U.S. MILITARY MEETS OR EXCEEDS MOST RECRUITMENT GOALS IN FIRST MONTH OF FISCAL 2013

U.S. Army soldiers jump from a hovering CH-47 Chinook helicopter during the helo-cast event on day two of the Best Sapper Competition, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., April 20, 2010. The Best Sapper Competition gives engineers throughout the Army the opportunity to compete in a grueling six phase and three day competition to determine who are the best engineers in the Army. DoD photo by Benjamin Faske.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DOD Announces Recruiting, Retention Numbers
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2012 - All four active-duty services and five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in the first month of fiscal 2013, Defense Department officials announced today.

Here are the active-duty services' accessions for October:

-- Army: 5,080 accessions, 101 percent of its goal of 5,050;

-- Navy: 2,256 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 2,256;

-- Marine Corps: 2,482 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 2,471; and

-- Air Force: 1,985 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 1,985.

All four services exhibited strong retention numbers for the first month of fiscal 2013, officials said.

As a result of the Navy's transition from a downsizing to a stabilizing posture, Zone A (Initial) is at 92 percent. However, the other two zones continue to exhibit strong retention numbers, officials said.

Five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for the first month of fiscal 2013.

-- Army National Guard: 4,211 accessions, 123 percent of its goal of 3,424;

-- Army Reserve: 2,098 accessions, 89 percent of its goal of 2,360;

-- Navy Reserve: 418 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 418;

-- Marine Corps Reserve: 996 accessions, 117 percent of its goal of 850;

-- Air National Guard: 647 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 647; and

-- Air Force Reserve: 691 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 691.

The Army Reserve finished short of its goal for the month as a result of precision recruiting, which was implemented in an attempt to rebalance the force. Increased job announcements should help mitigate this shortfall, officials explained.

All reserve components met their fiscal 2012 attrition goals, officials said. This indicator lags by one month due to data availability.