All Services Meet Active-Duty Recruiting Goals for August

American Forces Press Service ^ | Donna Miles

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2007 – All four services reported strong recruiting success in August, with the Army marking its second consecutive month exceeding its monthly goal, Defense Department officials announced today.

The Army topped its August goal by 6 percent, bringing 10,126 new soldiers into the force. The Army made 102 percent of its goal in July. Officials expressed confidence that the consecutive successes mark a turnaround from May and June, when the Army fell short in recruiting.

Army Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, attributes much of the rebound to the Army’s new “quick-ship” bonus program that provides $20,000 in financial incentives for recruits willing to ship off quickly to basic training.

Bostick told Pentagon reporters last week that it’s one of several initiatives the Army has put in place to ensure it meets its fiscal 2007 recruiting goals. He vowed to close any remaining gaps by Sept. 30 to meet the active Army’s year-end goal of 80,000 recruits and the Army Reserve’s goal of 26,500.

The other services enjoyed strong recruiting months in August, too. The Marine Corps topped its monthly goal by 5 percent, bringing in 4,700 new Marines. The Navy and Air Force both reached their goals, 4,194 and 3,128, respectively.

In the reserve components, the Army Reserve reported a successful August, too, reaching 107 percent of its monthly goal. As it brought in 3,659 recruits, it also exceeded its retention goals for first-termers as well as career soldiers.

“That’s remarkable,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Caffie, the Army Reserve’s top noncommissioned officer. “If you look at the stats for soldiers who have been deployed in the Army Reserve, those retention rates are astronomical, as well. … We have done a remarkable job of retaining soldiers with combat experience, who have deployed into either Afghanistan or Iraq.”

The Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve also exceeded their August goals. The Navy Reserve topped its goal by 13 percent, with 1,122 new recruits, and the Marine Corps Reserve, by 18 percent, with 560 recruits. The Air Force met its goal, recruiting 858 airmen.

The Army National Guard and Air National Guard fell short, 87 and 96 percent, respectively. The Army Guard recruited 5,596 soldiers, and the Air Guard, 1,141 airmen.

National Guard officials noted that despite a slight recruiting shortfall, both components continue to enjoy strong retention numbers. They said this has enabled them to maintain their end-strength goals at 101 and 99 percent, respectively.

Related Sites:
August Recruiting Numbers

[Our man in washington]

I base my statement partly on personal experience. I joined the Navy Reserves in 2002. We weren’t in Iraq yet, so a lot of the reservists weren’t thinking that much about mobilization. After 9/11, being in the military garnered a lot of respect. Besides, the expansion of military spending meant a lot of opportunities were available for those who served or had served.

I was part of a program called the Non-prior Service. These were older recruits who went through a special training program.

Long story short: the Navy had to end the program a few years later because it was TOO SUCCESSFUL. So many people were signing up that the Navy didn’t have the resources to give them further training.

I expect with the high likelihood of mobilization, reserve duty is less appealing. But if we go back to the old days of relative peace, a lot of people will see military service as a very good deal.

I joined at age 35 and it was one of the best decisions of my life. The military really can show someone what they truly can do. So few institutions today really push people to do their best any more.

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the...............HA ha!!!

[toddlintown]

My youngest went Army 3 weeks ago. Wanted the $20k.

[SandRat]

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

[toddlintown]

Thank you.

[facedown]

(/democrat, /arrogance).

LOL, you had me going there for a second.

[Larry Lucido]

You nailed it!

Too few recruits = bad war (Bush’s fault)

Too many recruits = bad economy (Bush’s fault)

[ODC-GIRL]

Ah yes, the “peace dividend”. They won’t even authorize a Cold War Medal for those of us who helped defeat the Soviet Union. Political overtones doncha know? My father gets a HUGE kick out of bragging about his daughter getting asked to come back out of retirement (retired in August 2001) when HE did not!!!

Now I’m willing to stay as long as they’ll have me to help fight this war that the terrorists escalated on 9-11, to a level we could no longer ignore.