Components Report Recruiting Success

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

March 10, 2008 - All active and reserve components met or topped their recruiting goals for February, Defense Department officials announced today. The February successes marked the ninth straight month in which all four services met or exceeded their active-duty goals.

The numbers came as particularly good news within the reserve components, which experienced some recruiting shortfalls in December and January following a strong November.

The Army recruited 6,120 active-duty soldiers in February, topping its goal by 2 percent. It also recruited 5,793 new members into the Army National Guard and 3,599 into the Army Reserve -- 116 percent of both components' monthly goals.

The Navy met both its active and reserve recruiting goals for February, bringing 2,947 active-duty sailors and 899 Navy reservists into the fleet.

The Air Force met its goal of recruiting 2,023 active-duty airmen 634 Air Force reservists, and topped its Air National Guard goal by 9 percent, with 700 Air Guardsmen entering the force.

The Marine Corps exceeded its February goal by a whopping 37 percent, bringing 1,915 active-duty Marines into the corps, and met its goal of signing on 483 Marine Corps reservists.

Defense officials expressed confidence today that across-the-board successes throughout the reserve components put them back on track toward achieving their yearly goals by Sept. 30.

Assistant Defense Secretary for Reserve Affairs Thomas F. Hall said he's delighted that the reserve components have achieved 109 percent of their year-to-date recruiting goals through the first five months of fiscal 2008 -- October through February.

"Not only are recruiting numbers impressive, but the quality is remaining high while attrition numbers are extremely low," Hall said.

Hall said he's often asked why recruiting numbers are so good despite the fact that the war on terrorism puts continuing stress on the military.

"The answers are many, but primarily our recruiters are working hard, and the taxpayers are offering exceptional pay and benefits to our troops," he said.

"And most importantly, in my view, these young Americans are demonstrating that patriotism and national service to are alive and well. We are proud of these young Americans and are honored to serve alongside and with them."