Atten-hut!

Guess what is one of the few organizations to benefit from the recession? It's the U.S. military, which has seen a jump in enrollments in the past several months as "regular" jobs have dried up. In January, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all met or surpassed set recruitment levels, even after quotas were steadily increased during 2008.

Perhaps the most important draw these days is family health coverage, which for some, may trump the possibility of injury. In an article on the topic at CNNMoney.com, one staff sergeant is quoted as saying , "I'm not worried about (serving in Iraq or Afghanistan). I'm just worried about my kids." Educational opportunities, leadership training and reenlistment bonuses also may help make the decision easier for some. If service (whether in the military or in some other governmental agency) is something you're considering, start the research process here on Vault on our Government and Non-Profit page .

--Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault News & Commentary