Improving recruiting of the 6th Recruiting Brigade through statistical analysis and efficiency measures

Abstract

For the first time since the inception of the all-volunteer force in 1973, the percentage of minorities within the U.S. Army has reached a record high as presented by University of Syracuse’s Amy Lutz. In her journal in 2008, Who Joins the Military?: A Look at Race, Class, and Immigration Status, Lutz examines socio-economic status as an important predictor to military service. However, budget cuts and the downsizing of military personnel make the recruiting selection more competitive than ever before while the Army needs qualified individuals from all social classes and ethnic backgrounds. The U.S. Army’s 6th Recruiting Brigade (6th REC BDE) has the largest recruiting mission in the western United States. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that minority population growth concentrates throughout counties in this region. The fact that those minority groups predominate poses a unique challenge for the 6th REC BDE. This research explores statistically the effect that recruiters with additional language ability have on improving recruiting. Also, it examines how significant it would be to allocate recruiters with secondary languages in areas where those languages prevail. The statistical procedures used in this research have proved that language is a significant factor, and that those recruiters who have secondary language skills contribute significantly to the recruiting mission.