The Navy says it has reached its annual contracting target ahead of schedule and is positioned to send more than 40,600 future sailors to Recruit Training Command by September, crediting revamped recruiting operations and policy changes for the surge.
“More qualified and motivated Americans than ever are stepping forward and answering the call to serve their country,” said Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. “This is a critical time in history.
“The world is more complex and contested than it has been in decades, and our ability to respond starts with our greatest asset, our people. Since November, Navy recruiting has skyrocketed, a testament to President Trump’s leadership and the dedication of our dynamic Navy recruiters.”
The service said recruiting momentum from last year has carried into 2025. By the end of 2024, Navy Recruiting Command had contracted 40,978 future sailors—378 above its goal of 40,600 and the highest annual total since 2002, according to the announcement.
To drive recent gains, the Navy stood up a Recruiting Operations Center to track performance in real time, launched a Future Sailor Preparatory Course to bolster accession success, streamlined medical waiver reviews, and removed barriers to recruiter productivity.
“Reaching our annual goal this early is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our recruiting force,” said Rear Adm. Jim Waters, commander of Navy Recruiting Command. “It shows that when we remove barriers, accelerate processes, and meet people where they are, the right individuals answer the call.”
The Navy added that it will continue processing applicants and placing future sailors into upcoming training dates and job assignments, saying the early milestone allows for a more deliberate match of talent and career interests with fleet needs.
“We’re still working hard every day,” said Waters. “Meeting the recruiting target is not the finish line — it’s a signal that we’re on the right course and ready to keep building the force of the future.”
In military recruiting, “contracts” reflect applicants who have signed enlistment agreements and been cleared to enter the pipeline; those individuals typically ship to boot camp at later dates. The Navy did not provide a breakdown of how many have shipped so far this year or other details by component or job specialty.
