Agencies: Navy Seas Smooth Sailing

Recruiters for the U.S. Navy haven't missed a beat through the war in Iraq, continuing to meet their goals even as the Army has seen signups drop. That's good news for incumbent Campbell-Ewald, Warren, Mich., as the Navy heads into a review of its $60-90 million marketing account, per the client. Agencies have until

July 8 to return RFPs available online.

C-E is also feeling good, sources said, because last year's upended Army review is expected to trim at least five potential competitors. The six finalists for the Army's $180 million marketing budget are expected to try again when RFPs go out later this month, per sources.

The Navy in May met its recruiting goal for the 47th successive month, signing on 1,947 sailors. The Army in May fell short for the fourth month in a row, recruiting 5,039 soldiers (75% of its goal). Army recruiting problems have been linked to the war in Iraq, where serving in the Navy is the safer choice, a source said.

"Basically you have two branches at war, the Army and the Marines, and two branches more or less at peace, the Navy and the Air Force," said a source in Navy recruiting. "Recruiting predictably follows that. So relative to our peers we're doing very well."

Officers at U.S. Navy Recruiting Command declined to comment.

C-E's campaign, which has run for five years, makes an appeal to technologically savvy youth with fast-paced ads tagged, "Accelerate your life."