Army Woos Recruits With 15 Month Hitch

The Army will give recruits the option to serve as little as 15 months in the active-duty force before transferring to the reserves in a program aimed at boosting recruitment. At a minimum, a typical active-duty enlistment includes four years on active duty followed by four years as an inactive member of the Individual Ready Reserve. Soldiers can opt to re-enlist or go into the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which have a greater likelihood of being called to active duty. Under the new plan, enlistees still will sign up for an eight-year commitment. But after training, they can serve for as little as 15 months on active duty followed by two years in the National Guard or Army Reserve, according to a statement from the Army. They can serve the remainder of their eight-year commitment in the active or inactive reserves or in programs such as Americorps or the Peace Corps, the statement said. The 15-month plan is available to people signing up for 59 specialties in the Army, from infantryman to helicopter mechanic. Since 2003, the program has been run as a pilot in a few recruiting stations, but it now is going nationwide, said Maj. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, chief of Army recruiting. He noted the plan to reporters while describing "the toughest recruiting climate we've ever faced in the all-volunteer army." The Army has said it is behind on its recruiting goals for the year.