United States Department of Defense

MILITARY PERSONNEL RECRUITING RESULTS FOR THE ACTIVE COMPONENT FIRST QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 1996

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy, Fred Pang, announced recruiting results for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 1996. Through December 1995, the Marine Corps and Air Force met their recruiting goals. The Army and Navy attained 99 and 97 percent of their goals, respectively. Historically, the Services encounter some problems during the first quarter because of the holiday season. This year the November Government shutdown also may have had an effect. The Services will enlist more new recruits in FY 1996 than in 1995 (189,482 versus 175,783).

Recruit quality remained strong. Through December, 94 percent of recruits were high school diploma graduates (HSDGs), the same as for this period last year. The percent of new recruits who scored in the top-half of the enlistment test, the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT Categories I through IIIA) dropped slightly to 67 percent from 70 percent for this time last year. Only one percent of new recruits scored in the lowest acceptable category (AFQT Category IV).

Demographically, social representation shows diversity in new recruits. Compared to the same period in FY 1995, the proportion of Black recruits increased slightly from 20 to 21 percent. Army led the way with 26 percent, while the Navy had a 23 percent, Black accession rate. The proportion of female recruits dropped to 17 percent compared with 18 percent for the same period last year -- the Air Force and Army accessed the greatest percentage (25 and 19 percent, respectively).

Pang emphasized that recruiting success is vital to the all-volunteer force and to the nation's security. "Over the past several years the Department has closely monitored recruit quantity, quality, and social diversity. Enlistment propensity declined as the Services experienced serious cuts in recruiting resources. In 1994-95, recruitment advertising was increased, and the 1995 Youth Attitude Tracking Study indicates that the decline in propensity may have abated. Continued investment in recruiting and advertising resources is required, however, to assure that the pool of young men and women interested in the military will be available to meet Service personnel requirements in the future."

Statistical summaries are attached.

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Military Personnel Recruiting Statistics for First Quarter FY 1996

ACTIVE COMPONENT ENLISTED ACCESSIONS BY SERVICE

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
	Non-Prior Service			Prior	Total		Non-Prior Service			Prior	Total
Service	Male	Female	Total	Service	Gains		Male	Female	Total	Service	Gains
Army	9.4	2.2	11.6	1.1	12.7		9.3	2.2	11.5	0.7	12.2
Navy	9.1	2.6	11.7	0.2	11.9		9.7	1.9	11.6	0.7	12.3
Marine Corps	8	0.5	8.5	*	8.5		7.2	0.6	7.7	*	7.8
Air Force	5.6	1.7	7.3	*	7.3		5.1	1.7	6.8	*	6.9
DoD Total	32.1	7	39.1	1.3	40.4		31.3	6.3	37.7	1.4	39.1

Recruiting Objectives (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
	Non-Prior Service			Prior	Total		Non-Prior Service			Prior	Total
Service	Male	Female	Total	Service	Gains		Male	Female	Total	Service	Gains
Army	9.6	2.1	11.7	1	12.7		9.6	2.1	11.7	0.7	12.3
Navy	**	**	11.7	*	11.9		**	**	12	0.7	12.7
Marine Corps	7.9	0.5	8.4	0	8.5		7	0.5	7.5	0	7.5
Air Force	**	**	7.3	0	7.3		**	**	6.8	0	6.8
DoD Total	**	**	39.1	1.2	40.4		**	**	39.1	1.3	39.3

Percent of Objective

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
	Non-Prior Service			Prior	Total		Non-Prior Service			Prior	Total
Service	Male	Female	Total	Service	Gains		Male	Female	Total	Service	Gains
Army	98	104	99	104	100		98	104	99	103	99
Navy	**	**	100	100	100		**	**	97	100	97
Marine Corps	101	103	101	*	101		103	108	103	*	104
Air Force	**	**	100	*	100		**	**	100	*	101
DoD Total	**	**	100	105	100		**	**	99	108	99

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA GRADUATE (HSDG) ACCESSIONS

(Non-Prior Service)

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	8.6	2.2	10.8		9.3	2.2	11.5
Navy	8.1	2.5	10.6		9.4	1.9	11.3
Marine Corps	7.5	0.5	8		7	0.6	7.6
Air Force	5.5	1.7	7.2		5.1	1.7	6.8
DoD Total	29.8	6.8	36.6		30.9	6.3	37.2

Percentage

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	92	100	93		93	97	94
Navy	89	95	90		91	96	92
Marine Corps	94	99	95		95	98	95
Air Force	98	99	98		99	100	99
DoD Total	93	98	94		94	98	94

ARMED FORCES QUALIFICATION TEST (AFQT) CATEGORY I-III ACCESSIONS

(Non-Prior Service)

