May Recruiting Shows Across-the-Board Success

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2009 – May was a banner recruiting month for every military service, but especially for the Marine Corps, which topped its active-duty goal by 42 percent and its Marine Corps Reserve goal by 12 percent, Defense Department officials announced today.

The Marine recruiting successes represent a particularly high point among across-the-board recruiting successes in which every service met or exceeded its May active-duty goal, officials said.

The reserve components reported similar progress. The three components that fell short of their projected May goals did so because only because they already have reached 112 percent of their year-to-date goals, officials explained.

The Army exceeded its active-duty goal by 4 percent, recruiting 4,044 soldiers. The Marine Corps reported 2,146 active-duty accessions, 42 percent above its goal of 1,516.

Meanwhile, the Navy and Air Force met their monthly active-duty goals, with 2,542 and 2,289 accessions, respectively.

In the reserve components, the Marine Corps Reserve reported 1,196 accessions, 212 percent of its May goal. The Air Force Reserve exceeded its goal by 7 percent, with 770 accessions. The Navy Reserve met its goal, recruiting 574 sailors.

Three reserve components that reported lower-than-initially-expected May recruiting figures all have achieved 112 percent of their year-to-date projections, officials said.

The Army National Guard signed on 3,026 members, 83 percent of its initial May goal. The Air National Guard, with 766 accessions, met 95 percent of its original goal. The Army Reserve recruited 3,178 members, 96 percent of its initial goal.

Officials noted that the May statistics represent the last monthly recruiting efforts before the 2009 high school graduations. This is expected to usher in a busy recruiting month as new graduates join the military.

Marine 1st Lt. Brian Block, a Marine Corps spokesman, called the May recruiting statistics particularly noteworthy because they were achieved without sacrificing quality.

“It says a lot about the organization of the Marine Corps and the tradition we have carried since we were originally founded,” he said. “We take the best and the brightest. And what ultimately attracts people to the Marine Corps is the honor of carrying the title ‘Marine.’”

National Guard Bureau spokesman Army Col. Jamie Davis called recruiting successes in the Army and Air Guard an encouraging sign of “the level of support and patriotism that American citizens have for their country.”

Army Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve, lauded continued recruiting successes in the Army Reserve. He noted that the Army Reserve reached its new 206,000-member end-strength objective a year ahead of schedule. During fiscal 2008, the Army Reserve exceeded its goals by recruiting more than 44,000 soldiers and re-enlisting more than 16,000 soldiers, he said.

Related Sites:
Defense Department News Release

[SandRat]

I have to quit hanging around the AF Zoomies.

[AZ .44 MAG]

I have to quit hanging around the AF Zoomies.

And I need to quit making jokes that don't carry well in print.

Are you in Phoenix or Tucson?

The AF has a big presence here in Tucson. I host business lunches several times a month. If there is a uniformed service member present I usually pick up their lunch tab, tip, and leave enough extra to buy them a couple of beers. I also make a point of leaving before they can thank me.

And I don't discriminate by branch. They all deserve our respect and support.

[SandRat]

Further south, Sierra Vista. Just outside of Ft. Huachuca. An Army post yes, but we have all services on post, and in town.

[AZ .44 MAG]

I know Sierra Vista, I’ve been there many times. My company has customers that have branches there and I visit a few times a year. Nice city and cooler than Tucson. When I first went there just I had to go to the Sorry Gulch Saloon for beers. I thought that was a great name for a bar. Also stayed in the Bella Vista Motel. Nice place but it had seen better days even then. And back then, 1993 or so, I don’t think there was much to Sierra Vista that wasn’t on Fry Blvd.

I’ve read that the Army has to suspend training operations because illegal aliens are in the area sometimes. If true, that’s disgusting. At least now there are armed soldiers at the Fry Blvd gate.

[SandRat]

I’ve read that the Army has to suspend training operations because illegal aliens are in the area sometimes. If true, that’s disgusting.

True and affects the weapons ranges mostly

At least now there are armed soldiers at the Fry Blvd gate.

Not always the case sort of Hit-N-Miss. The DoD cops are now always armed though.

[AZ .44 MAG]

They must know I’m coming then. Every time I go on on Ft Huachuca they’re there waiting for me.

[SandRat]

LOL