The Navy plans to target more female recruits in 2010. Currently, 15.4 percent of the Navy enlisted force are females, and the Navy wants to increase that number to at least 20 percent. While the overall active duty enlisted recruiting goal for 2010 remains the same (35,000), the Navy hopes to recruit at least 7,996 female recruits (up from 7,474 in fiscal year 2009).

According to officials, the Navy wants women in "nontraditional" ratings, such as engineering and combat systems, instead of the clerical or health care fields women have to volunteer for in the past.

The Army has announced a new program which affects active duty enlisted Soldiers with more than 3 years but less than 71 months of service, according to an article in the Stars & Stripes.

Under the new program, Soldiers who have fewer than 180 days left on their enlistment will be given a choice when their units deploy: They will be offered incentives to complete the deployment or be involuntarily separated up to 90 days prior to the end of their enlistment. According to the article, other than their regular pay and allowances, soldiers who are subject to the involuntary discharge will not lose any rights or benefits they would have received if allowed to complete their tours of duty, the message states. Furthermore, unearned portions of enlistment or re-enlistment bonuses will not be recouped. This program is being implemented because the Army has decided to end its active duty STOP-LOSS program, effective January 1.

Just when you thought the "down-sizing was over, the Air Force has announced that it needs to cut around 3,700 enlisted airmen and officers in 2010 and 2011.

The cuts are necessary due to better-than-expected re-enlistment and retention rates, according to officials. Targeted for the down-sizing will be enlisted folks with more than 20 years of service, and those with less than 14 years of service. Among officers, the Air Force will implement programs for the early retirement of selected Lieutenant Colonels (O-5) and Colonels (O-6).

Beginning Jan. 1, all master sergeants must complete the 6½ week resident Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy before they are promoted to senior master sergeant (E-8), according to an Air Force Times article.

Before this policy change, completion of the Senior NCO Academy, at Air University at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., was required only before promotion to chief master sergeant (E-9).