BOISE - It's no secret these days, finding work can be overwhelming.

Idaho Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Lonnie Kemp, got home from Kuwait last month. Since then he's been turned down for nearly 40 jobs.

"Minimum wage, it doesn't matter, just something to get your foot in the door and work your way up," Kemp said.

So he's going to turn his airman experience into a full-time career. It's one that starts with college to be come an officer, then active duty. And he says even that was tough to break into.

"They're rather limited as well, with the economy the way that it is," Kemp said.

The military isn't having a hard time finding people to enlist.

In fact, the Department of Defense says this was the first year the military hit all its recruiting goals since 1973.

The U.S. Army did even better, making 108 percent of its goal.

Idaho National Guard 1st Lt. Tim Peterson, is feeling the hit in Boise.

"There are soldiers looking for work, that just simply can't find work, that much I know," Peterson said.

"That's why I'm going down the road I'm going now," Kemp said. "If not I'd be working a civilian job, working, saving money."

Even though it's not his first choice, Kemp's job search headache is gone.

"I'm grateful that the option to go active duty was there," he said.

And he's enjoying the time he has left in Boise.