Army re-enlistments in fiscal 2005 were the highest in
five years, said Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey Jan.
18. More than 69,500 soldiers re-enlisted between Oct.
1, 2004, and Sept. 30, 2005. The enlistment record
also looks brighter than it has for years, with
11,522 recruits signed up by mid-January against a
goal of 11,000. Nevertheless, the Army needs some
80,000 new recruits each year to balance its current
strength of 492,000 active-duty personnel against
losses. Last year, it missed that goal by about
6,600 troops, according to the Congressional Budget
Office.