Military sees a surge in female recruits under Trump's presidency
That's up from 16,725 female recruits during the same period the prior fiscal year, representing over a 30 percent increase year-over-year, according to Fox News. The dramatic increase in female recruits comes after the Army announced it exceeded its recruitment goals in June with months to spare. The branch announced at the time it had contracted over 61,000 recruits, a 10 percent increase from the 2024 recruitment target of 55,000.
A Pentagon official celebrated the recruitment and praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's (pictured) leadership. 'The media's narrative that the female recruitment numbers have either fallen or stayed the same under Secretary Hegseth and President Trump is 100% Fake News,' a Pentagon official told Fox News. 'Leadership matters and women are excited to serve under the strong leadership of Secretary Hegseth and President Trump.' The Pentagon did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
A Pentagon survey found this year that three out of four of potential recruits were worried about physical injuries that could result from joining the military. Two thirds of the respondents expressed concern over the emotional impacts of enlisting. Recent Defense Department polls show that just 11 percent of American youth have a propensity to serve, according to the Pentagon.
The increase in signed contracts is welcome news for the Pentagon after it has warned for years that American youth are increasingly less inclined to join the armed services. 'Just about a year ago, it was a big story, front page of every paper all over the world, that nobody wanted to enlist in our military,' Trump said in May. 'After years of military recruiting shortfalls, enlistments in the U.S. armed forces are now the highest in 30 years because there is such an incredible spirit in the United States of America,' Trump added.
The military did not actually hit record lows during President Joe Biden's tenure, but armed service recruitment during the last administration did fail on several occasions to hit expected goals. Recruitment has remained an issue in recent years.
Upon his arrival, Hegseth vowed to return the 'warrior ethos' to the Pentagon and so far he claims it is helping the department pad its numbers. 'They call it the "Trump Bump,"' Hegseth has said about the increase in recruitment. 'It's the commander-in-chief first and foremost. He's got the backs of our war fighters and they know it. And so, the young men and women of America are prepared to stand up,' the defense secretary said in May.
Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (pictured), a Air Force veteran, also praised the president and Hegseth for 'empowering women who want to serve.' 'There's a reason why female service member recruitment is at all-time high. As a former United States Air Force veteran, I can tell you that overall morale, the commander-in-chief, and his chosen leadership at the Pentagon make a huge difference, especially in recruitment and retention,' she posted on X.
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