Recruiters are saying because of less violence in Iraq and a soft economy, that they are seeing more interest in the military.

According to the Defense Department, all branches of the military have met or exceeded recruitment goals in the year 2008. This is said to be the first year that this has happened since the year 2002.

As the economy continues to lose civilian jobs, recruiters say they are seeing more applicants and they’re seeing more people with high school diplomas and college degrees.

According to Army Sgt. 1st. class Billy Montgomery, who works as a recruiter in Lansing, Michigan:

“We have an influx of personnel coming in all of the time, and it’s ranging from people with master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and high school seniors.”

It is also being speculated that people might be responding to enlistment bonuses that can reach $40,000, a better GI Bill that will pay for college and up to $65,000 to pay off existing student loans.

Adding to the appeal of enlisting now is the lowering of violence in Iraq and with the election of Barack Obama, the possibility of U.S. forces withdrawing in the not so distant future.

“It goes right back to the economy,” Montgomery says, “The economy alone has caused a lot of individuals to rethink their future and rethink what they have planned for themselves and their families. The military can offer them something where they gain, get from point A to point B, in possibly three to four years.”

However, not all recruiters are agreeing with the economy being the main factor for more recruits. Some recruiters say it’s because people are patriotic and want to give back to their community.