U.S. Territories Hotbed For Army Recruits

The United States Army recruiters, facing dwindling enlistment numbers in the states, are finding success in U.S. territories. High school graduates from places like Micronesia and the Philippines are signing up in droves, looking for a good paycheck. The Army has a $5,000 minimum signing bonus and starting pay for a private is over $17,000. Per capita income in Micronesia is about $2,000, $8,000 in American Samoa and $12,500 in the Northern Marianas. Based in Guam, First Sgt. Olympio Magofna oversees Pacific recruiting. He sees his counterparts in the states hurting for recruits while he has time to play golf every other day. Per capita, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa have the highest enlistment numbers in the nation.