Dept. of Defense Town Hall Meeting, 6/29/05: Recruitment ?

Q Sir, I have a question for either one of you that would like to answer it in regards to the challenges that Recruiting Service and all the services are facing, some services more than others, in today's environment. What can the Department of Defense do to help us do our job better?



GEN. MYERS: I think a lot of it has been -- we're going through a list of good ideas. And let's talk about recruiting and not retention, because I think as most people know, retention is very good in both active and reserve components. That's not the issue. The issue is recruiting, and not particularly in your service, but in the Army and in the Army Reserve components.

Bonuses. I think enlistment bonuses today, for the Army at least, range between ,000 and ,000 to enlist. Educational benefits for those eligible have gone from, I think, ,000 to ,000. So there are things being tried. Plus, I think all the services, if you combine them all -- and the reserve components -- have added thousands of recruiters, and you know that, and at least how it affects you in the Air Force. That's part of what we can do. I think another part of what can be done is what the president of the United States did last night, our commander in chief. And he talked about the nobility of wearing this uniform and serving your country, and I think that's an important message, and particularly when your nation is being challenged. So senior leaders need to talk out, not just our commander in chief, but all of us. And I think we try to do that. And we can do more.

I think the moms and dads and aunts and uncles and grandmothers and grandfathers out there, and the brothers and sisters, need to understand and remind ourselves one more time, particularly as we approach the Fourth of July weekend, what we stand for in this country; that our freedoms are dear; that there's always been people that are willing to stand up and defend those freedoms. And it's as important today as it's ever been, perhaps more important. And it's a noble thing that we do.

And I think that's how we have -- this has been worked very hard. It will continue to be worked hard. I will tell you that for the month of June, United States Army active recruiting is over 100 percent of its goal, which is a turnaround from where they've been in the last several months. So there's a bit of good news in here. We'll see how it works out the rest of the year.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Have a wonderful Fourth of July. (Applause.)



Read entire Townhall Meeting Transcript: http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050629-secdef3201.html