Military Services Meet or Exceed January Recruiting Needs

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

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 366,200 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.