WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- The active duty Army has met its recruiting goals for 12 months in a row, U.S. Army officials said.
While it is good news for the service, which a year ago found itself falling short in recruiting the number of new soldiers needed to keep the Army at full strength while fighting two wars, it also reflects the fact that it has lowered its recruiting targets. The real test will come in June, July, August and September, when the Army attempts to make up the numbers with higher recruitment.
The Army needs to recruit 80,000 new soldiers a year. For the last nine months it has set its goals at 7,000 or lower. It will need to attract about 11,000 new soldiers in each of the next four months to hit meet its requirement, an Army official told UPI Friday.
The final tally for the month of May has not yet been released by the Pentagon.
The Army was short by about 6,700 recruits last year.
The recruiting shortfall has been offset by higher-than-normal retention rates of more experienced soldiers, as well as a stop-loss policy that prevents soldiers from leaving the Army while their unit is deployed, even if their service contracts are complete.
The Army last year won congressional approval to boost the maximum enlistment bonus from $20,000 to $40,000, from $20,000 to $40,000, and for a home mortgage program that makes soldiers who stay in the service for four years eligible for a $25,000 down payment. It also offers a "finder's fee" of up to $2,500 to soldiers who recommends a recruit who completes training.
