Navy Surpasses FY24 Recruiting Targets

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Millington, Tennessee, today to meet with Navy Recruiting Command leadership, recruiters, and support personnel. Expressing his gratitude, Del Toro highlighted their dedication.

“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.”

For FY24, the Navy not only met its contracting goals without lowering targeted objectives but also exceeded retention goals. Additionally, the Marine Corps surpassed its recruitment goals for both officers and enlisted personnel.

While the Navy achieved its FY2024 recruiting goals, some recruits are slated to attend boot camp in FY2025, aligning with schoolhouse capacity.

The Navy’s recruiting success is attributed to several factors: data-driven decision-making, enhanced focus on annual goals, reduced timeframe for processing medical waivers, eliminating bureaucracy, and expanding opportunities.

Over the past year, the Navy tackled gaps in the recruiting process. The CNO’s “Every Sailor a Recruiter” initiative and the appointment of a senior, two-star admiral to lead recruiting efforts were pivotal.

Recruiter goals shifted from monthly to annual benchmarks to encourage consistent performance. Moreover, the new Recruiting Operations Center monitors efforts in real-time, increases production, and minimizes variance among 26 Talent Acquisition Groups.

The Navy expanded the number of specialties for new Sailors, including a new robotics rating, and launched the Future Sailor Prep Course to provide more opportunities.

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

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

The U.S. Navy remains the world’s largest, most capable, and technologically advanced naval force. Its mission includes maintaining, training, and equipping combat-ready forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and ensuring freedom of the seas.