Marc Hughes pulls up a chair in the Rockford army recruiting station. Take Marc Hughes, a future soldier, and Private U.S. Army CG.

"It's something I've been trying to do. I just finally had the courage to get up and do it," said Hughes.

Hughes is one of 118 Rockford-area men and women to enlist this year, that's a forty percent increase over 2008 when 84 people signed up in Rockford. Local army recruiters believe the economy is a driving force bringing more people through these doors.

Staff Sergeant Mike Massey with the U.S. Army says, "Maybe they've lost their job and all their medical benefits, or whatever you know and the job market is pretty dry right now. So with the military, you can go and get a skill set, get paid a full-time wage, get all the great benefits, go to school and still have experience as well so when you get out I think you're a lot more marketable."

Military leaders, both nationally and locally, say the quality of recruits is also improving, according to the Pentagon, nearly 95 percent of those entering the army this year are high school graduates an 11 percent increase over 2008.

"They're taking the time to look into the military, instead of just oh well you know, I don't want to get my hair cut type of thing," said Massey.

Plus, the army has improved its incentives in recent years. Recruits can now earn a signing bonus of up to $40,000 and $80,000 for college. Marc Hughes plans to take advantage of college aid. In addition, he's also honored to serve his country and says he's not put off by the rising U.S. death toll in Afghanistan.

Hughes says, "I feel fear is something that you don't know what's going to happen and they've explained everything that could happen or will happen so I have no regrets or fear."

Apparently, just excitement to join his fellow soldiers.