Trump or Tactics? Unpacking the Army's Recruitment Boom

Army Sees Surge in Recruitment: Influence of Trump's Leadership or Reinvented Recruitment Strategy?

Despite President Trump's recent claim to have triggered an uptick in army recruiting, evidence suggests that the rise in enlistments began predated his recent time in office. Even though POTUS's re-election and return to office have indeed corresponded with an elevated number of new soldier enlistments, the shift began nearly a year earlier, following the Army's comprehensive reinvention of its almost $2 billion recruitment efforts.

Insight into the Recruitment Surge

An official White House statement lauds the Army's best recruitment outcomes in the past 15 years. Similarly, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth points out that December and January have emerged as the most successful months for recruiting in 12 and 15 years, respectively. Neither party, however, detailed specific enlistment figures from these periods.

Meanwhile, evidence has surfaced indicating the Army's recruitment drive began to recover last year, well ahead of Trump's election, as it launched significant alterations to its recruitment strategy. This rebound resonated in the 2024 fiscal year, highlighted by active-duty soldier recruitment, reaching 55,000 — a significant achievement following two previous years of missed targets.

The current trend, influenced by either POTUS's tenure, the novel recruitment tactics, or a combination of both, continues into 2025. By October, the Army had already reached 59% of its 2025 Fiscal Year recruitment goal, according to a service spokeswoman.

Revamping Recruitment: The Future Soldier Preparatory Course

Two former Army officials cite the recent recruitment success as the fruit of years of diligent work, building off the backbone of the newly introduced Future Soldier Preparatory Course. This multi-week program has been instrumental in preparing potential soldiers for basic training.

Introduced in 2022 and expanded significantly over the following years, the Future Soldier Preparatory Course is heralded for reversing the Army's previous recruitment shortfalls by assisting potential soldiers in meeting the service's physical and academic requirements.

Throughout the 2024 fiscal year, approximately 24% of all new soldiers enlisted in the Army were graduates of this course. Furthermore, research suggests the increased difficulty for Americans to meet enlistment requirements over the past decade has also contributed to the course's effectiveness and overall success.

It's worth noting that an increase in military enlistment over the past year reflects additional external factors. More women and racial minorities have joined the military, suggesting a broader shift beyond the recent election outcome. Economic benefits and education opportunities also play critical roles in individual decisions to enlist.

Therefore, while the resumption of President Trump’s leadership might appeal to some potential recruits, the Army's invigorated recruitment tactics have provided a steady foundation for the rise in enlistments seen over the past year.