Interesting Recruiting Facts
Monday July 7, 2008
Did you know? On average, it costs the Air Force approximately $7,900 to send a person through the enlistment process (computed from the time the applicant first walks into a recruiting office, until the day they ship out to basic training). The next closest service is the Marines, who spend a little more than $13,000 per recruit, followed by the Navy at approximately $14,500 per recruit. The Army, meanwhile, is triple the Air Force at $26,000. For every Air Force recruiter on the streets, there are about nine Army, five Navy and three Marine Corps recruiters.
According to a recent Department of Defense market survey, about 73 percent of American youth (18 to 25) are not qualified to join the military. Weight, medical or conduct reasons disqualify more than half of them.
According to a recent Department of Defense market survey, about 73 percent of American youth (18 to 25) are not qualified to join the military. Weight, medical or conduct reasons disqualify more than half of them.
Comments
Your comment above: For every Air Force recruiter on the streets, there are about nine Army, five Navy and three Marine Corps recruiters.
Not intending to stick up for the U.S. Army, but their recruiting goal is nearly 3 times that of the Air Force.
Active Duty Recruiting. (http://www.defenselink.mil/)
May Monthly. All services met or exceeded recruiting goals for the month of May (below) and have surpassed goals for fiscal 2008 to date. May 2008
Accessions Goal Percent
Army 5,568 5,500 101
Navy 2,983 2,983 100
USMC 2,656 2,172 122
USAF 1,888 1,888 100
Just because the Army has more recruits does not mean it should cost more for EACH ONE. The Army puts through 3 times as many as the Air Force, but they have NINE TIMES the amount of recruiters! Since they are putting so many through, they should have a streamlined process and be the lowest cost per recruit. You usually save money when you buy in bulk! HA!
Cost-per-recruit is based on several factors, including (but not limited to) military salaries for recruiting staff, advertising expenses, and enlistment incentives (such as enlistment bonuses).
One of the reasons the Army’s “cost-per-recruit” is so high is that they offer substantially higher enlistment bonuses than the other branches, and they spend much more on advertising.
Can you please post a link to the DoD survey? Thanks.
I’m afraid I don’t have a link to the DOD survey. I took this information from an article in Airmen’s Magazine (an official, USAF magazine by the Air Force News Service). The article can be read online at: http://www.airmanonline.af.mil/articles/story.asp?id=123103741.
Hope this helps!
Sarge Sez…
Revisiting past rants, this is all the more reason why recruits, no matter the number, failing, for whatever reason, to complete Initial Entry Training should be compelled to repay Uncle for the wasted tax dollars expended on those who feel they can simply walk away from obligations.
The Sarge
The most troubling thing about this information is that 73 percent of American youth (18 to 25) are not qualified to join the military due to weight, medical or conduct reasons. That is pathetic! I bet they would still be drafted though!
MR6479:
“I bet they would still be drafted though!”
Which pretty much proves that an all-volunteer force is of higher quality than a conscripted one and yes, it needs to be paid for.