The United States Army has reached a significant milestone in recruitment, achieving its highest monthly enlistment numbers in 15 years under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Pete Hegseth announced the news on social media, stating, “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.” He attributed the success to the appeal of strong leadership, adding, “BOTTOM LINE: America’s youth want to serve under the bold & strong ‘America First’ leadership of @realDonaldTrump.”
According to a report by Military.com, the Army has made remarkable progress towards its recruitment objectives for fiscal year 2025, which began in October. By January, the Army had already reached the halfway mark toward its ambitious goal of enlisting 61,000 active-duty soldiers—an increase from the 55,000 target in fiscal year 2024.
The Army’s improved recruiting figures mark a sharp turnaround from the shortfalls experienced in recent years. The service had previously struggled with enlistment due to various factors, including rising obesity rates, academic eligibility challenges, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recruitment outreach.