Navy Set To Meet Active-Duty Recruiting Goals After Missing Two Straight Years

[Tony]

For the first time in three years, the Navy will likely meet its recruiting numbers, Navy recruiting leaders told reporters Thursday.

The Navy set a recruiting goal of 40,600 active-duty sailors for Fiscal Year 2024, an increase over the previous year despite the sea service falling short. The Navy is on track to meet the goal Rear Adm. Jeffrey Czerewko, commander of Naval Education and Training Command, said during a roundtable ahead of October’s official tally.

The Navy will likely have a buffer through its delayed entry program, which will have around 11,000 recruits in it at the start of FY 25. The Navy, like other services, depleted the delayed entry program, which allows them to recruit sailors but not immediately send them to boot camp, in order to address low recruiting numbers.