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The United States military branches continue to thrive and expand under the leadership of President Donald Trump and the current White House administration.
According to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Navy hit its recruiting goal this week, three months ahead of schedule, adding 45,000 more Sailors to the ranks.
“This is what happens when strong leadership under President Trump, high standards, a return to perfecting the basics, and a mission that matters come together,” Hegseth said in a statement. “Americans are stepping up to serve because they believe in our country, our Navy, and our warfighters.”
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao also celebrated the milestone achievement, thanking President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for their leadership.
“This milestone belongs to our Navy recruiters who never quit, and to every American who stepped forward to serve something greater than themselves,” Cao said this week. “To those who answered the call: thank you for raising your right hand to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Our nation and our people are always worth fighting for. Hooyah.”
Under the leadership of President Trump, the U.S. military’s recruiting efforts recently saw their best numbers in 15 years, according to a report from the Department of War reviewing data from Fiscal Year 2025.
All five service branches accomplished their recruiting mission with “an average completion rate of 103 percent,” per the DOW. For example, in FY25, the Army recruited 62,050 Americans, and the U.S. Navy recruited 44,096 new Sailors. Even Space Force – the newest branch of the military – hit 102 percent of its recruiting goal last year.
“In 2025, the department exceeded our annual active-duty recruitment accession goals across all five services. … Why? Because we have a commander in chief and a secretary of war who are focused on our troops and our mission, and on ensuring that we remain the most lethal fighting force on the planet,” said Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata, during remarks last year.
