Guard plan yields 500 recruits in 3 months

[unhappycamper]

Guard plan yields 500 recruits in 3 months
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 10, 2008 11:53:01 EST

A new Army recruiting program that relies on National Guard soldiers to help recruit for the active-duty Army has brought more than 500 signups in its first three months, according to the Guard.

The results surpass initial Army expectations, and total nearly one-third of the service’s annual goal of 1,600 for the pilot program, which was launched last Oct. 1, according to National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke.

Also, both the active-duty Army and the Guard met their recruiting goals for December.

The new recruiting program — called Active First — provides extra bonuses to National Guard recruiters who bring recruits into the active-duty Army. Under the program, the recruits join the Guard but indicate that they are intending to shift to active duty.

After they finish basic training, they can either sign up for 30, 36 or 48 months in the active Army, or change their mind and simply stay in the Guard. Recruits can get bonuses of as much as $40,000, $30,000 or $20,000 for the 48, 36, or 30-month signups, respectively, and then get an additional $20,000 bonus when they eventually shift back to the Guard.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_guardrecruits_080110/