Army Reaches 2006 Recruiting Goal Early

The Army is ending its best recruiting year since 1997 and expecting similar success in 2007, despite the weight of grim war news from Iraq, Army Secretary Francis Harvey said.

In an Associated Press interview, Harvey said the Army will enlist its 80,000th soldier for 2006 today, reaching its recruiting goal for the year with eight days to spare. That is a considerable turnaround from last year, when the Army missed its target for the first time since 1999.

Recruiters are making more use of the Internet to attract prospects, and the Army this year began allowing people as old as 42 to enter the service.