The NYT has an article today on the fact that the desertion rate in the army is considerably higher than had previously been reported. However, the article goes on to point out that the desertion rate is still less than 1 percent, which is far lower than 3.41 percent rate reported for 1971 during the Vietnam War. It might have been worth noting that today's army is composed of people who have voluntarily enlisted, while the army in 1971 was largely comprised of draftees. This fact could explain a substantial portion of the difference in desertion rates.
--Dean Baker
