Active-Duty, Reserve Components Meet Recruiting Goals

American Forces Press Service ^ | John J. Kruzel

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2009 – All 10 active-duty and reserve military components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in March, with the Marine Corps adding the highest percentage of active-duty members, Defense Department officials announced today.

The Army Reserve led the reserve components, and all four active departments met or exceeded their March retention goals.

“Recruiting continues to be strong in all military departments,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Data published on the Defense Department Web site shows that the Marine Corps goal was to add 1,411 new Marines, which it exceeded by 43 percent, recruiting a total of 2,017. The Army Reserve outperformed its goal of 3,445 by 38 percent, adding 4,771 soldiers.

Here is a breakdown of the other components:

-- Active-duty Army: 6,548 accessions with a goal of 6,425, for 102 percent;

-- Active-duty Navy: 2,857 accessions with a goal of 2,857, for 100 percent;

-- Active-duty Air Force: 2,748 accessions with a goal of 2,745, for 100 percent;

-- Army National Guard: 6,255 accessions with a goal of 4,974, for 126 percent;

-- Navy Reserve: 654 accessions with a goal of 654, for 100 percent;

-- Marine Corps Reserve: 579 accessions with a goal of 566, for 102 percent;

-- Air National Guard: 933 accessions with a goal of 840, for 111 percent; and

-- Air Force Reserve: 825 accessions with a goal of 825, for 100 percent.

[knarf]

OOO RA!

[Red6]

Meeting recruiting goals should become easier over time also because we will end up cutting end strength again. It was never a real issue. It was simply another angle where the anti-war pundit and liberal thought they had an argument.

The Army hit 475K at its low point under Clinton and was trying to increase its manpower (504K 2005, 520K 2006, 540K 2008) when the news reported about these recruiting shortfalls. When you're raising the bar, it gets harder.

We had recruiting shortfalls even in the 90s when we were downsizing and were not at war. There are periodic times were the military simply does not make its recruiting goals but seldom do these shortfalls represent a trend that affects actual end strength.