During fiscal year 1974, the first full year of operation under the all-volunteer force concept, the Department of Defense (DOD) recruiting commands have met the services' strength goals with no appreciable decrease in quality of recruits. The number of enlistees with high school diplomas declined slightly, while the number with average test scores increased. GAO found evidence that DOD may overstate quality in its reports. Progress is being made toward adopting a single aptitude test to be used by all services, however an agreement must be reached regarding interpretation of test results. The high school recruiting and testing program is expensive in relation to the number of actual accessions based on high school test scores. Three of the four services have initiated education liaison programs which are duplicative and create the undesirable impression that the services are competing.

"B-157371." COVER TITLE. PUBLICATION DATE STAMPED ON COVER.