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U.S. military recruiting reached its highest level in more than 15 years during fiscal year 2025, with all active-duty service branches meeting or exceeding their accession goals, according to the Department of War.
Department spokesman Sean Parnell said the services recorded their strongest recruiting performance since 2009, with gains accelerating after November 2024.
All five active-duty branches met their targets. The Army exceeded its goal of 61,000 recruits by enlisting 62,050, while the Navy surpassed its target by more than 3,400 recruits. The Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps also met or slightly exceeded their goals, resulting in an average completion rate of 103 percent across the services.
Most reserve components also met their recruiting objectives, though the Army Reserve reached about 75 percent of its target.
Anthony J. Tata, undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness, said leadership emphasis played a key role in the turnaround, citing sustained attention from President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth on readiness and force strength.
Parnell said recruiting data showed a noticeable increase following the 2024 election and Hegseth’s confirmation.
Looking ahead, the department said recruiting for fiscal year 2026 has begun strongly, with nearly 40 percent of delayed entry program targets already met.
The gains follow signs earlier this year that recruiting shortfalls were beginning to ease after several challenging years. In June, department leaders said the services were on track to meet or exceed their targets after what lawmakers described as the most serious manning challenge for the all-volunteer force in decades.
Two years earlier, the Army reported a shortfall of about 15,000 soldiers, its largest gap since the draft ended in 1973. Officials attributed the decline to pandemic disruptions, reduced youth interest in military service, and competition from the private labor market.
Hegseth credited the early rebound to leadership focus and programs such as the Army’s Future Soldier Preparatory Course, which helps prospective recruits meet enlistment standards.
To maintain momentum, Hegseth established a Recruitment Task Force in June, co-chaired by Parnell and senior personnel officials. The group is tasked with identifying barriers to recruiting and recommending policy and administrative changes. The task force is focusing on reducing waiver backlogs, improving outreach to young Americans and giving recruiters faster tools while maintaining service standards.