Army Set to Dramatically Grow Basic Training, Riding Recruiting High

Drill sergeants welcome a new soldier to Fort Leonard Wood

The Army is set to dramatically expand how many new recruits it can send to basic training this spring, riding the momentum of recent gains toward reversing a recruiting slump it has struggled with in recent years. By April, the service expects to have 10 additional basic training units established across Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, […]

Surge of Female Enlistments Helped Drive Army Success in Reaching 2024 Recruiting Goal

U.S. Army women aviators stand for a portrait on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Last year marked the first time in several years that the Army achieved its ambitious recruiting goals — primarily due to an increase in female recruits, according to internal service data reviewed by Military.com. Nearly 10,000 women signed up for active duty in 2024, an 18% jump from the previous year, while male recruitment increased […]

Do Air Shows Really Help Military Readiness and Recruiting? Congress Plans to Find Out.

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron ‘Thunderbirds’ perform at the California Capital Air Show in Mather, Calif.

Lawmakers want the secretary of defense to brief Congress on how sending military aircraft to air shows affects recruiting and readiness, as well as study the effect of bringing those planes to smaller rural communities. As part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, Congress has asked the next defense secretary to brief […]

Prep Courses, Policy Tweaks Largely Drove the Military's Recruiting Success in 2024

New recruits enlist in the Missouri Air National Guard

After years of negative recruiting news and headlines, all the military branches managed to eke out wins this year and meet their recruiting goals — largely aided by new programs and policies that allowed them to sign up recruits who would have been disqualified in previous years. However, despite the wins this year, between ambitious […]

Army Surpasses its Goal for Recruiting Active-Duty Soldiers, But Just Barely

U.S. Army soldiers march across Inouye Parade Field for their Initial Entry Training (IET) graduation ceremony.

The Army says it has hit recruiting goals for this year following a military wide slump, a sign the service may be overcoming the struggle to build up its ranks as it seeks a commanding presence in the Pacific to counter China. Service officials announced Thursday that the Army enlisted 55,300 new active-duty soldiers, marginally […]

The Army Is Set to Expand Basic Training, Fueled by New Recruiting Momentum

Newly arrived trainees compete in tug of war at Fort Moore

The Army is set to expand how many new recruits it can send to basic training starting in October, as officials are confident the service is digging out of a recruiting slump it has struggled with for nearly a decade. Fort Sill in Oklahoma and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri will get two additional basic […]