Recruiting Management in the National Guard

GAO reviewed the recruiting management in the Air National Guard (ANG) and the Army National Guard (ARNG). by an examination of pertinent records, interviewing management and recruiting officials, and observing the various organizational structures in operation.

GAO found that ANG appeared to be selecting, training, and managing its recruiting force in a manner which will achieve its recruiting objectives. In contrast, the ARNG goal-setting practices may be detracting from the depth of the actual recruiting problem. ARNG has an official policy that its units should develop their recruiting objectives on the basis of their ability to recruit personnel rather than on the manpower needed to reach desired peacetime manning levels. GAO believed that the use of the actual objectives needed to reach peacetime manning and the related resources necessary to accomplish that goal should be the driving force in all recruiting management resources decisions. In this way, if reductions in recruiting goals and related resourcing levels are necessary, they would be viewed in the proper context of providing less than adequate levels. GAO also determined that: (1) State ARNG practices may be hindering recruiting effectiveness; (2) recruiting management tools are not being fully utilized; and (3) recruiting monitoring and evaluation can be improved.