Local military recruitment centers have seen no change in enlistment rates since the beginning of the war in Iraq.
"We're still pretty steady," said Army Sgt. 1st Class David Johnson. "The number is staying exactly where it has been in the past."
The Army recruits between 12 and 14 people a month in State College, he said.
Though he did not have records of enlistment rates during other military conflicts, Johnson said he does not anticipate any changes in the number of new recruits in State College because of the war.
"We're instructed to tell the media there's no noticeable change [in enlistment rates]," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Henry Rice. "It's too early to tell."
The number of Navy recruits will probably not change because of the war, he said. However, there was an increase in the enlistment rate in the month after Desert Storm, Rice said.
Although the rise in recruitment numbers was not necessarily because of Desert Storm, he added.
"We don't keep track of why people join the Navy," Rice said.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Edwards said reasons people join the military stay the same even in times of war.
Most people who enlist in the Air Force join to show their patriotism, get an education and gain experience, and this does not change because of war, Edwards said.
"Our numbers have been consistent. We don't have this big surge or anything," Edwards said. "When war starts, some people say, 'I want to go,' and others say 'I don't want to go fight.' "
Four or five people enlist at the State College Air Force recruitment station each month, he said. Edwards said the number of recruits before and after Sept. 11 has remained the same.
"We're at about the exact same point as we were last year [in terms of recruitment]," said Gunnery Sgt. Samuel Shell of the State College Marine Corps recruitment station. "From my experience, this is pretty normal."
Six to 12 people in State College enlist in the Marine Corps every month, Shell said. This range generally stays the same during military conflicts, he added.
While none of the military organizations have noted any significant increase or decrease in the number of recruits since the start of the war in Iraq, Edwards said the Air Force has received more phone calls than usual.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, there was an 800 percent increase in calls to the Air Force, Edwards said. Although the number of calls for information on enlisting remained the same as before the attacks, calls of support surged, he added.
"A lot of people will call up and say, 'We support you,' because they want to express their pride in the country and the military," Edwards said. "We get a lot of callers that say, "Go get 'em, we love you guys.' "
