important thing, but it is not the only thing. There is also retention -- convincing experienced soldiers to stay on after their initial enlistment is up. The

"For a soldier these days, an enlisted soldier who elects to stay for an additional three years beyond the expiration of term of service we will give them $7,500. For an enlisted soldier tho chooses to stay for six years beyond his ETS we offer them $15,000," says Jaworski. But, it is not all about money.

"The training is one of the things why they stay. That they're getting the quality training in each and every unit and there's things offered to them, classes and courses that they can go to, that weren't open to them before that helps the morale piece of it and that's why they stay," says Whitford.

When Whitford talks about classes and courses he means college. The Guard provides tuition at state colleges and universities for undergraduate and graduate courses.