A New Port Richey 7-year-old now has received offers from all four branches of the military. But he still isn't signing up for duty.
By ALEX LEARY
Published July 12, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - The U.S. armed forces are relentless in the pursuit of adventure, freedom and Joey Crossman.
The Marines made the first pitch in April, then the Navy followed with its glossy recruiting package, promising to "accelerate" Joey's life. Last week, the Air Force entered the bidding war.
On Friday, the Army got in the game, sending Joey a yellow and black pamphlet offering an $8,000 enlistment bonus, college tuition repayment and other perks.
Problem is, as it has been all along, this military mite is only 7.
And Mom is not ready to let him go.
"They can't have my kid, at least not for another 11 years," Kathy Crossman said.
She noted that the Army's pamphlet, when unfolded, was nearly as tall as the soon-to-be second-grader.
"He's still afraid of the dark," his mom said.
Told of the latest offer, Joey laughed and rolled his eyes. His opinion of leaving home has not changed despite the barrage of letters.
He wants to be a doctor or own a car dealership that sells Hummers.
And there are other concerns: "I don't want to go because they won't tie my boots for me," Joey said Friday afternoon.
"He doesn't seem like a fearless warrior, not yet anyway," said Crossman, whose son sleeps on Scooby-Doo sheets and carries a Spider-Man lunchbox to school.
The military says Joey must have gotten on a mailing list taken from magazine subscriptions.
"Our target age is 17 to 24; we don't target 7-year-olds," Air Force recruiting spokesman Jason McCree said.
Crossman agrees, but adds, "If a kid is getting Nickelodeon, he's not 17."
- Alex Leary can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is leary@sptimes.com
