WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Army had its best recruiting numbers in 15 years in January.
"In January 2025, the Army hit its best recruiting number in 15 YEARS. America’s youth want to serve under the bold & strong “America First” leadership of @realDonaldTrump," Hegseth said.
He also noted the U.S. Army had its best recruiting numbers in twelve years in December.
The announcement comes after President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order that terminated Diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the Federal Government, including in the military.
According to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, the Army met its recruiting goal of 55,000 for Fiscal Year 2024. The Army did not meet its recruiting goal of 65,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 or 60,000 in Fiscal Year 2022.
Pete Hegseth, 44, was confirmed to lead the Defense Department after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the 51-50 tie-breaking vote in the Senate last month. Hegseth served as an infantryman leading troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a former Army National Guard officer.
Hegseth also earned two Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge for his military service.
“When President
Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense,” Hegseth
said during his Senate Armed Service Committee in January.
Taking views from
Trump, Hegseth said he wanted the Pentagon to be "laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, warfighting, accountability and readiness."
Hegseth also promised to restore the military's "warrior ethos" while rebuilding the force and reestablishing deterrence as "ingredients needed to bring back warfighting." Moreover, he vowed to bring back "accountability" to the Defense Department after the U.S.'s disastrous
withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
As Defense Secretary, Hegseth is in charge of 3.5 million service members and civilians. He also called his role leading the Pentagon "the most important deployment of my life."
Hegseth takes over a Defense Department facing many challenges across the world, including Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas War.
