Did anyone think for a second that maybe this was prompted by the insecurities of employment and no health care, amongst a myriad of other problems the US is facing right now? At least to "re-up" is total job security.

Oceans you are correct that benefits have something to do with it. BUT every member who is re-enlisting also knows that they are volunteering for at least 2 more tours in either Iraq or Afghanistan. Do you think they would volunteer to go back if they felt what they were doing was not making a difference? My Army son who has had 2 tours in Iraq is proud of what he is doing and has recently re-enlisted for many reasons. He believes in what he does, He likes the financial stability (not the amount) of his pay, He likes the health benefits (just not the lazy HMO type care). He certainly did not re-enlist for family stability. The military is VERY hard on families. Being separated for a year (or 15 months as his last deployment was) really strains particularly young families. At their young age things change a lot in that amount of time. It is like starting over every time they come home. My Navy son only deployed for 7 months at a time and it was still hard for them to work through the changes when he came home. When it is time for a married person re-enlist the stability of their family is usually the biggest consideration. How could someone make the choice to re-enlist if they did not believe in what they do. The Military is a hard way to go, it may offer job security but it sure is the hard way to get it.

Thank you much, "justus" for the comment. I know what you are telling me...oh, so well. I have been in the US Army (1 3-year enlistment tour), the US Air Force (one 6-year enlistment tour), and the US Navy (2 6-year enlistment tours), then transferred into the USDOJ. I was an "enlisted man"...staff sgt in the Army, and an officer the remaining enlistments). As an "only child", my mother had an insurable interest in me, and unfortunately, I never did make it to Vietnam, per senatorial waiver; although I volunteered for it. I know you must be so proud of your two sons. True, the benefits are established with government employment, and with any response to the many prayers being sent heavenwards, we might soon be out of Iraq and also find a terminal method to get our military out of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Without the courage your son's have shown in support of their beloved United States, anything else seems secondary. Yes...the military is a difficult strain on a person, and I wished that more people would at least privately, feel a little compassion for the sacrifices our son's and daughter's are making in their enlistments on active service. I hope that you consider my first comment was meant to prompt someone to respond...and you did. Thanks, and God Bless to your two sons.