Air Force, Army on target in recruiting

WASHINGTON — After several difficult years, the Army and Air Force say they are on track to meet their recruiting goals this year, reversing previous shortfalls using a swath of new programs and policy changes. But the Navy, while improving, expects once again to fall short.

The mixed results reflect the ongoing challenges for the U.S. military as it struggles to attract recruits in a tight job market, where companies are willing to pay more and provide good benefits without the demands of service and going to war. And even the branches that are meeting their goals say they are still finding it difficult to attract the dwindling number of young people who can meet the military's physical, mental and moral standards.

With half a year to go in the recruiting year, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said she is optimistic about hitting the 55,000 enlistment goal and getting an additional 5,000 recruits for the delayed entry pool that would come in during the next year or so.

“Right now we are 5,000 contracts ahead of where we were compared to this time last year,” Wormuth said.

For the Army, it is a bright spot in what has been a long slog of low numbers and lengthy deliberations on how to reverse the momentum.

Last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the Navy, Army and Air Force all failed to meet their recruitment goals. The Marine Corps and the tiny Space Force have consistently hit their targets, although the Marines have struggled a bit.

The previous fiscal year, the Army fell 15,000 short of its enlistment goal of 60,000, and the other services had to dig into the pools of delayed entry candidates to meet their recruiting numbers.

Now, with six months of recruiting under their belts, the Air Force and Army are optimistic they'll meet their goals.

The Air Force is also upbeat after making a number of policy changes, relaxing tattoo rules, boosting bonuses and expanding efforts to recruit lawful permanent residents. The service missed its active-duty recruiting mission of more than 26,800 last year by about 3,000 airmen but has exceeded its goal so far this year.

Navy leaders, however, say that while they're doing better than last year, they expect to miss their recruiting goal of about 40,600 by roughly 6,700.

“We continue to face challenges in the current and forecasted economic environment and tough labor market,” said Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, head of Navy personnel.

The Marine Corps, meanwhile, hasn't missed its enlistment goal, but it did have to tap into its pool of delayed entry recruits to meet the target two years ago. The corps is on pace to meet this year's goal of 31,100, including active duty and reserves.