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Washington Post story: "In March, the Army got 5,396 new recruits, topping its goal of 5,200, the 10th month in a row it has exceeded its monthly target."
Washington Post headline: Army recruiting below last year's levels
That means most of its recruiting must occur from June through September, when the monthly goals are all much higher than last year's.The Army exceeded it's goals every month last summer.
Meanwhile, the Christian Science Monitor reports more good news on Guard recruiting
HOUSTON -- Whenever potential recruits ask about their chances of being shipped off to Iraq if they enlist, National Guard recruiter Pierre Chatman doesn't sugarcoat it: 100 percent, he tells them.But that doesn't deter the determined:"We are the military. That's our job," says Houston's top recruiter. "We used to stress protecting the home front - and it was easier to do. But all that has changed."
In fact, things began turning around last June. And by the end of February, which marked the first five months of the fiscal year, the Army National Guard had already achieved more than half of its recruiting goal.Meanwhile:While other states are doing well, Texas is having an exceptional year. In the first five months of the fiscal year, it exceeded its annual goal by 648 new recruits.
Two of every three eligible soldiers continue to re-enlist, putting the Army, which has endured most of the fighting in Iraq, ahead of its annual goal.The Army was 15% ahead of its re-enlistment goal of 34,668 for the first six months of fiscal year 2006, which ended March 31. More than 39,900 soldiers had re-enlisted, according to figures scheduled to be released today by the Army.
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The Army has met or exceeded its goals for retention for the past five years, records show. It was 8% over its goal for 2005, and 7% ahead of its targets for 2004. The number of re-enlistments has exceeded the Army's goal by a larger margin each year since 2001.Soldiers like the Army, "and the war is not causing people to leave," says Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman. Through March, 2,325 U.S. troops had been killed in Iraq; 1,593 were Army soldiers.
The Pentagon announced in March that each of the armed forces was on track to meet its retention goal for the year.
I've noted before: We're 3+ years into Iraq; most of the privates, specialists, and lieutenants (and equivalent ranks in other branches) joined post-invasion. Many current E5's and O3's joined post-9/11. And retention - those signing on for additional tours - is high. In fact, there are damn few enlisted troops serving in any branch of the military now that didn't either enlist or re-enlist post 9/11.
Which is why the leftist "support the troops - bring them home" claptrap is officially worn thin.
Update: But the NY Times reports the peacetime officer corps is beating feet as fast as it can:
Last year, more than a third of the West Point class of 2000 left active duty at the earliest possible moment, after completing their five-year obligation.Honorable service completed, farewell, Godspeed.
For sake of argument: I always thought a couple years of active duty enlisted time would make a fine prerequisite for a Service Academy (or a commission) - could help identify the serious candidates.
