Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Fiscal Year 2024 Recruiting and Retention Report

The American military is the strongest fighting force on Earth. For more than 50 years, our all-volunteer force has been sustained by qualified patriots who stand up to serve and keep our republic secure. Our greatest strategic asset is our people, and we must continue to recruit and retain the best that our country has to offer.

I am proud of the efforts of our service leaders and our recruiting teams, who recruited nearly 225,000 Americans into the ranks of the U.S. military in Fiscal Year 2024-25,000 more recruits than the previous year. Nearly all active components met their recruiting goals for the year, and the Navy made significant strides forward by reaching its contracting goals. Our Reserve Components also had a strong year, with the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve all meeting their recruiting targets. This strong progress on recruiting comes alongside our impressive retention rates for our brave and talented troops.

As we look to build on these successes, we must continue to push against the ongoing headwinds in recruiting-including low unemployment and the legacies of the COVID years. We're reaching young people where they are, including in schools. We're finding new ways to tell the story of military service, underscoring that service to America's defense is not only honorable but also a clear path to personal and professional success. And we're driving even harder to do right by our Service members and their families, including providing top-tier training, competitive compensation, and robust benefits that reflect their commitment to our country.

The all-volunteer force remains the foundation of America's national defense, and it is all of our duty to ensure that it remains strong for generations to come. The Department of Defense remains deeply committed to ensuring that every qualified patriot has the opportunity to answer the call.