Overview

• The U.S. Army recorded its most successful recruitment months in December 2024 and January 2025, enlisting 346 new soldiers daily in December and achieving a 15-year high in January.
• The Army is halfway to its fiscal year 2025 goal of 61,000 recruits, following a successful 2024 where it met its target of 55,000 new active-duty soldiers after years of shortfalls.
• Key reforms, including the Future Soldier Preparatory Course and modernization of recruitment strategies, were cited as major contributors to the turnaround, beginning prior to Trump's reelection.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump have credited the surge to renewed enthusiasm under ‘America First’ leadership, though experts note broader economic and structural factors at play.
• Despite the progress, officials warn that recruitment challenges persist, with the Army’s current end strength at its lowest since World War II and global security demands increasing.