The US Army exceeded most of its recruiting and retention goals for October, the service said, even as it launched a new television and radio ad campaign dubbed "Army Strong." The strong recruiting numbers were the latest sign that the army has managed to surmount difficulties of enlisting fresh troops in the middle of an unpopular war.
The army said it exceeded its monthly recruiting goal for the active duty army by eight percent, bringing in 5,560 new recruits.
The army's goal is to recruit 80,000 new soldiers in fiscal 2007, which began in October.
The army reserve was six percent short of its monthly recruiting goal, but the army national guard enlisted 21 percent more new soldiers than required.
Re-enlistments in October far surpassed the goals for the active army (30 percent), the reserve (14 percent) and the national guard (43 percent).
A new 200 million dollar army advertising campaign aired its first television commercials Thursday featuring the slogan "Army Strong," the army said.
