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U.S. Military Recruiting Statistics

Comprehensive, source-verified data on recruiting goals, DEP wait times, ASVAB requirements, and force strength across all six military branches. Updated for FY2025-2026.

Last updated: February 20, 2026
103%
FY2025 Overall Mission Achievement
163,731
Total Active-Duty Recruits (FY2025)
1.34M
Total Active-Duty Personnel
+32,600
FY2026 Authorized Growth

FY2025 Recruiting Results by Branch

All active-duty branches met their recruiting mission for the first time since FY2019 — the best numbers in over 15 years.

Branch Goal Actual % of Goal Progress Note
Army 61,000 62,050 101.72%
101.7%
 Met goal 4 months early
Navy 40,600 44,096 108.61%
108.6%
 Strongest performance
Air Force 30,100 30,166 100.22%
100.2%
 Met goal 3 months early
Marine Corps 26,600 26,600 100.00%
100.0%
 Exact mission
Space Force 796 819 102.89%
102.9%
 Exceeded goal
Army Reserve * 14,320 12,426 86.76%
86.8%
 Missed goal

* Army Reserve was the only component to miss its FY2025 mission. All other reserve components met their goals.
Source: U.S. Department of War, Dec 22, 2025

FY2026 Authorized End Strength

Congress authorized the largest active-duty force since FY2023, with over 32,600 additional service members across all branches.

Branch Current (Approx.) FY2026 Authorized Growth Needed Gap to Fill
Army 445,475 454,000 +8,525
98.1%
Navy 330,011 334,600 +4,589
98.6%
Air Force 313,615 320,000 +6,385
98.0%
Marine Corps 168,298 172,300 +4,002
97.7%
Space Force 9,671 10,400 +729
93.0%
Coast Guard 40,590 50,000 +9,410
81.2%

Source: Military.com, Jan 26, 2026 | ClearanceJobs, Jul 2025

DEP Wait Times by Branch

The Delayed Entry Program (DEP) is the period between swearing in at MEPS and shipping to basic training. Wait times vary significantly by branch, job selection, and available training slots.

A
U.S. Army
1-3 mo
Typical DEP Wait • Range: 2 weeks – 6 months
Shortest average wait. The Future Soldier Preparatory Course helps recruits who need to improve ASVAB scores or fitness before shipping. About 24% of FY2024 recruits used this program.
N
U.S. Navy
2-4 mo
Typical DEP Wait • Range: 3 weeks – 8 months
Wait time depends heavily on your chosen rating (job). Technical ratings like Nuclear Field or CTN may have longer waits. The Future Sailor Preparatory Course is available for those scoring 26+ AFQT.
AF
U.S. Air Force
3-4 mo
Typical DEP Wait • Range: 1 – 6+ months
Record DEP pool of 19,000 entering FY2026 (highest since 2012), representing 58% of the FY2026 goal of 32,750. Previous years: 8,400 (FY2024), 11,500 (FY2023). Wait times increase with lower ASVAB scores.
M
U.S. Marine Corps
6-12 mo
Typical DEP Wait • Range: 3 – 12 months
Longest typical wait. Marines allow up to 410 days in DEP. Started FY2026 with 38% of recruits in DEP pool. FY2026 goal: 31,250 Marines. As of Jan 2026: 6,609 accessions (21% of goal).
SF
U.S. Space Force
2-6 mo
Typical DEP Wait • Range: 1 – 8 months
Smallest branch with very limited job slots. Wait times vary significantly depending on the specific Space Force specialty. FY2025 goal was only 796 recruits.
CG
U.S. Coast Guard
8-12 mo
Typical DEP Wait • Range: 4 – 12+ months
Longest wait times due to limited boot camp capacity at Cape May, NJ (the only Coast Guard basic training facility). Highest minimum ASVAB requirement (40 AFQT).

DEP wait times are estimates based on community reports and official statements. Actual wait times vary by job, location, and training slot availability.
Sources: Task & Purpose | USNI News | Veteran.com

ASVAB / AFQT Score Requirements

The AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) score determines your eligibility to enlist. It is derived from four ASVAB subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge.

AFQT Score Categories

Cat I
7%
93–99
Cat II
28%
65–92
Cat IIIA
16%
50–64
Cat IIIB
19%
31–49
Cat IV
21%
10–30
Cat V
9%
1–9

Percentages represent approximate distribution of the U.S. youth population (ages 18-23). Categories I-IIIA are considered "above average" in trainability. Category V is not eligible for enlistment.
Source: OfficialASVAB.com

Minimum AFQT Score to Enlist (High School Diploma)

Army
31
GED: 50
Marines
32
GED: 50
Navy
35
GED: 50
Air Force
36
GED: 50
Space Force
36
GED: 50
Coast Guard
40
GED: 50

The Recruiting Challenge: By the Numbers

Despite strong FY2025 results, the military faces structural challenges in maintaining a healthy recruiting pipeline.

77%
Youth Ineligible for Service
Only 23% of young Americans meet the basic eligibility requirements. Disqualifiers include obesity, drug use, physical/mental health conditions, misconduct, and low aptitude scores.
10%
Interested in Serving
Of eligible youth, only about 10% express interest in military service (2024 data). This is the smallest propensity-to-serve pool in modern history.
79%
Recruits with Military Family
79% of new recruits have a relative who served. As the veteran population declines, this "family pipeline" is shrinking, creating a growing disconnect between military and civilian society.
-13%
Projected Youth Decline (2025-2041)
The number of Americans turning 18 is projected to decline by 13% between 2025 and 2041, further shrinking the already limited recruiting pool.

Recruiting Timeline: Crisis to Recovery

How the U.S. military went from its worst recruiting crisis since the end of the draft to a 15-year high.

FY 2022
The Crisis Year
The Army missed its recruiting goal by 25% (15,000 soldiers short) — the deepest gap since the draft ended in 1973. Post-pandemic labor market competition, low military awareness among youth, and rising disqualification rates created a perfect storm.
FY 2023
Continued Struggles
The Army missed its goal by 10%. The Air Force missed its target for the first time since 1999, falling 2,700 airmen short. Multiple branches lowered standards and raised age limits to expand the eligible pool.
FY 2024
The Turnaround Begins
The Army met its goal with help from the Future Soldier Preparatory Course (24% of recruits). All branches began recovering. The Air Force met its reduced goal of 27,000. Medical screening processes were streamlined.
FY 2025
Best Numbers in 15 Years
All five active-duty branches met their mission, with an average completion rate of 103%. The Army met its goal 4 months early. The Navy exceeded its target by 8.6%. The DEP pipeline is the healthiest it has been in over a decade.

Army Recruit Demographics (FY2025)

A snapshot of who is joining the U.S. Army — the largest and most diverse branch.

Metric Regular Army (RA) Army Reserve (AR)
Total Recruits 62,050 12,426
Male / Female 80.3% / 19.7% 64.1% / 35.9%
Caucasian 40.0% 28.4%
African American 26.6% 30.1%
Hispanic 26.7% 30.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander 6.0% 10.5%
HS Diploma Rate 91.4% 95.8%
Some College 21.7% 40.5%
Scored Above 50 AFQT 57.0% 60.3%

Source: U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Facts & Figures

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Data Sources & Methodology

All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government publications, authorized military news outlets, and verified reporting. DEP wait time estimates incorporate both official statements and community-reported data. We update this page as new data becomes available.