February a Good Recruiting Month for Active Services

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2007 – Active-duty recruiting is in good shape, with all services making or exceeding their goals in February, but four of the six reserve components did not make their numbers, Defense Department officials announced yesterday.

The two ground services exceeded their recruiting goals for February -- historically a slow month for recruiting. The Army had a goal of 6,000 recruits and actually enlisted 6,196, for 103 percent. The Marine Corps had a target of 1,696 and enlisted 1,792, for 106 percent of its goal.

The achievement is all that more impressive, DoD officials said, since it includes higher goals resulting from the decision to increase the size of the Army and Marines by a combined 92,000 personnel over the next five years.

The Navy and Air Force met their goals of 2,803 and 2,277, respectively.

DoD officials said retention in the services remains solid. The Army, Marine Corps and Air Force are meeting or exceeding overall retention missions. The Navy is expected to meet its end-strength targets.

On the reserve-component side, two of the six components made their recruiting goals in February.

The Army National Guard hit 81 percent of its goal, recruiting 5,105 soldiers out of 6,308 needed. The Army Reserve hit 94 percent of its goal with 2,254 recruited out of 2,387 needed.

The Navy Reserve missed its goal for the fourth month in a row. The component hit 94 percent of its goal, recruiting 821 sailors out of 869 needed.

The Air National Guard recruited 92 percent of its goal, with 734 out of 798 needed.

The Marine Corps Reserve attained 112 percent of its goal, recruiting 471 Marines on a goal of 421. The Air Force Reserve also exceeded its recruiting goal, recruiting 548 on a goal of 533 for 103 percent.

DoD officials said they expect all reserve components to meet end-strength goals for fiscal 2007.