Army reaches recruiting goals for 2007

The Army has met its recruiting goals for 2007, the commanding general for Accessions Command said Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley declined to reveal specific recruiting numbers, citing a Defense Department announcement scheduled for Oct. 10.

The active component's goal for 2007 was 80,000 soldiers, while the Army Reserve was working toward 26,500 new soldiers. As of Aug. 31, both components were ahead of or on track with their year-to-date goals.

In 2008, the goals will again be 80,000 for the active Army and 26,500 for the Reserve, Freakley said.

The Army plans to grow to an end-strength of 547,000 by 2010, and the big push late in the fiscal year to recruit more soldiers, which included a $20,000 quick-ship bonus, has drained the service's Delayed Entry Pool.

Freakley estimated the service will have 6,500 to 7,000 soldiers in the DEP, or less than 9 percent of the 80,000 goal. The Army had about 12 percent of its goal in the DEP entering fiscal 2007.

The DEP consists of recruits who have enlisted but have not shipped to basic training. They have up to a year to ship, and they will not be counted in the monthly recruiting totals until they go to basic training.

"It's going to be a challenge this year as it is every year," Freakley said, adding that he would like to have about 35 percent of the Army's goal in the DEP.

"It's not going to be done this year," he said. "It's going to be a gradual grow-back."