Helping the Army Meet Recruiting Goals

[unhappycamper]

Helping the Army Meet Recruiting Goals
Army News Service | C. Todd Lopez | January 11, 2008

WASHINGTON - During a press conference Thursday at the Pentagon, the Army's senior leader said the National Guard's "Active First" program has contributed to the Army staying on-target to reach recruitment goals.

"Last month we announced our plans to accelerate end-strength growth to achieve our 74,000 increase by 2010," said Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. "We're on track to meet that goal. And if trends continue, we will exceed it. Active First deserves growing credit for helping us meet that goal."

More than 500 recruits have enlisted under Active First since the pilot initiative began Oct. 1. Under the program, young men and women are recruited by the National Guard to complete a term of service in both the Active and National Guard components of the Army. Those recruits are paid bonuses based on the duration of the active service commitment they choose to accept.

Secretary Geren has set a goal of 1,600 enlistments for the program in Fiscal 2008. Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, said he believes the service will have no trouble meeting that goal because of the trust the American public has in the National Guard and because of the care the Army provides to its Soldiers.

"The Secretary has tasked us with a goal of 1,600 and that is not going to be hard," he said. "It's about trust, it's about reaching out with that big force that we have got out there with recruiters and recruiting the home team. The big thing about the National Guard, the big thing about the Army, is we want to take youngsters and put them up on that first step and help them all the way through. That's where you get the private, personal mentorship and the care to make sure that you graduate and come out the other end."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,159838,00.html



uhc comment: Here's a link to the Guard's Active First program --> http://www.1800goguard.com/activefirst/index.php