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Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, said the Army took in 170,000 men and women last year, which was about the size of the population of Newport News, Va.
According to Bostick, thus far in fiscal year 2009, which began in October, the regular Army is at about 105 percent of goal, and the Army Reserve is at 112 percent of its goal.
"It's the best start we've had in about six years," Bostick said. "I'm fully confident we'll accomplish the 78,000 mission for the regular Army and 26,500 mission for the Army Reserves."
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It's done through attrition all the time.
Maybe you’re not understanding. I didn’t say that recruiting is down or that recruiting efforts haven’t been growing or aren’t successful. What Drew was suggesting is swapping out 5,000 new troops ON TOP of regular recruiting activities. This would be 5,000 troops leaving in addition to the normal attrition rates. Then he followed by claiming there’s a ideological shift going on (still unsubstantiated) that is supposably going to be filled through enlistment efforts, but without showing proof. We’re supposed to simply accept his anecdotal observation as authoritative.