The current administration has revitalized American military recruitment, with the Army exceeding its fiscal year 2025 goal of 61,000 active-duty soldiers four months ahead of schedule.
This remarkable achievement follows years of recruitment struggles during the past administrations.
The Army’s success marks its earliest recruitment goal achievement since 2014, delivering 61,000 new recruits with four months still remaining in the fiscal year.
This target represents more than a 10% increase over last year’s goal of 55,000 soldiers, demonstrating the military’s renewed strength and appeal under the current administration.
Daily contract averages have exceeded last year’s levels by up to 56%, showing remarkable momentum in attracting new service members.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll directly credited the Commander-in-Chief for this dramatic turnaround.
“I want to thank the commander in chief, President Trump, and Secretary of Defense Hegseth for their decisive leadership and support which helped make this feat possible,” Driscoll said.
Moreover, the achievement is particularly significant given the Army’s previous recruiting struggles.
For two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023, the Army failed to meet its targets, contributing to a military-wide shortfall of 41,000 recruits in 2023 alone.
This failure occurred during a period of declining standards and woke policies that damaged military appeal and readiness.
The Army implemented several strategic changes in October 2023 that have paid dividends.
These include expanding the Future Soldier Preparatory Course to help qualified Americans overcome barriers to service, streamlining the enlistment process with additional medical providers, and leveraging new technologies.
Importantly, these improvements maintained high standards while removing unnecessary obstacles to service, unlike the standards-lowering approach favored by progressive military leadership.
Recruitment bonuses have been a key factor in this success, with some recruits receiving up to $50,000 to join.
The Army has also exceeded its previous fiscal year’s goal by 11,000 recruits, placing them in a delayed entry program.
These successes come despite the Army cutting 24,000 positions in 2024 as part of a restructuring effort that focused on already vacant slots.
The Army’s official statement acknowledged this achievement “represents a significant turning point for the Army and indicates a renewed sense of patriotism and purpose among America’s youth.”
This resurgence of patriotic spirit reflects a broader cultural shift as Americans once again embrace traditional values of service and sacrifice under leadership that respects military traditions and strength.
With the summer months historically being the best for Army recruiting still ahead, the military branch plans to continue its recruiting efforts and place additional recruits in the Delayed Entry Program.
Meanwhile, the Army has consistently met its retention goals for seven consecutive years, demonstrating that once Americans join the service, they find purpose and meaning in defending the nation and its values.
