Attacks Spur Interest In Joining the Military

By Indrani Sen | STAFF WRITER

September 18, 2001

Sgt. Ishmoile Mohammed of the National Guard recruitment office at the Lexington Avenue Armory has not taken a break all day.

"The phones have been ringing, people have been coming in," he said yesterday. "It's just been crazy here."

After several years of declines in recruitment levels across the armed services, military officials say they've been overwhelmed by a surge of interest in signing on since last Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

"We've had high school students call in to check how old they have to be," said Scott Sandman, spokesman for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. "This incident really seems to have galvanized the country and has fostered an increase in patriotism."

Because it takes at least a few days to sign up recruits, numbers are not yet available on how many have joined the services since the tragedy. But anecdotal evidence indicates the numbers will be staggering.

Calls to the Marines' toll-free number and hits on its Web site have increased about 500 percent, said Maj. Rob Winchester. Youngsters and veterans are among the callers. Gloria Lopez, 35, was one of those flocking to the recruitment offices. Her brother is missing at the World Trade Center.

"I just want to do something for my country," Lopez said as she picked up a National Guard application at the Armory. "I feel like I'm not doing anything. If I could join and do something - anything - that would fulfill me."

It was anger that motivated Roger Jackson to stop in at the Armory for an application. "I am very angry," the former Army reservist said. "I feel as though they killed a part of me in that building."

Though recruiters welcome this zeal, officials say there is a thorough screening process to make sure people will stay the course.

"Part of the recruiter's job," Sandman said, "is to explain exactly what service will entail, and the time involved ... It's not just quantity we're looking for, it's quality."