All active branches met or surpassed November recruiting goals

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, December 13, 2006

ARLINGTON, Va. — All active branches of the service met or surpassed their November recruiting goals, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.

The Army topped the list with 6,485 new recruits, or 105 percent of its recruiting goal, a Defense Department news release says. Of the other services: The Marine Corps achieved 104 percent of its goal with 2,095 recruits; the Navy met 100 percent of its goal with 2,887 recruits; and the Air Force hit 100 percent of its goal with 1,877 recruits.

The Army National Guard led reserve components with 5,094 recruits, or 113 percent of its November goal, the news release says. The Air National Guard made 115 percent of its goal with 752 recruits; the Marine Corps Reserve achieved 102 percent of its goal with 547 recruits; and the Air Force Reserve met 100 percent of its goal with 436 recruits.

The Navy Reserve fell short of its November recruiting goal with 687 recruits, or 91 percent of its goal; and the Army Reserve made only 79 percent of its goal with 1,888 recruits, the news release says.

The Army Reserve expects to make up this shortfall in January, said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Brian Hilferty in a Monday e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

On the retention side, the Army National guard met 137 percent of its goal with 5,930 retentions, and the Air National Guard got 101 percent of its goal with 1,607 retentions, a Defense Department official said on Tuesday.

No retention information was available on the other reserve components, the official said.