America’s Military Renaissance

By
Richard C. Young
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks to troops alongside President Donald Trump, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, Michigan Senator Aric Nesbitt, Michigan National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, and Michigan National Guard Assistant Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Kramer II at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Harrison Township, Mich., April 29, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Recruitment is soaring in the United States military, according to the National News Desk’s Cory Smith, who reports that:

For the first time in four years, all branches of the U.S. military have hit their recruiting goals.

The fiscal year ended this week, with the Navy announcing it brought in the highest total of future sailors since the early 2000s.

“Most importantly, every new Sailor we welcome strengthens our Navy for the challenges ahead,” Rear Adm. James Waters, the leader of the Navy Recruiting Command, said in a military release.

The Navy recruited over 44,000 sailors in fiscal year 2025.

The recruiting successes marked a stark turnaround from the struggles of the past few years.

In Newsmax, Jim Thomas reports that retired Army Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer said that the American military “is undergoing a “renaissance,” citing a recruitment surge and a renewed focus on lethality over politics.” He continues:

“The recruitment numbers speak for themselves,” Shaffer said on “The Chris Salcedo Show.”

“We’ve already met the numbers for this year, and we’re going to meet them for next year rapidly. I think what we are seeing right now is a renaissance.

“It’s much like the buildup that came in the ’80s after President [Ronald] Reagan came in. It’s very similar.”

The Department of War, recently renamed from the Department of Defense under an executive order from President Donald Trump, reported that the armed services recruited 12.5% more people in fiscal 2024 than in the previous year.

Katie Helland, director of military accession policy, said at a Pentagon panel on recruiting that the armed services increased their intake from 200,000 in fiscal 2023 to 225,000 in fiscal 2024, which ended Sept. 30, 2024.

She added that written contracts rose by 35%, and the Delayed Entry Program began fiscal 2025 with a 10% larger pool of recruits.

Every branch of the armed services met or exceeded its recruiting goals for fiscal 2025, ending years of recruitment struggles. This was a significant turnaround, driven by a combination of new policy and incentives, targeted programs, and broader economic factors.

Read more here.