Delayed Data

Looks like the Defense Department is trying to buy some time to put the best face possible on declining recruitment numbers. Check out this report from American Forces Press Service, the Pentagon's in-house news organ. It notes that monthly recruiting data, which had been made available to the public on the first day of each month, will now be delayed until the 10th. Why the change? Partly to allow a "more consistent release" of information, but also because the delay "provides DoD leaders more time to review recruiting data before it is released." Recruiting numbers "must be reasonably scrutinized" by the Pentagon before the public finds out about them, said Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a DoD spokeswoman.