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	9	2.2	11.2		9	2.2	11.2
Navy	9.1	2.6	11.7		9.7	1.9	11.6
Marine Corps	8	0.5	8.5		7.1	0.6	7.7
Air Force	5.6	1.7	7.3		5.1	1.7	6.8
DoD Total	31.7	7	38.7		31	6.3	37.3

Percentage

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	96	100	97		97	99	97
Navy	100	100	100		100	100	100
Marine Corps	100	100	100		100	100	100
Air Force	100	100	100		100	100	100
DoD Total	99	100	99		99	100	99

AFQT CATEGORY I-IIIA ACCESSIONS

(Non-Prior Service)

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	6	1.8	7.8		5.9	1.4	7.3
Navy	6.5	1.5	7.9		6.4	1	7.4
Marine Corps	5.1	0.4	5.5		4.6	0.4	5
Air Force	4.7	1.3	6.1		4.2	1.3	5.6
DoD Total	22.4	4.9	27.3		21.1	4.1	25.2

Percentage

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	64	81	67		63	66	63
Navy	71	56	68		66	51	64
Marine Corps	64	72	65		64	67	64
Air Force	84	81	83		83	79	82
DoD Total	70	71	70		67	65	67

"HIGH QUALITY" RECRUIT (HSDG/AFQT I-IIIA) ACCESSIONS

(Non-Prior Service)

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	5.3	1.8	7		5.2	1.4	6.6
Navy	5.4	1.3	6.8		5.6	0.9	6.5
Marine Corps	4.9	0.4	5.2		4.3	0.4	4.7
Air Force	4.6	1.3	6		4.2	1.3	5.5
DoD Total	20.2	4.8	25		19.2	4	23.2

Percentage

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	56	80	60		56	63	57
Navy	60	51	58		57	48	56
Marine Corps	61	71	61		60	66	60
Air Force	82	79	82		82	78	81
DoD Total	63	68	64		61	63	62

RACIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVE ENLISTED ACCESSIONS

(Non-Prior Service)

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	White	Black	Other	Total		White	Black	Other	Total
Army	7.9	3	0.8	11.6		7.7	2.9	0.9	11.5
Navy	8.7	2.5	0.6	11.7		8.3	2.6	0.7	11.6
Marine Corps	6.3	1.2	1	8.5		5.3	1.1	1.3	7.7
Air Force	5.8	1.1	0.4	7.3		5.1	1.1	0.5	6.8
DoD Total	28.7	7.7	2.8	39.1		26.4	7.8	3.5	37.7

Percentage

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	White	Black	Other	Total		White	Black	Other	Total
Army	68	26	7	100		67	26	8	100
Navy	74	21	5	100		71	23	6	100
Marine Corps	75	14	12	100		69	14	17	100
Air Force	79	15	6	100		76	17	8	100
DoD Total	73	20	7	100		70	21	9	100
18-24 year-old youth	70	14	16	100		70	14	16	100

GENDER DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVE ENLISTED ACCESSIONS

(Non-Prior Service)

Total Number (Thousands)

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	9.4	2.2	11.6		9.3	2.2	11.5
Navy	9.1	2.6	11.7		9.7	1.9	11.6
Marine Corps	8	0.5	8.5		7.2	0.6	7.7
Air Force	5.6	1.7	7.3		5.1	1.7	6.8
DoD Total	32.1	7	39.1		31.3	6.3	37.7

Percentage

	FY 1995 thru December					FY 1996 thru December
Service	Male	Female	Total		Male	Female	Total
Army	81	19	100		81	19	100
Navy	77	23	100		84	16	100
Marine Corps	94	6	100		93	7	100
Air Force	77	23	100		75	25	100
DoD Total	82	18	100		83	17	100

Marine Corps	50	54	52	55	65	68	68	67	66	69	71	68	71	66	64	68
Air Force	61	68	71	69	71	77	84	84	85	86	86	80	81	84	82	82

High Quality (HSDG / I-IIIA)

DoD	45	52	53	56	57	60	61	58	64	72	74	67	68	67	62	65
Army	39	45	47	52	54	58	52	55	62	78	78	66	66	65	57	63
Navy	45	54	54	51	48	52	52	48	55	62	66	64	63	61	56	57
Marine Corps	43	48	49	53	65	66	61	63	62	67	70	66	68	63	60	65
Air Force	56	66	70	69	71	76	82	82	85	85	85	79	80	83	81	81

AFQT Category IV

DoD	15	11	10	7	4	5	5	6	3	0.5	0.2	0.8	0.7	0.6	1	2.6
Army	22	15	13	9	4	4	5	7	2	0.9	0.4	2.2	1.9	1.7	2.9	2.9
Navy	12	10	11	10	9	10	10	11	7	0.4	0	0	0	0	0	4.7
Marine Corps	12	9	7	4	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.6	0.1	0	0	0	0	0.3	0.2
Air Force	8	3	2	0.9	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2