By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Montgomery is one of five sites across the nation selected to test a new program designed to attract Army recruits.
Starting in January, recruiters will offer new enlistees up to $40,000 toward their mortgage or to start a business. The $40,000 requires a five-year commitment and is available after finishing the term of service.
The Army Advantage Program will be tested in Montgomery, Cleveland, Albany, New York, Seattle and San Antonio before it is offered nationwide. The Army would not say why the cities were chosen other than through demographic research.
The Army has suffered a historic dip in recruiting the last few years during the war in Iraq. Despite failing to meet recruiting goals, it has increased its overall size by several thousand. Last year, the Army eased restrictions on recruits with criminal offenses to help bolster numbers.
The new financial bonus will give potential recruits a new choice of benefits.
The Army hopes the program will help it grow by another 27,000 soldiers by 2010.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)