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

Katie Helland Director of Military Accessions Policy Katie Helland talks to members of the media during a panel on 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 hiring issues at the Pentagon previously this week, Director of Military Accession Policy Katie Helland said 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 said, the services had a 35% increase in written agreements, and the active parts' delayed entry program started FY 2025 with a 10% larger swimming pool.

" [The Office of the Secretary of Defense] and the services will continue to construct off the momentum that we've gotten in 2024," Helland said.

" Nevertheless," she continued, "we require to remain meticulously positive about the future recruiting operations as we continue to recruit in a market that has low youth propensity to serve, limited familiarity with military opportunities, a competitive labor market and a declining eligibility amongst young adults."

Helland elaborated on those challenges by discussing that, for the first time given that the metric has been tracked, most young individuals have actually never thought about the option of serving in the military.

The factors behind that are multifold, Helland stated. Young Americans have fewer ties to friends or family members who have actually served in the armed force. There is a decreasing existence of veterans in our society. Approximately 77% of people between the ages of 17 and 24 require some kind of waiver to serve due to any variety of disqualifications.

To counter such difficulties, Helland stated the military has actually carried out a medical pilot program that allows recruits to join the armed force without a waiver for various health conditions - supplied they meet certain requirements. Additionally, there are service member prep courses that prepare employees to fulfill the laborious requirements of military service. Moreover, employment DOD is looking for to reconnect with youth and their influencers by showing them the value of serving.

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

Panel Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder facilitates a panel on 2025 recruiting objectives at the Pentagon, Oct. 30, 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 look for a bigger function in their lives and desire tasks where they have greater involvement in decision-making and can develop a direct concrete effect," she continued. "Military service uses all of this."

Explaining that U.S. military service uses more than 250 occupations which it represents one of the most extremely informed throughout the world and throughout all pay grades, Helland employment stated the Defense Department is working hard to counter the story that signing up with the armed force is an alternative to going to college or "a choice of last option."

" We are working to reframe this story so that Americans understand that military service is a path to higher education and profession chances while defending democracy and the flexibilities we hold dear," Helland said.

She added that DOD is reframing this story. For instance, the department's Joint Advertising Marketing research and Studies program will soon introduce a project to develop familiarity with the American public about the value of military service. Plans are also continuing to have adult influencers promote for military service.