Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker talks to news reporters at the Pentagon on July 26, 2004, on the current state of the U.S. Army. Schoomaker was able to report that recruiting figures are excellent as are the numbers for retention of trained and experienced soldiers from all ranks. Shoemaker attributes this to the fact that today's young people recognize the serious threat to the nation posed by terrorism and are willing to come forward in defense of our ideals.