The claim from former President Donald Trump that military recruitment numbers soared thanks to his policies, especially his efforts to rid the military of “wokeness,” has raised more than a few eyebrows. While the rhetoric is bold, the facts tell a different story, one that suggests other forces are at play, far beyond the reach of Trump’s influence. So, let’s dig into what’s really going on with military recruitment and whether Trump’s assertions hold any water.
Recruitment Surge: A Political Football?
Under the Biden administration, military recruitment saw a notable increase—from 200,000 recruits in fiscal year 2023 to 225,000 in fiscal year 2024, a 12.5% jump. This growth can’t be chalked up to the inauguration of President Trump, as the figures were already climbing well before he took office. The Army’s efforts to boost recruitment weren’t the result of some magical turnaround post-Trump; they were part of a well-planned and ongoing strategy under Biden’s leadership.
“Recruitment is up, but it’s been going up for months,” says David Segal, a professor at the University of Maryland. This assertion directly counters Trump’s claim that his policies—namely purging the military of “woke” elements—were responsible for the spike.
Trump’s Claims vs. Reality
During his speech to Congress in March, Trump declared, “What a difference. And you know, it was just a few months ago where the results were exactly the opposite. We couldn’t recruit anywhere.” Well, let’s pause there. Sure, the U.S. Army did indeed have a standout month in January 2024, with some even calling it its best recruiting month in 15 years. But—here’s the kicker—the peak in Army recruiting actually came in August 2024, months before the election. So, Trump can’t take credit for a rise that was already in motion.
Moreover, when pressed for evidence backing up his claims, the White House only offered a tweet from the U.S. Army about their December 2024 success—hardly the solid proof one would expect for such bold statements. This lack of verifiable evidence from Trump’s team further weakens his assertion.
The Real Drivers of Military Recruitment
If we’re looking for real factors behind the uptick in enlistments, there are far more important considerations than the cultural wars Trump loves to talk about. Military experts agree that civilian employment rates are one of the strongest indicators of military recruitment. As Peter Feaver, a professor at Duke University, points out, “When jobs are plentiful on the outside, recruitment gets more difficult.” This was especially true toward the tail end of the Biden administration when the economy was doing relatively well.
And then there’s the fact that the military has, over the past few years, put a great deal of effort into improving its recruitment processes, particularly targeting groups that historically haven’t enlisted in large numbers, such as women and minorities. The Army’s prep course, launched in 2022, helps recruits meet physical and academic standards, and a growing number of women are signing up—about 20% of the Army’s new recruits in 2024 were women, up from 16% the previous year.
Biden’s Efforts: The Road to Recruitment Success
Under Biden, significant reforms were made to enhance recruitment, including professionalizing the recruitment workforce and expanding the focus beyond just high school graduates. In fact, the Army set up a “future soldier” prep course in 2022, allowing recruits who were struggling to meet the Army’s fitness and academic standards to get the help they needed. The results were noticeable in 2024, where roughly 25% of new recruits took advantage of this program.
Christine Wormuth, Biden’s Army Secretary, confirmed that by early 2024, the Army was seeing much higher numbers than the previous year—a direct result of these reforms. What’s more, 2024 marked the highest-ever recruitment of Hispanic individuals into the Army.
Furthermore, in a move aimed at rejuvenating the Army’s brand, the “Be All That You Can Be” campaign—famous in the 1980s—was revived, helping to reshape the public perception of military service and making it more appealing to young people today.
Trump and Wokeism: A Red Herring?
Trump’s continued narrative about “wokeness” undermining military readiness seems, frankly, a bit misguided. While he and his supporters have placed blame on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies for affecting recruitment, the data shows otherwise. In fact, military experts have repeatedly said that the key factors keeping young people from enlisting are fear of physical injury, the prospect of PTSD, and the challenge of being stationed far from home—not concerns over LGBTQ+ policies or diversity training.
Katie Helland, a military official working on recruitment, pointed out that a lack of personal connections to the military is a major hurdle—young Americans today are less likely to have friends or family members who have served, making military service a less familiar and attractive option.
And, of course, we can’t ignore the fact that 77% of young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 require a waiver to serve due to various disqualifications. This factor plays a far more significant role in the military’s struggles than any so-called “woke” initiatives.
The Economy: The True Kingmaker
The reality is, as Peter Mansoor, a retired Army colonel, argues, the state of the economy plays a far more influential role in military recruitment than any political maneuvering. During times of economic prosperity, when civilian jobs are abundant, fewer young people feel the need to enlist. Conversely, when the economy falters, enlistment numbers tend to rise as young people look for stable employment with benefits.
As the economy tightened toward the end of the 2020s, we saw a corresponding uptick in recruitment—a trend that has little to do with Trump’s policies but everything to do with the broader economic conditions.
What About the Other Branches?
It’s not just the Army that’s seeing growth in recruitment. The Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard have also exceeded their recruitment goals for fiscal year 2024. The Navy, in particular, boasted its most successful recruiting year in two decades.
The Marine Corps saw significant gains too, reporting better recruitment numbers in the first five months of fiscal year 2025 than in the same period the previous year.
The Truth About Recruitment: What Really Matters
So, let’s set the record straight. Trump may want to take credit for a recruitment surge that was already in motion, but the numbers speak for themselves. It’s not about purging the military of “wokeness” or fighting culture wars; it’s about addressing systemic issues within the recruitment process, improving outreach to underrepresented groups, and responding to economic factors that make military service more attractive at certain times.
In the end, the rise in military recruitment is not a victory for any one politician or party; it’s a testament to the hard work of those in the military who are dedicated to improving the enlistment process. Whether Trump likes it or not, that’s the real story here.
Final Verdict: Trump’s Claim? Mostly False
Trump’s claim that military recruitment surged because of his policies is, simply put, a stretch. The reality is that recruitment numbers had been climbing for months under Biden’s administration, and the factors driving those numbers are far more complex than Trump’s simplistic narrative. Let’s be real—the military’s success lies in the improvements to recruitment strategies, the focus on underrepresented groups, and the state of the economy, not in political rhetoric or the fight against “wokeness.”
It’s time to face the facts. The military recruitment surge is happening, but it’s not thanks to the culture wars—it’s thanks to strategic efforts, better outreach, and an economy that’s pushing young people to consider all their options.
(For more insights into military recruitment, you can read the full report from the Defense Department here.)
