and I don't think he could question the source......
The U.S. Army: The U.S. Armed Forces' desired end strength, especially that of the Army, has become a subject of major concern. Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and other deployments have heightened military manpower demands, and great apprehension exists that Reserve Components (RCs) especially are experiencing severe recruitment and reenlistment problems.
http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume3/september_2005/9_05_2.html*****
Better yet - How about a FAUX news story????
General: Army to Miss Recruiting Goals in '05
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army (search) will miss its recruiting goals this year but will be able to sustain troop levels in Iraq over the next four years, a high-ranking general told FOX News.
Lt. Gen. James Lovelace (search), the Army deputy chief of staff, said the Army can sustain 100,000 in Iraq for the next four years if needed without "breaking the force" but he said it would include three or four rotations for some troops.
"We're gonna fall short of our recruiting goal this year. We know that,” Lovelace told FOX News. “We're putting in place mitigation plans to begin to address it in ’06."
((Although this article does say REELISTMENT is record......)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,166490,00.html*****
ARMY ANNOUNCES NEW RECRUITING CHIEF AS RECRUITING GOALS LAG
8/18/2005
Tuesday the Army announced that the Army Recruiting Command Headquarters will have a new commanding general effective Oct. 12, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick . . . This change of command occurs as the army is facing one of its toughest recruiting periods.
The monthly goals of both June and July were met, but the Army still has a long way to go before reaching the FY 2005 goal of 80,000 recruits. The Army, As of July 25, has achieved only 55,207 of that objective, a shortfall of 24,793.
The Army Reserve goal for FY 2005 is 22,175 and, as of July 25, the Army Reserve has recruited 15,334. The Army Reserve lacks 6,841 to reach their FY 2005 goal.
The Army has taken several steps to increase the numbers of recruits. First, recruiting incentives have increased, some to the highest levels ever. Current incentives the Army include:
http://www.fednews-online.com/view_publication.aspx?publicationId=8250 *****
Stat chart.......
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050810-4393.html*******
July Recruiting, Retention Figures Reflect Continued Success
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2005 –
. . . But he acknowledged that across-the-board recruiting successes in June and July may not be enough to make up for springtime slumps when the services, particularly the Army, tally up their year-end recruiting numbers. "Success for the year is still going to be a challenge," he said.
Summer months always are better recruiting months than springtime, with new high school graduates providing a larger potential recruiting pool, Carr said.
In addition, a boost in the number of recruiters and the incentives they can offer for joining the military is paying off, Carr said. DoD has asked Congress to increase the top enlistment bonuses beyond $20,000, and Carr said he expects this request, once approved, to further help military recruitment.
A continuing problem confronting recruiters is that adults who influence young people's decision to join the military - parents, teachers, coaches and others - are 9 to 10 percent less likely than in the past to recommend military service. As a result, Carr said, recruitment efforts are increasingly addressing not just potential recruits, but also their influencers, many whose only exposure to the military is based on what they see on television or in the movies.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050810_2387.html*****
Although, I seem to remember hearing back in the summer - that they had LOWERED their quotas to make it look like they were meeting them. I'm sure I heard that on NPR and maybe on here?
*****
ALSO: This article (following) has nothing to do - overtly- with the issue - no stats or anything, but fascinating reading, nonetheless........
http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume1/september_2003/9_03_2.html