The US Army fell short of its monthly recruiting goal in February amid the protracted Iraq war and thus behind its full-year goal, Pentagon officials said.

The Army reached only 72.5 percent of its recruiting goal for February, the first time since May 2000, the Army Recruiting Command said. For the 2005 budget year, which ends in Sept. 30, the Army fell 6 percent short of its target.

"It is a matter of concern," Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said, adding that the Army is taking additional steps to meet the annual goal of 80,000 recruits.

Army Recruiting Command spokesman Douglas Smith said the Iraq war is partly behind the shortfall. "People are very alert to the fact of the risks that go along with Army service," he said.

The army reserve and army national guard have also fallen shortof their recruiting targets, the officials said. The army reserve recruiting was 10 percent short in January and 25 percent in February. The national guard has reported shortfalls for the firstfour months of the current fiscal year.

Di Rita said an improving economy and expanded job opportunities in the private sector were also contributing to the recruiting difficulty. The Army is putting more recruiters on the street and increasing bonuses to potential recruits, he said.

Source: Xinhua