CHICAGO The U.S. Army has awarded its $200 million advertising contract to Interpublic Group's McCann Erickson following a review, according to the client.

The selection of McCann in New York concludes a lengthy search process. The Army had launched a mandatory review in March 2004, but that process was ultimately scuttled due to undisclosed contracting issues.

A new competition began in April 2005. WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather in New York and Omnicom Group's BBDO in Atlanta were finalists along with McCann and incumbent Leo Burnett in Chicago.

McCann won a two-year contract, with three optional one-year renewals, making the business worth $1.35 billion over five years, according to the Army.

Burnett is expected to work on the account through March 2006.

"We are extremely proud of the work we have done to help ensure the U.S. Army attracts capable, committed men and women to serve and defend our country," read a statement issued by Burnett. "We thank the U.S. Army for their partnership over the past five years and wish them the best."

Army representative Paul Boyce would offer no details about McCann's upcoming work. He said the five-year-old tagline, "An Army of one," would continue for the short term. "There's no plan to change any part of the campaign at this time," Boyce said. "Obviously we're very open minded and we'll take a look at proposals in the future."

Eric Keshin, worldwide COO and North American regional director of McCann Worldgroup said, "The core of the problem was to understand the decision making process to join the Army among recruits and recruiters. It is probably the most important decision someone might make in their entire life."

McCann will draw on many of its Worldgroup and IPG siblings in its upcoming efforts for the Army, including Universal McCann (media), MRM (direct marketing), Momentum (event marketing), Weber Shandwick (public relations), Casanova Pendrill (Hispanic marketing), as well as independent Carol H. Williams (African American marketing).

The media mix has not been determined, and there is no date set yet for the launch of McCann's first campaign, Keshin said.

"There's a job to be done and we're prepared to do it," Keshin said in response to whether he or the agency had any concerns about recruiting in a time of war.

Keshin led the pitch team, along with McCann Erickson New York chief creative officer Joyce King-Thomas.

The Army has set an active recruiting goal of 80,000 for fiscal year 2006, which began in October. Its reserve recruit goal for 2006 is 25,500.

For 2005, the Army missed its goal of 80,000 by 6,627. It fell short of its reserve recruit goal by 4,626.