Army Recruiting Numbers Show Promise Despite Quota

By Donna Miles
July 13,2007
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - The Army fell short of its active-duty recruiting goal for June, but officials noted today that the Army is still ahead of its year-to-date goal and is expected to make its year-end goal.

June marked the second month in a row that the Army missed its active-duty recruiting goal, according to statistics released yesterday by the Defense Department. The active Army, with 7,031 accessions, came up almost 1,400 recruits below its 8,400-person goal. However, officials noted that it remains 741 recruits ahead of its year-to-date goal.

The Army Reserve and Army National Guard both came out on the plus side for June. The Army Reserve recruited 5,255 members, almost 400 troops more than its goal, and the Guard met its goal, with 5,342 recruits.

Only the Air National Guard, with 779 recruits, missed its goal, by 25 percent.

Maj. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, expressed optimism that July, August and September will tip the scales toward the plus side for active-duty recruitment. Traditionally, these are the Army’s biggest recruiting months due to the new crop of high school graduates.

But Edgecomb emphasized that the Army isn’t looking at the situation through rose-colored glasses.

"Overall, we are optimistic, but concerned," Edgecomb said.

She noted that the all-volunteer force is facing one of its biggest challenges in light of a protracted war that’s becoming increasingly unpopular among the American public.

"One of the greatest challenges to the all-volunteer force is being able to recruit during a period of protracted conflict," said Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.

"Recruiting is a tough environment, but the all-volunteer force has served the nation well for over 30 years, providing a military that is experienced, well-trained, disciplined and representative of America," he told Pentagon reporters today. "Since 9-11, we’ve had more than 900,000 Americans join the Army, and more than 700,000 soldiers have re-enlisted in the Army."

Maintaining that trend has sent the Army into overdrive to ensure a steady supply of high-quality new recruits. Edgewood praised the Army’s recruiting force that’s kept its eyes on the ball and continues recruiting top-quality men and women into the Army ranks.