All Military Services Meet or Exceed November Recruiting Goals

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 10, 2008 - All active-duty and reserve-component U.S. military services met or exceeded their November recruiting goals, according to a Defense Department news release issued today.

-- The Army signed up 5,605 new active-duty soldiers, 106 percent of its target number of 5,275 enlistees.

-- The Navy signed up 3,082 new active-duty sailors, meeting its target number of enlistees for the month.

-- The Marine Corps signed up 1,868 new active-duty Marines, 105 percent of its target number of 1,782 enlistees.

-- The Air Force signed up 2,916 new active-duty airmen, meeting its target number of enlistees for the month.

The Army, the largest military service, has met its annual recruiting goals for the past three years, said Douglas Smith, spokesman for U.S. Army Recruiting Command based at Fort Knox, Ky.

"We just finished up our third year in a row of recruiting success, and we're very pleased with what we're seeing as we enter into [fiscal] 2009," Smith said.

The active Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy also met or exceeded their retention goals for November, according to the news release.

Guard and Reserve forces also met or exceeded their November recruiting goals.

-- The Army National Guard signed up 5,516 new soldiers, 113 percent of its target number of 4,889 enlistees.

-- The Army Reserve signed up 3,270 new soldiers for 116 percent of its goal of 2,811 enlistees.

-- The Navy Reserve signed up 719 new sailors, meeting its target number of enlistees for the month.

-- The Marine Corps Reserve signed up 550 new Marines, meeting its target number of enlistees for the month.

-- The Air National Guard signed up 649 new Air Guardsmen, 110 percent of its target number of 588 enlistees.

-- The Air Force Reserve signed up 610 new airmen, 101 percent of its target of 603 enlistees.

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