How our Army is Meeting its 2006 Recruiting Quota

While our Army is expected to meet its quota of 80,000 for the recruiting (fiscal) year ending September 30, they are making some compromises according to the Pentagon's own standards:

High school diploma: 81.2% (through August 2006), vs. Pentagon standard of 90%. Lowest since 1981 (80%).

AFQT Score above 50th percentile: 61%, exceeding (and therefore meeting) Pentagon standard of 60%. However, it's the lowest since 1985.

Cat IV recruits: 3.7% of the current cohort, below (and therefore meeting) maximum Pentagon standard of 4% which was recently doubled from 2%.

Waivers have increased, but there are further refinements to the process that make the numbers not directly comparable. These include looking at heavier, athletic recruits not as overweight but as strong soldiers, by doing a 15-minute stair-climbing test and 15 push-ups. The Army is also seeking to identify good soldiers within the larger cohorts they have traditionally sought to screen out. All of these developments are helpful and should be applauded.

Only one quarter of the primary cohort (age 17-24), or 4.6 million people, are even eligible to join the military. The rest are ineligible due to criminal, drug and medical problems, including 25% obesity. I guess this includes former College Republican National Committee (CRNC) Treasurer Chris Tiedeman and CRNC Chair Paul Gourley. Click here. And here.