Navy & Marine Corps Smash FY24 Recruiting Targets

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Millington, Tennessee, today, making it a point to meet with Navy Recruiting Command leadership, recruiters, and support personnel. During his visit, Del Toro expressed heartfelt gratitude for their relentless efforts and commitment.

“I know you work incredibly hard as recruiters, and this can be an exhausting set of orders, but that is why we only select the best Sailors for recruiting duty,” said Secretary Del Toro. “You truly make a difference in assuring the future of our Navy. The Sailors you recruited this year will form the backbone of our Fleet for several decades.”

The Navy successfully met its FY24 contracting goals without compromising its targeted objectives and even exceeded retention goals. Similarly, the Marine Corps achieved its recruitment goals for both officers and enlisted personnel.

Though the Navy met its FY2024 recruiting goals, some recruits are slated for boot camp in FY2025, aligning with schoolhouse availability.

This recruiting success can be attributed to improved data-driven decisions, clear annual goals, streamlined medical waiver processing, and expanded enlistment opportunities.

Over the past year, the Navy has closed several gaps in the recruiting process. Initiatives such as “Every Sailor a Recruiter,” led by a two-star admiral, revamped strategies for recruiting stations and centers. Recruiter goals have been adjusted from monthly to annual to ensure sustained performance.

The Navy launched a Recruiting Operations Center to monitor efforts in real-time, enhancing production and reducing variability among the 26 Talent Acquisition Groups. This center has streamlined processes, speeding up the transition of newly contracted recruits to boot camp.

Additionally, the Navy has broadened the range of specialties available to new Sailors, including the new robotics rating, and introduced the Future Sailor Prep Course to further expand opportunities for aspiring Sailors.

“The Navy is focused on thoughtfully increasing recruiting numbers while maintaining historically high retention rates,” noted Secretary Del Toro. “We are doing this by improving the efficiency of our recruiting enterprise and expanding the pool of applicants who can join our team.”

The Navy’s FY2024 recruitment success underscores the dedication of its recruiters and the allure of naval service. The Navy offers young people numerous opportunities to serve their country, acquire valuable skills, and build rewarding careers.

The U.S. Navy remains the largest, most capable, and technologically advanced naval force globally. Its mission is to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas.