Recruiting for the All-Volunteer Force

Since the all-volunteer force began, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the military services have substantially recruited the quantity and quality of personnel needed. Recruiting shortfalls from July 1 through December 31, 1976, aroused some concern for the level of recruiting that might be experienced over the next several years; however, the 6-month period from January through June 1977 showed improvement.

DOD and the military services have expanded the recruiting program to accommodate the volunteer force concept. More than 1,170,500 people have been recruited into the all-volunteer force through fiscal year (FY) 1976, at a cost of $1.48 billion. By the end of 1978, approximately 1,975,000 people will have been recruited at a 5-year recruiting program cost of about $2.66 billion. The management and operation of the recruiting program--consisting of the recruiting staff, advertising, enlistment bonuses, and recruit examining and processing--remain the key elements of recruiting success. The size and composition of the recruiting forces is believed to be closely related to success in meeting quantity and quality goals. For FY 1978, the recruiting forces will cost approximately $378.4 million; advertising will cost about $105.6 million. The enlistment bonus program has increased from $43 million during FY 1974 to a proposed $74.5 million for 1978.