Surge of Female Enlistments Helped Drive Army Success in Reaching 2024 Recruiting Goal

Surge of Female Enlistments Helped Drive Army Success in Reaching 2024 Recruiting Goal

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/09/surge-of-female-enlistments-helped-drive-army-success-reaching-2024-recruiting-goal.html


By Steve Beynon January 09, 2025 at 4:59pm ET

Last year marked the first time in several years that the Army achieved its ambitious recruiting goals -- primarily due to an increase in female recruits, according to internal service data reviewed by Military.com.

Nearly 10,000 women signed up for active duty in 2024, an 18% jump from the previous year, while male recruitment increased by just 8%, the data shows. The hike comes as the service continues to struggle with recruiting men, who have traditionally filled the bulk of its ranks but have become more of a challenge to enlist in recent years.


The numbers mark the continuation of a trend reported in a Military.com investigation that found a yearslong Army recruiting slump was centered around men, while female recruiting numbers have remained relatively strong. They also point to young women as an increasingly vital recruiting pool, especially as young men are struggling to meet the Army's eligibility requirements.


Female applicants may have an advantage over their male counterparts for a variety of reasons................................

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U.S. Army women aviators stand for a portrait on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, March 19, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt Hecht)