Military gets picky in recruiting; only 20% of applicants qualify

Uncle Sam may not want you

The Army’s active duty recruiting target for fiscal 2014 is the smallest in more than a decade, with further troop reductions expected.

2003: 73,000

2004: 77,000

2005: 80,000*

2006: 80,000

2007: 80,000

2008: 80,000

2009: 65,000

2010: 74,500

2011: 64,000

2012: 58,000

2013: 69,000

2014 : 57,000

*Recruiters fell 6,700 short of their goal in 2005. Every other year, targets were achieved or surpassed.

This story was originally published May 12, 2014 at 8:03 PM with the headline "Military gets picky in recruiting; only 20% of applicants qualify."