US Army recruitment reaches highest level in 15 years

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

U.S. Army recruitment has reportedly reached high levels not seen in 15 years. The news was shared on X by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Army enlisted around 350 soldiers per day in December 2024.
In 2022, the Army missed its recruitment goal by 15,000.

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Army recruitment reached its highest level in 15 years, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This increase comes after recent challenges with recruitment, including significant shortfalls in the past few years.

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Hegseth shared the news on X, stating, “In December 2024, the U.S. Army had its best recruiting number in 12 years. In January 2025, the Army hit its best recruiting number in 15 years.”

BREAKING: In December 2024, the @USArmy had its best recruiting number in 12 years.

In January 2025, the Army hit its best recruiting number in 15 YEARS.

BOTTOM LINE: America’s youth want to serve under the bold & strong “America First” leadership of @realDonaldTrump.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 4, 2025

Army reports 346 new recruits daily in December

The U.S. Army enlisted nearly 350 new soldiers per day in December 2024.

The Army touted its recruitment achievement on X, saying,
“@USAREC had their most productive December in 15 years by enlisting 346 Soldiers daily into the World’s greatest.”

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Recent shortfalls in Army recruitment and new targets

In 2022, the Army missed its target of 60,000 recruits by 15,000. Similarly, in 2023, the Army fell short of its 65,000 enlistment target by 15,000. However, in 2024, the Army successfully met its revised goal of 55,000 recruits.

The Army is optimistic about surpassing its recruitment goals in 2025. Officials have set a target of 61,000 recruits. The Army announced last month it believes it will recruit 61,000 new soldiers and 20,000 additional recruits through the Delayed Entry Program for 2026.

Army secretary nominee criticizes recruitment goals

Daniel Driscoll, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Army secretary, raised concerns during his confirmation hearing last Thursday, Jan. 30. Driscoll suggested that the Army’s recruitment goals have been set too low and called for further action.

“For the last 3-4 years, we’ve missed our goals,” Driscoll said during his confirmation hearing. “Even the goals we hit from the outside, it seems as if the Army lowered their goals. The best analogy I heard is the Army threw the dart at the dartboard and then drew the bullseye around where the dart landed. That’s not the best way to staff an army. We have the fewest number of active soldiers that we’ve had since World War II, even as conflict is erupting around the world.”

Tags: Donald Trump, Military recruiting, Pete Hegseth, U.S. Army, U.S. military

[Karah Rucker]

ARMY RECRUITMENT HAS REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 15 YEARS –

THAT’S ACCORDING TO DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH –

POSTING THE NEWS ON X.

HEGSETH WROTE – “In December 2024, the @USArmy had its best recruiting number in 12 years. In January 2025, the Army hit its best recruiting number in 15 YEARS.”

THE U.S. ARMY REPORTED NEARLY 350 NEW SOLDIERS WERE ENLISTED DAILY IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

THIS COMES AFTER THE MILITARY HAS FACED RECRUITMENT SHORTFALLS IN RECENT YEARS.

IN 2022 – THE ARMY MISSED ITS 60 THOUSAND ENLISTMENT TARGET BY 15 THOUSAND.

IN 2023 – THE ARMY MISSED ITS 65 THOUSAND ENLISTMENT TARGET BY 15 THOUSAND.

BUT IN 2024 – THE ARMY MET ITS 55 THOUSAND ENLISTMENT TARGET.

THE ARMY ANNOUNCING LAST MONTH IT EXPECTS TO HIT ITS RECRUITMENT GOAL FOR 2025 – AND THEN SOME.

THE BRANCH BELIEVES IT WILL BRING IN MORE THAN 81 THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS THIS YEAR – INCLUDING 61 THOUSAND SOLDIERS AND 20 THOUSAND RECRUITS THROUGH THE “DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM OF 2026”.

WHILE THE ARMY IS OPTIMISTIC OVER ITS RECRUITMENT EFFORTS –

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NOMINEE FOR ARMY SECRETARY – DANIEL DRISCOLL –

SUGGESTED IN HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING LAST THURSDAY –

THE RECRUITMENT GOALS ARE SET TOO LOW AND MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

“For the last 3-4 years, we’ve missed our goals. Even the goals we hit from the outside, it seems as if the army lowered their goals. The best analogy i heard is the army threw the dart at the dart board and then drew the bullseye around where the dart landed. That’s not the best way to staff an army. We have the fewest number of active soldiers that we’ve had since World War II, even as conflict is erupting around the world.

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