VOA慢速英語：美國降低征兵目標(biāo)

US Army Lowers Target for New Soldiers

美國降低征兵目標(biāo)

The United States Army will not meet its target of adding 80,000 active duty soldiers this year and has officially lowered that goal. But Army leaders say they have been able to persuade many experienced soldiers to stay in the military to satisfy a growing need for troops.

美國陸軍今年將無法實現(xiàn)新征收8萬名現(xiàn)役士兵的目標(biāo)，并且已經(jīng)正式降低了這一目標(biāo)。但是陸軍領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人表示，他們能夠說服很多有經(jīng)驗的士兵留在部隊，以滿足對士兵日益增長的需求。

Army Sergeant Major Daniel Dailey announced this month that the new goal will be 76,500. Over the past six months, the armed forces has recruited just 28,000 new soldiers.

陸軍軍士長丹尼爾·戴利(Major Daniel)本月宣布，新目標(biāo)將為76500人。在過去六個月里，陸軍招募了2.8萬名新兵。

Dailey said the goal is to grow the Army to 483,500, as approved by Congress. It is the Army's decision whether to add more recruits or extend the military service of current soldiers.

戴利表示，目標(biāo)是將陸軍人數(shù)增加到國會批準(zhǔn)的483500人。由陸軍決定是招募更多新兵還是延長現(xiàn)役士兵的服役期。

Daily noted that keeping current soldiers has been more successful this year than in the past. About 86 percent of current soldiers are staying on, compared with 81 percent in recent years.

戴利指出，今年留用現(xiàn)役士兵的工作比往年更加順利。大約有86%的現(xiàn)役士兵留用，相比之下往年的比例為81%。

Army Secretary Mark Esper said there is a difference between the number of soldiers in the Army and the demand for more troops. He noted that the "strong economy does make it challenging." He said, however, that the Army will not sacrifice quality and its standards will not be lowered to meet recruitment goals.

陸軍部長馬克·埃斯帕(Mark Esper)表示，陸軍人數(shù)與需要更多士兵之間存在差異。他指出，“強(qiáng)勁的經(jīng)濟(jì)確實使其頗具挑戰(zhàn)性。”然而陸軍不會犧牲質(zhì)量，也不會降低標(biāo)準(zhǔn)以達(dá)到征兵目標(biāo)。

The struggle to meet recruiting numbers — an increase over the goal of 69,000 last year — was expected. One reason is the strong American economy. Another is competition from business employers. They are able to pay high school and college graduates more money because of the economic growth.

今年的征兵目標(biāo)比去年6.9萬人的目標(biāo)有所增長，實現(xiàn)征兵人數(shù)的挑戰(zhàn)性也早已被預(yù)見到。原因之一是美國經(jīng)濟(jì)強(qiáng)勁，另一個原因是商業(yè)雇主的競爭。由于經(jīng)濟(jì)增長，他們能夠為高中和大學(xué)畢業(yè)生提供更高薪水。

Major General Jeff Snow is head of the Army's recruiting command. He had said last year that the higher goal would be difficult to meet, considering economic conditions. He also noted the military's need for recruits to pass physical tests that many young people are unable to complete.

陸軍少將杰夫·斯諾(Jeff Snow)是陸軍征兵指揮部的負(fù)責(zé)人。他去年曾表示，考慮到經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況，較高的目標(biāo)可能難以實現(xiàn)。他還指出，軍方要求新兵通過很多年輕人都無法完成的體能測試。

It will be a "significant challenge for the command," Snow told The Associated Press in December. Meeting the goal, he said, could force the Army to take in more recruits who would require special waivers for drug use, low test results or other health issues.

斯諾去年12月對美聯(lián)社記者表示，“這對征兵指揮部來說是一項重大挑戰(zhàn)。”他說，要滿足這一目標(biāo)，可能會迫使陸軍征收更多需要特別服用藥物豁免、測試結(jié)果偏低或是存在其它健康問題的新兵。

"The numbers don't tell the whole story," noted Dailey. He said that waivers require the Army to take a closer look at a recruit who may have had a legal problem when they were younger or has had some kind of health problem. The issue could be simple colorblindness or an arrest.

戴利指出，“數(shù)字不能說明全部問題。”他說，這種豁免要求軍隊進(jìn)一步審查那些年輕時可能犯過罪或存在某些健康問題的新兵。這些問題可能是單純色盲或是被逮捕。

But in December, Snow said his goal for 2017 was to have fewer than 2 percent of the new recruits with low test results. Esper said that he had told the Army not to go past the 2 percent limit; currently, the Defense Department accepts up to 4 percent.

但是去年12月斯諾稱他2017年的目標(biāo)是測試成績不高的新兵比例要低于2%。埃斯帕表示，他曾告知陸軍不要超出2%的限制。目前，國防部要求不高于4%。

Military leaders have increasingly warned of recruiting difficulties. They say that lower unemployment rates, a strong economy, and the lowering physical abilities of young Americans have shrunk the number of people who can become recruits.

軍方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人不斷警告征兵的困難。他們表示，失業(yè)率降低、經(jīng)濟(jì)強(qiáng)勁以及美國年輕人身體素質(zhì)下降使得符合當(dāng)兵條件的人數(shù)減少。

Defense officials have said that after 16 years of war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, the American public is increasingly disconnected from the military. Officials say many people have misunderstandings about military service and often do not personally know any service members.

國防部官員表示，在阿富汗、伊拉克和敘利亞進(jìn)行了16年的戰(zhàn)爭之后，美國公眾越來越同軍方脫節(jié)。官員表示，許多人對服役有誤解，而且往往私下不認(rèn)識任何軍人。

This time of year is usually the hardest for military recruiters. It is the time when high school seniors start learning if they have been admitted to colleges or universities.

對征兵人員來說，每年這個時間通常是最艱難的。這個時間如果高中生被大專院校錄取，他們就要開始上學(xué)了。

I'm Susan Shand.

蘇珊·珊德報道。