DOD SAYS RECRUITING ON TRACK

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Recruiting Remains on Track in Latest Statistics
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2013 - All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2013 through February, Defense Department officials announced yesterday.

Here are the recruiting numbers for each service over the first five months of fiscal 2013, which began Oct. 1 and runs through September:

-- Army: 26,978 accessions, 101 percent of its goal of 26,795;

-- Navy: 14,007 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 14,007;

-- Marine Corps: 11,131 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 11,112; and

-- Air Force: 11,874 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 11,874.

The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps exhibited strong fiscal 2013 retention numbers through February, officials said. The Navy had strong retention in the mid-career and career categories, and its 88 percent retention rate in the initial category is a result of the transition from a downsizing posture to a stabilizing posture, they added.

Five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their fiscal 2013 recruiting goals through February. The Army Reserve finished 1,410 accessions short of its goal.

Here are the reserve component numbers:

-- Army National Guard: 21,186 accessions, 103 percent of its goal of 20,664;

-- Army Reserve: 10,531 accessions, 88 percent of its goal of 11,941;

-- Navy Reserve: 2,237 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 2,237;

-- Marine Corps Reserve: 3,894 accessions, 101 percent of its goal of 3,853;

-- Air National Guard: 3,960 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 3,960; and

-- Air Force Reserve: 3,085 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 3,085.

All reserve components met their fiscal year attrition goals through January, and current trends are expected to continue, officials said. This indicator lags behind recruiting statistics by a month due to data availability, they added.