Army Confident in Meeting Recruitment Goals, Rejects Claims of ‘Wokeness’

Washington: The Army is feeling pretty optimistic about hitting its recruitment goals for 2025. After a tough few years, they’re finally seeing some positive changes. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth shared that they expect to bring in 61,000 new recruits by the end of September, plus over 20,000 more in the delayed entry program for 2026. That’s two years in a row they’ve met their targets!

Wormuth mentioned that the first quarter of this year has seen the highest contract signings in a decade. She’s really excited about the momentum they’re building. Some folks have been throwing around the term “woke” to criticize the Army’s focus on diversity and equity, but Wormuth firmly rejected that idea. She said it hasn’t been a significant factor in their recruitment struggles.

Critics, including some politicians, have claimed that “wokeness” is hurting recruitment, but Wormuth pointed out that the data doesn’t support that. In fact, a survey showed that only 5% of young people mentioned it as a concern. Instead, the Army’s success is largely due to programs like the Future Soldier Prep Course, which helps lower-performing recruits get ready for basic training.

The Army has faced challenges in recruiting for about a decade, especially with the pandemic causing disruptions. Many young adults aren’t qualified to serve, and there’s stiff competition from private companies. Wormuth noted that fears about safety and career impacts are bigger concerns for potential recruits than any talk of “wokeness.”

Interestingly, while some demographics are enlisting at lower rates, the Army has seen a rise in minority recruits, including a record number of Hispanic enlistees. They’re working hard to maintain standards without lowering them, focusing on programs that help recruits meet the requirements instead.

Overall, the Army is making strides in recruitment, and Wormuth is hopeful that these efforts will continue to pay off.