After years of falling short of recruiting goals, the US Army hit its target of 61,000 recruits four months early in 2025. As opposed to last year, the recruiting goal was 10% higher. This increase in recruitment can be seen as an uptick in enthusiasm and patriotism that the youth of the U.S. holds in their country.
In 2021, the Biden administration put out an Army recruiting ad featuring a soldier with two moms who signed up to break barriers. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says his army is going to focus on breaking necks.
“No more electric tanks, no more gender confusion, no more climate change worship. We are laser focused on our mission of war fighting. It's called peace through strength,” said the new military add from Hegseth and President Donald Trump.
The new message is resonating with today's young men and women. The Army met its recruiting target of 61-thousand soldiers in the first week of June – four months early from its intended target.
Pentagon Analyst Col. Robert Maginnis says young men in particular want to be challenged with hard-to-reach goals.
“You've got to prove yourself physically in order to go into certain positions, and I think it really bolstered the hope of young men. So, it's a good outcome,” Maginnis states.
He says the entire American culture changed when President Trump took office for the second time. Young people really do want to Make America Great Again.
“The reemergence of Trump and the promises to make America Great Again appeal to the demographic that is most likely to want to serve in the armed forces,” Maginnis continues.
Maginnis says all branches of the service are recruiting well under President Trump.
“I attribute it to the feelings that people have about the hope for the future,” Maginnis concludes.
