The military reported its best recruitment numbers in more than 15 years in 2025, according to the Pentagon.
“In 2025, the department exceeded our annual active-duty recruitment accession goals across all five services,” Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata said Monday.
Tata credited President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth with the influx of new recruits.
Trump and Hegseth “are focused on our troops and our mission, and on ensuring that we remain the most lethal fighting force on the planet,” Tata said.
In 2025, every active-duty branch of the military met or exceeded its recruitment goal, the Department of War reported:
- The Army had a goal of 61,000 recruits and attained 62,050, totaling 101.72% of its goal.
- The Navy had a goal of 40,600 recruits and attained 44,096, totaling 108.61% of its goal.
- The Air Force had a goal of 30,100 recruits and attained 30,166, totaling 100.22% of its goal.
- The Space Force had a goal of 796 recruits and attained 819, totaling 102.89% of its goal.
- The Marine Corps had a goal of 26,600 recruits and attained 26,600, totaling 100% of its goal.
Additional factors are contributing to the recruiting surge, such as “courses that help improve overall aptitude among recruits and enhanced medical screening processes,” the Pentagon reported.
Recruitment for fiscal year 2026, which began Oct. 1, is already off to a strong start, according to Tata, who says the War Department “is on track to once again meet our recruiting mission.”
The Pentagon touted the success of its fiscal year recruitment numbers the same day that Trump announced a new class of American battleships.
Trump made the announcement alongside Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“As commander in chief, it’s my great honor to announce that I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand-new, very large, largest we’ve ever built, battleships,” Trump said.
The ships, which Trump says will be part of a new “golden fleet” of warships, are currently in the design phase.
The USS Defiant will be the first ship to be constructed, with a goal of completion by the early 2030s, according to the Pentagon.
“The future Trump-class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans,” Phelan said.