All Services Meet Recruitment Goals

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Military.com | By Bryant Jordan | November 14, 2007

Every active-duty and reserve branch of the military met its accession goals in October, permitting recruiters across the board to begin fiscal year 2008 in the plus column.

The Army brought in 4,564 recruits, 64 more than needed for October for a rate of 101 percent. The Marine Corps netted 2,788 new people, 68 more than goal for 102 percent.

The Navy and Air Force both hit their marks exactly, with 2,388 and 2,656 new recruits, respectively, according to figures released Nov. 13 by the Pentagon.

Among the reserve components, even the Air National Guard, which failed to meet its fiscal 2007 recruiting goal by half a percent, exceeded expectations. It brought in 209 more recruits than the 609 for which it was on tap, for 134 percent of goal.

"The best October we've ever had -- that's what the folks with all the numbers tell me," said Randy Noller, a spokesman for the Air Guard. He attributed the turnaround to more money gone into recruiting bonuses and a special program that puts up to $2,000 into the pockets of Air Guard members who recruit someone.

The Army Guard was not far behind, achieving a 123 percent accession rate when it pulled in 5,305 recruits, 994 more than its goal of 4,311.

The Navy Reserve brought in 918 recruits, 100 more than expected, for 112 percent.

The Marine Corps Reserve hit its target right on, bringing in 890 recruits, for a 100 percent rate.

The Air Force Reserve recruited 681 new people, two more than its target.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, during a press conference Nov. 13, said "goal numbers go up and down based on what they have to achieve at the end of the year."

But so far, so good for fiscal 2008.

"This is good news," he told American Forces Press Service. "In the first month of this fiscal year, in terms of recruiting in active duty and reserve-component forces, it looks pretty good right now."

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