In a major victory for U.S. military recruitment efforts, the Department of the Air Force announced Monday that both the Air Force and Space Force have not only met but exceeded their fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals — and they did it three months ahead of schedule.

According to officials, nearly 31,000 new recruits have been secured across both services, with the Air Force bringing in 30,100 recruits and the Space Force reaching its target of 797.

These numbers reflect a striking reversal from recent years, where recruitment struggles had raised serious concerns among military leaders.

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Almost 25,000 of these recruits have already been sent to basic military training, while the remainder are expected to begin training before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

This recruitment surge has been largely supported by a growing pipeline of recruits in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), which currently includes more than 14,000 individuals — the highest level in a decade. The DEP consists of individuals who have completed the enlistment process but are awaiting an available slot at basic training.

Among those in the DEP are a record-setting 750 candidates slated for the Air Force’s elite special warfare roles, which are notoriously difficult to fill due to stringent qualification standards.

This record marks a particularly notable achievement, as these positions traditionally see low recruitment numbers.

“I am excited that both the Air Force and the Space Force have met their fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals three months early,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

“The fact that we have even exceeded this goal and currently have a DEP at its largest level in 10 years speaks to the vast number of volunteers interested in serving their country today.”

The milestone follows a revealing update shared at the AFA Warfare Symposium held in Aurora, Colorado, back in March.

At the event, leaders from the Department of the Air Force indicated that recruitment trends were turning sharply positive, with more young Americans showing proactive interest in joining the Air and Space Forces.

The 2025 success continues a turnaround story that began in 2024. In 2023, the Air Force failed to meet its recruitment target for the first time since 1999, coming up nearly 2,700 airmen short of its 26,900-person goal.

That shortfall prompted urgent changes and re-evaluation of the service’s recruitment strategy.

In 2024, the tide began to shift as the Air Force signed up more than 27,000 airmen. Building on that momentum, the Air Force Recruiting Service initially aimed for a bold 20% increase in 2025, hoping to reach 32,500 recruits.

While the target was later moderated to a more attainable 30,100, achieving and surpassing that number still represented a significant 11% increase year over year.

Altogether, the Air Force has grown its new recruit intake by approximately 6,000 individuals since 2023 — a remarkable rebound that has sparked optimism within the military community.

This surge in recruitment success has been credited to a combination of factors.

The department noted that it has invested in expanding outreach to communities, modernizing recruitment methods, and emphasizing career development and opportunity as part of its pitch to potential enlistees.

These changes appear to be resonating with the next generation of service members.

While much attention has been focused on the challenges of military recruiting in the modern era — including shifting cultural attitudes, a strong civilian job market, and tightening eligibility requirements — the Department of the Air Force’s recent success suggests that with the right strategies, those challenges can be overcome.

The Air Force and Space Force now have a unique opportunity to build on this momentum and further enhance their image among America’s youth.

With a full pipeline of eager and qualified recruits, the services are well-positioned to meet the evolving demands of national defense in the years ahead.