Recruiter says money enticing Tennessee guardsmen to reenlist

“That’s a good down payment on a house or a vehicle,” said Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Retting, a recruiter at Camp Caldwell, Iraq.

Retting told a Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter embedded with the 278th that since his arrival in March about 145 troops have chosen to reenlist.

Spc. Michael Wilkerson said it wasn’t hard for him to make a decision.

“They said $15,000, and I signed,” said the 25-year-old of Henderson, Ky., who grew up in Lebanon, Tenn.

But other soldiers, citing a deployment that could reach a year and a half, say they’ve had enough and are ready to come home.

“They couldn’t give me $100,000 to extend here for another year,” said 50-year-old Spc. Michael Light of Knoxville.

According to a recent edition of National Guard magazine, recruiting isn’t just tough in Iraq. The Army National Guard is about 15,000 soldiers below strength, forcing the Guard to add more recruiters who must work longer hours to meet quotas.

Sgt. James Thompson of Morristown said a lot of 278th soldiers like himself have simply reached retirement age. The 45-year-old said he’s on the Army’s so-called “stop loss” now, meaning his original enlistment was extended by the government.

“I’m done with it,” said Thompson, who’s been in the military 23 years. “I’ve grown up with the regiment.”

Retting said the most common question asked by those considering staying with the 278th is whether they will be sent back to Iraq.

“I don’t have the answer,” he said. “It is whatever the president wants.”