The Army National Guard will fall 5,000 soldiers
short of its recruiting goal this year, in part because fewer in the
active-duty force are switching to part-time service, knowing how
frequently Guard units are being dispatched to war zones, the Guard's
top general said Thursday. It will be the first time since 1994 that
the Guard has missed its sign-up goal. Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum,
chief of theNational Guard Bureau, said in an Associated Press
interview that he's concerned by the shortfall but believes it will not
be a long-term trend. [more 
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