EDUCATION
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RISE IN MILITARY RECRUITMENT FEBRUARY 2024 VS. FEBRUARY 2025
From left: Cadets Leonardo Ramirez, Christopher Carerra, Jenifer Gordoa and Colbi McAdams smile in their Army JROTC classroom.
soldiers short of its target, recruiting only 45,000 new soldiers instead of the intended 60,000. The subsequent year also saw a shortfall, with 55,000 recruits against the same goal. These deficits were partly due to a tight labor market and diminished trust among Gen Z toward the military, said experts. In response, the Army implemented several strategic changes to bolster recruitment. The Future Soldier Preparatory Course was introduced in 2022, offering “academic and fitness instruction” to help lower-performing recruits meet military standards. “This initiative has contributed significantly to the recent recruitment success,’ said Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. Wormuth emphasized concerns about the Army being “woke” have not been a significant factor in recruitment challenges, citing data indicating young Americans’ hesitations are more related to safety, family separation and career impacts. The Army is shifting its focus toward recruiting young adults who have attended college, rather than solely targeting recent high school graduates. This approach aims to tap into a broader pool of potential recruits and address the evolving needs of the military. The Army has also established a dedicated recruitment workforce to streamline the enlistment process and improve efficiency. These concerted efforts reflect the Army’s commitment to revitalizing its forces and adapting to contemporary recruitment challenges, said Wormuth. The recent surge in enlistment numbers indicates a positive trajectory for the Army’s recruitment endeavors. The cycle restarts Back in the Maricopa High School classroom, cadets prepared for the next generation of leadership in the days before graduation. The graduating seniors, who had leadership roles in the JROTC program, have interviewed their replacements. “It’s like Oprah,” McAdams joked. “You get this job; you get that one!” As these teens chart their futures, they’re reflecting on the community, purpose and discipline they found in these classes. “I just needed one chance,” said Moore, this year’s first MUSD enlistee. “And I got it here.”
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them figure things out,” said Kirksey. “You’re not just a student. You’re a cadet. That means something here.” Despite the military structure, JROTC doesn’t require cadets to enlist after high school. About a quarter choose that path, said Kirksey. Recruiting trends about-facing Broadly, the U.S. military is experiencing something of a resurgence in recruitment, achieving its highest enlistment numbers in 15 years.
A unique highlight of the JROTC program is its flight training. Each year, cadets get to pilot a Cessna through the Civil Air Patrol. “Some of them don’t even have driver’s licenses,” said retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Scott Burton, a JROTC and aerospace science instructor at MHS. “But they’ve flown a plane. That changes a person.” Support extends beyond the classroom. Instructors routinely check in with students on everything from grades to transportation. “If you’re not doing well in class, we’ll help
Source: Department of Defense
(520) 316-6111
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in January the Army reached its best recruiting figures since 2010, surpassing the previous record set in December, when nearly 350 soldiers enlisted per day. Hegseth attributed this surge to the re-election of President Donald J. Trump, stating America’s youth are eager to serve under a “bold and strong, America-first leadership.” This uptick follows a period of recruitment challenges. In 2022, the Army fell 15,000
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Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Allen E. Kirksey poses in his fatigues.
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InMaricopa.com | June 2025
June 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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