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Military Services Meet or Exceed January Recruiting Needs
American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry J. Gilmore

Posted on 02/10/2009 3:54:52 PM PST by SandRat

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2009 – All active duty U.S. military services and reserve components met or exceeded their January recruiting needs, Defense Department officials reported today.

The Army signed up 9,658 new active-duty soldiers, 107 percent of its target number of 9,000 enlistees.

The Navy signed up 2,948 new active-duty sailors, 100 percent of its target number.

The Marine Corps signed up 3,720 new active-duty Marines, 109 percent of its target number of 3,406 enlistees.

The Air Force signed up 2,600 new active-duty airmen, 100 percent of its target number.

The active Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy also met or exceeded their retention goals for January, officials said.

Guard and reserve forces met or exceeded their January recruiting needs.

The Army Reserve signed up 3,223 new soldiers for 103 percent of its target number of 3,128 enlistees.

The Navy Reserve signed up 712 new sailors, meeting 100 percent of its goal.

The Marine Corps Reserve signed up 879 new Marines, for 155 percent of its target number of 567 enlistees.

The Air National Guard signed up 896 new airmen, for 127 percent of its target number of 703 enlistees.

The Air Force Reserve signed up 683 new airmen, meeting 100 percent of its goal.

The Army National Guard signed up 4,913 new soldiers in January. Although that number is listed as 88 percent of the monthly goal, there’s more to the story, a National Guard Bureau official said.

“It’s not just about the monthly recruiting goal,” Randy Noller, a Guard Bureau spokesman, said. “Right now, we are over our end strength and can slow down on recruiting.”

The Army National Guard now has 366,009 soldiers in its ranks, which exceeds its authorized end strength of 358,200 troops, Noller said.

Since the Army National Guard is recruiting fewer new soldiers each month, it can “increase the quality of people coming in,” Noller said.

Attrition losses in all reserve components are within acceptable limits, officials said.

Related Articles:
Defense Department News Release


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhodod; cicobama; exceed; goals; meet; military; recruiting; recruitment

1 posted on 02/10/2009 3:54:52 PM PST by SandRat
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To: SandRat

Not to be a debbie downer, but what is the quality of these new recruits? Any thoughts from people on the inside?


2 posted on 02/10/2009 4:00:27 PM PST by chargers fan (Bring on Next Year!)
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To: SandRat

Job market sucks at the moment. I saw this in the early 80’s when there was an influx of volunteers and many had degrees. They’ll join to ride out the economy. Its better than staying home, hoping a job will come along. It will be a great experience for most.


3 posted on 02/10/2009 4:06:47 PM PST by Bringbackthedraft (Liberals fear the return of The Cleaver Family.)
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To: chargers fan
As a nurse that works in a MMTF (Military Medical Treatment Facility), let me say - not good. Now before I offend any Freeper that has had a son or daughter just join - you know your own child, I'm not saying all recruits are bad, however, the Army (can't speak for the USMC or Navy, or the “Chair Force” aka the Air Force), but the Army has seriously lowered it's standards and has granted many waivers to convicted felons and persons with some serious mental health issues. So, every time I see some Army general get as giddy as a school girl because the Army has met recruitment goals, I shudder, because I know that some of these less then stellar individuals are going to wind up, up here at Ft. Drum (with their 17 year old brides and 2 kids and an in-law or two).....oh, that's also part of the incentive package, you can make your parents or in-law a “dependent” and the tax-payer will not house them and provide medical benefits...
4 posted on 02/10/2009 4:15:21 PM PST by SAMS ("I may look harmless, but I raised a U.S. MARINE!" Army Wife & Marine Mom)
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To: SAMS

“and the tax-payer will not house them and provide medical benefits...”

Sorry, correction: it should read will NOW house them.


5 posted on 02/10/2009 4:17:49 PM PST by SAMS ("I may look harmless, but I raised a U.S. MARINE!" Army Wife & Marine Mom)
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To: SandRat

Well that’s strange. You’d think enlistment would be lower due to Obama.


6 posted on 02/10/2009 4:20:01 PM PST by Crystal Cove
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To: chargers fan
Any thoughts from people on the inside?

Yeah. Job market blows right now and the military is a steady paycheck with excellent bennies. In the navy, zones B-E are fully manned, if not way overmanned, in nearly all rates. Nobody with over 6 years in is getting out. This really sucks for advancement.

7 posted on 02/10/2009 4:20:03 PM PST by Drew68
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To: Crystal Cove
Well that’s strange. You’d think enlistment would be lower due to Obama.

Not in this economy.

8 posted on 02/10/2009 4:22:11 PM PST by Drew68
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To: chargers fan

The ones that I see day-to-day at the post that I work at is top notch. As to the new recruits I can’t say.


9 posted on 02/10/2009 4:46:47 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Bringbackthedraft

My grandson will graduate from HS in late May and will be going into the Navy sometime this summer.


10 posted on 02/10/2009 4:49:42 PM PST by jerry639
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To: SandRat
From today's Marine Corps Times:

"The Marines are approaching 95% of F.Y. '09's re-enlistment goal"....(3 1/2 months into the Fiscal Year)

"45 M.O.S.'s are closed to first-term re-enlistments"... (They're full).

"As of Dec. 31, the Marines stood at 199,196, nearly 10,000 ahead of plan".

"The service will begin reducing the number of recruiters this year".

"While the plus-up is nearly complete for enlisted Marines, the Corps still needs thousands of new lieutenants".

I guess that draft thing is going by the wayside!

11 posted on 02/10/2009 5:03:48 PM PST by SnuffaBolshevik
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To: SnuffaBolshevik

Not according Cong Charlie Rangle Dangle.


12 posted on 02/10/2009 5:06:16 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: SandRat
Why would any sane person want to enlist in the military with Obama in the White House?

It doesn't make any sense.

13 posted on 02/11/2009 10:07:37 AM PST by walsh
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To: walsh

Maybe because they can get far away (Afghanistan).


14 posted on 02/11/2009 7:24:18 PM PST by SnuffaBolshevik
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