Achieving the contracting milestone reflects the Navy’s focused efforts for connecting with qualified, motivated candidates across the country. The sea service is now positioned to send more than 40,600 future Sailors to Recruit Training Command by September.
“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.”
Recruiting success in 2025 built on last year’s momentum when the Navy surpassed the recruiting goal of 40,600 by 378. By the end of 2024, Navy Recruiting Command contracted 40,978 future Sailors, more than any year since 2002.
To achieve recent recruiting success, Navy Recruiting Command established a Recruiting Operations Center to monitor data in real time. The Navy also implemented the Future Sailor Preparatory Course to improve accession success, streamlined medical waiver reviews, and identified 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 continues to process applicants and place future Sailors into future training dates and job assignments. Meeting the goal early allows for a more deliberate Navy process in aligning future Sailor talent and career interest 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.”
