WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The US Army has begun sending mailings to some 78,000 former servicemen this month asking them to rejoin the military with their old ranks and without having to undergo the basic training, an Army spokesman said on Tuesday.

    These former soldiers, including 7,000 officers, who left the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps less than five years ago, can retain their former ranks and are eligible for a signing bonus between 5,000 US dollars to 19,000 dollars, said Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hilferty.

    Unlike in the past, they can now return back to the Army without having to receive the basic training, but those who previously served in the Navy, Air Force and Marines will have to participate in a four-week transition course to convert them to Army soldiers, he said.

    The Army's recruiting goal for fiscal 2006 is set at 80,000.

    In the 2005 fiscal year ending Sept. 30, the Army recruited about 73,000 soldiers, 7,000 short of its goal. Officials cited the Iraq war as one of the factors that contributed to the short fall. Enditem