Army ups bonuses for 'Quick Ship' recruits

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is offering bonuses of as much as $20,000 to new recruits who agree to report to basic training within a month.

The Army has a goal of at least 80,000 more recruits before the end of the federal fiscal year Sept. 30, the Chicago Tribune reports. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have increased the need for soldiers and made recruitment a harder sell.

In March, the military began offering $15,000 bonuses for "Quick Ship" or "Q.S." recruits. Recently, officials decided to up the ante.

"It's been a very tough recruiting environment for several years, and when we get into a tough environment, we're working very close in," said Douglas Smith, an Army spokesman. "We have to fill those training seats."

Recruits who sign up under the Q.S. program could be in combat within four months.