Air Force Recruitment Soars To 15-Year High, Officials Say

The US Air Force has seen a significant surge in recruitment, with the highest numbers in 15 years, according to top military officials. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin announced that recruiting numbers from December to February were the strongest in a decade and a half. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that the increase reflects a broader resurgence of interest in military service, fueled by a renewed emphasis on combat readiness and discipline. The Air Force increased its recruitment goal by 20 percent for fiscal year 2025, and all recruiting metrics look great, according to Allvin. Approximately 13,000 recruits are currently in the Delayed Entry Program, which allows enlistees to postpone their ship date to boot camp while completing school or handling personal matters. The surge in enlistments follows a disappointing fiscal year 2023, when the Air Force missed its recruiting goal for the first time since 1999. The Air Force recruited 27,139 active-duty enlisted personnel by the end of fiscal year 2024, and saw a major increase in DEP enrollment, with a goal of bringing in 33,100 active-duty personnel for 2025. President Donald Trump has suggested that renewed enthusiasm for military service reflects a broader national shift, and credited his administration's efforts to eliminate "woke lunacy" from the military. The Air Force's recruitment surge comes on the heels of similar progress in the US Army, which also reported its strongest enlistment numbers in 15 years, indicating a potential shift in the country's attitude towards military service. The increased recruitment numbers and proposed investments in the Air Force are part of a broader effort to rebuild the US military and restore deterrence, with a focus on modernizing aircraft and weapons, and expanding and reshaping the Air Force to counter emerging threats.