ARLINGTON, Va. - Both the Army and Air National Guard missed their recruiting goals for June, however, recruiting activities were adjusted and those goals were intentionally missed as a way to keep end-strength numbers within congressionally mandated limits, said Guard officials.
Still, even with the June adjustments, the Army Guard met 94 percent of its monthly recruiting goals with 4,544 accessions and a goal of 4,825, said officials. Additionally, high retention of Soldiers already serving in the Army Guard also contributed to the adjusted recruiting goals.
“This is good news for the Guard and the American people as it demonstrates that our nation and its allies can continue to depend on a strong and ready force of Citizen-Soldiers despite the high volume of continuing foreign and domestic demands placed on the National Guard,” said Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter, acting director of the Army National Guard.
As of June 30, the Army Guard has just shy of 363,000 Soldiers in its ranks, about 4,700 Soldiers above its projected, and congressionally mandated, end-of-year end strength of 358,200.
However, end-strength numbers are authorized to be up to 3 percent above that mandated limit and Guard recruiting activities were adjusted at the end of fiscal year 2009 to stay with those figures with planning for additional month-to-month adjustments as needed throughout 2010, said National Guard Bureau spokesperson Randy Noller.
Meanwhile, the Air National Guard met 99 percent of its recruiting goals for June, with 501 accessions and a goal of 507.
Recruiting numbers in both the Army and Air Guard will continue to be adjusted through the remainder of the fiscal year to maintain authorized end strength, said officials.