Dramatic Declines In Army Recruit Quality

About 71 percent of the Army's 67,398 recruits last year had at least a high school education . . . That's down from 83.5 percent in 2005.

The Department of Defense has set a goal of 90 percent of recruits having at least a high school diploma, citing research that shows most of those recruits finish their first enlistment.

Figures for Colorado roughly track with those of the nation. Three years ago, 83 percent of Army recruits from Colorado had at least graduated from high school. Last year, the figure fell to 69 percent.

From here.

The obvious inference is that the heavy demands of the Iraq War have impaired recruitment efforts.