The following table shows the percentage of non-prior service active-duty Army recruits who are defined as 'high quality.' The Department of Defense (DoD) defines 'high quality' as those recruits who

The table below shows the top 100 counties in the U.S. ranked according to active-duty Army recruitment rates (recruits per 1000 youth).

The table below shows the total number of active-duty Army recruits,
and the recruitment rate (number of recruits per 1000 youth), for fiscal year
2006 and 2007 for each state. States are ranked according to recruits
per 1000 youth.

The table below shows active-duty Army recruitment rates (recruits per 1,000 youth) by region for fiscal year 2007.

The graph below shows the representation of active-duty Army recruits for 2004 and 2005 according to the median household income of their ZIP code.  (Data are not available for the individual recruit's household income.)  Each bar represents the ratio of two proportions:  the share of total recruits living in ZIP code areas where median household income falls within the specified range over the share of the total youth population living in the ZIP code.  A score of more than one means the income range is over-represented.  A score of less than one means the range is under-represented.  Note that the peak of the bars falls in the range of $30,000 to $59,999.  In other words, neighborhoods with low- to middle-median household incomes are over-represented.  Neighborhoods with high-median household incomes are under-represented.  (The comparable median household income for the U.S. is $47,837.)

The comparison between 2004 and 2005 indicates that upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods have fallen in representation from 2005. In other words, wealthier neighborhoods are less represented in 2005 than they were in 2004.  All neighborhoods with median household incomes between $30,000 to $54,999 increased in proportion.  All neighborhoods with median household incomes $55,000 or more decreased.  Taken together, the entire range from $55,000 and above became more under-represented.

The table below shows the top 100 counties ranked by the number of
active-duty Army recruits in 2004 (not reserves or National Guard).

The graph below shows the representation of active-duty Army recruits for 2004, 2005, and 2006 according to the median household income of their ZIP code. (Data are not available for the individual recruit's household income.) Each bar represents the ratio of two proportions: the share of total recruits living in ZIP code areas where median household income falls within the specified range over the share of the total youth population living in the ZIP code. A score of more than one means the income range is over-represented. A score of less than one means the range is under-represented. Note that the peak of the bars falls in the range of $30,000 to $59,999. In other words, neighborhoods with low- to middle-median household incomes are over-represented. Neighborhoods with high-median household incomes are under-represented. (The comparable median household income for the U.S. is $47,837.)

Upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods have fallen in representation from 2004. In other words, wealthier neighborhoods are less represented in 2005 and 2006 than they were in 2004.

 The following table shows the percentage of non-prior service active-duty Army recruits who are defined as 'high quality.' The Department of Defense (DoD) defines 'high quality' as those recruits who are both tier 1 (have a regular high school diploma or above) AND have scored in upper half of the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). The DoD norms the scores of the test through its wide administration of the test on youth across the country in high schools and elsewhere (not just recruits).

Statistics were derived from data obtained by NPP through a FOIA.

A new analysis of Army recruiting in 2006 shows that the wealthier neighborhoods remain under-represented while low- and middle-income neighborhoods remain over-represented. NPP releases the first installment of information about military recruiting in fiscal year 2006 with analyses by ZIP code, county and state.