Report: Army Reserve falters on recruitment as more troops go active

WASHINGTON — The Army Reserve, whose troops drive trucks on bomb-riddled roads and help set up local governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, is struggling to recruit soldiers.

The Army Reserve missed its recruiting goal by 5% last year and is 9% short of its target this year, records show. Halfway through the 2007 budget year, it was nearly 1,300 soldiers short of its midyear goal of 14,273.

Reserves provide much of the logistical support for troops in combat, such as transporting tanks from Kuwait to Iraq or helping local governments.

Reserve combat engineers are in demand for clearing roads of homemade bombs known as improvised explosive devices.

Before the 9/11 terror attacks, reservists could count on training one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. They might be called to active duty in an emergency.

Those days are over, said Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, the Army Reserve's top officer.

Read the rest at USA Today

Related Link:
Report: Black enlistment falls dramatically -- 33% drop since 2003

Related Link:
Report: $1 billion in enlistment bonuses paid last year

Related Link:
Marine Corps nears legal limit on involuntary mobilizations

Related Link:
Marines lift limits on home-schooled recruits

Related Link:
In testimony, National Guard Generals fight to expand GI Bill for reservists

Related Link:
Survey: Almost 80% of Individual Ready Reserve officers saying no to deploying

Related Link:
Perspective: Officer shortage looming in Army

Related Link:
Army recruiting at 9-year high, secretary says

Related Link:
Most youth ineligible for Army, military survey says

Related Link:
Pentagon acts to crack down on recruiter misconduct

Related Link:
Navy offers $40,000 re-enlistment bonuses for intel officers to overcome shortage

Related Link:
Marines offer re-enlistment bonuses of $10,000-$70,000; DOD eyes similar for all troops

Related Link:
Perspective: Guard enlists younger help in its drive for recruits

Related Link:
Perspective: Many reservists elevating family over re-enlistment

Related Link:
Perspective: With Bigger Army, a Bigger Task for Recruiters

Related Link:
Pentagon defends quality of U.S. military recruits

Related Link:
5 years later: Recruiting isn’t the same either