Recruitment Rises 12.5% Despite Ongoing Challenges

The Defense Department's armed services branches hired 12.5% more individuals in financial year 2024 than in the year prior in spite of a difficult and disinterested recruiting market.

Katie Helland Director of Military Accessions Policy Katie Helland speaks with members of the media during a panel on fiscal year 2025 recruiting objectives at the Pentagon, Oct. 30, 2024.
Share:
×
Share
Copy Link
Email
Facebook
X.
LinkedIn.
WhatsApp

Download: Full Size (235.52 KB).
Credit: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jackie Sanders, DOD.
VIRIN: 241030-D-XI929-1004

While speaking at a multiservice panel on 2025 recruiting concerns at the Pentagon earlier this week, Director of Military Accession Policy Katie Helland stated that the services increased the number of recruits from 200,000 in FY 2023 to 225,000 in FY 2024, which ended September 30.

Additionally, she stated, the services had a 35% boost in written agreements, and the active components' delayed entry program started FY 2025 with a 10% larger pool.

" [The Office of the Secretary of Defense] and the services will continue to construct off the momentum that we have actually gained in 2024," Helland stated.

" Nevertheless," she continued, "we require to stay cautiously positive about the future recruiting operations as we continue to hire in a market that has low youth tendency to serve, limited familiarity with military chances, a competitive labor market and a decreasing eligibility amongst young people."

Helland elaborated on those challenges by discussing that, for the first time considering that the metric has been tracked, many youths have never ever considered the option of serving in the armed force.

The reasons behind that are multifold, Helland stated. Young Americans have fewer ties to buddies or household members who have actually served in the military. There is a declining existence of veterans in our society. Approximately 77% of in between the ages of 17 and 24 require some type of waiver to serve due to any number of disqualifications.

To counter such obstacles, Helland employment said the armed force has actually implemented a medical pilot program that permits recruits to join the military without a waiver for numerous health conditions - offered they fulfill specific requirements. Additionally, there are service member preparation courses that prepare employees to meet the strenuous requirements of military service. Moreover, DOD is looking for to reconnect with youth and their influencers by showing them the worth of serving.

" The next generation of Americans to serve need to know that there has never ever been a much better time for them to choose military service," Helland said.

Panel Pentagon Press Secretary Flying Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder helps with a panel on fiscal year 2025 recruiting objectives at the Pentagon, employment Oct. 30, employment 2024.
Share:.
×.
Share.
Copy Link.
Email.
Facebook.
X.
LinkedIn.
WhatsApp

Download: Full Size (266.24 KB).
Credit: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jackie Sanders, DOD.
VIRIN: 241030-D-XI929-1016

" Youth today seek a bigger function in their lives and desire jobs where they have greater involvement in decision-making and can create a direct tangible effect," she continued. "Military service provides all of this."

Explaining that U.S. military service uses more than 250 occupations and that it represents among the most extremely educated companies throughout the world and employment throughout all pay grades, Helland stated the Defense Department is striving to counter the narrative that joining the military is an alternative to going to college or "an alternative of last hope."

" We are working to reframe this story so that Americans understand that military service is a pathway to higher education and career opportunities while defending democracy and the liberties we love," Helland said.

She included that DOD is reframing this narrative. For example, the department's Joint Advertising Market Research and Studies program will quickly release a project to build familiarity with the American public about the worth of military service. Plans are also continuing to have adult influencers promote for military service.