The Army has exceeded its fiscal year 2025 recruiting goal with four months to spare, officials announced Tuesday, with 61,000 future soldiers signing up and average per-day enlistments up over last year by more than 50%.
The massive surge in recruiting is a major win for the Trump administration and specifically for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has focused heavily on rolling back “woke” policies in the military that he said were hurting recruiting, military readiness and otherwise negatively affecting America’s armed forces.
One of the most high-profile of those steps is the identification and administrative separation of transgender troops from the force.
It’s not clear exactly what impact any one specific policy may be having on recruiting. But officials argue that this administration’s approach overall is enticing more young men and women to sign up.
“I’m incredibly proud of our U.S. Army recruiters and drill sergeants,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said in a statement. “Their colossal efforts and dedication to duty helped the U.S. Army accomplish our FY25 annual recruiting goal a full four months ahead of schedule.”
“I want to thank the commander in chief, President Trump, and Secretary of Defense Hegseth for their decisive leadership and support in equipping, training and supporting these future soldiers as they face a world of global uncertainty and complex threats,” Mr. Driscoll said. “Putting soldiers first is having a tangible impact and shows that young people across our country want to be part of the most lethal land fighting force the world has ever seen.”
This year’s goal of 61,000 new recruits was significantly higher than last year’s target of 55,000. In meeting the goal with months to spare in the fiscal year, the Army has reversed years of lagging recruiting numbers.
In fact, Army officials said that in 2025 average new-recruit contracts signed per day exceeded last year’s levels by as much as 56%.
Tuesday’s announcement comes ahead of the Army’s 250th anniversary on June 14.
