Fiscal year 1997 was another successful year for Marine Corps recruiting. We achieved or exceeded all missions and quality standards. We have continued our recruiting success into FY98. This is very characteristic of this time of the year. The diversity mission is difficult, but through proper resourcing and management we will be successful.
Diversity is also an important issue in enlisted accessions.
This increase in non-prior service regular accessions, establishes the level of accessions MCRC must recruit on average through FY03. Total officer accession requirements will remain fairly constant, though our mission for female and minority officers will climb steadily until FY03. Recruiting will remain difficult in the foreseeable future due to these increased accessions, and because we also face keen competition within the available market. That market, which grows only slightly over the next couple of years, is characterized by negative sociological trends which include increased drug and alcohol use, broken families and lack of physical conditioning. Other problematic areas that must be addressed are increased college attendance and a strong economy.