All four branches of the military are expected to meet their recruitment targets this year, according to an Associated Press report. The Army, Navy and Air Force have struggled to do so in recent years, while the Marine Corps has consistently reached its goals.
The development comes at a time of record unemployment for the nation. Such prosperity is often a source of trouble for military recruiters, as they must compete with private sector employers for a limited pool of candidates. An upsurge in the number of students attending college has also shrunk the military's recruitment base.
Still, the Internet, multimedia advertising and a substantial increase in enlistment bonuses have all contributed to more successfull recruiting this year.
Last year, the Air Force broke a 20-year string of meeting or exceeding its recruitment targets. The Navy managed to hit its target last year, but fell a full 7,000 sailors short of its goal in 1998.