Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Statement on the Fiscal Year 2024 Recruiting and Retention Report
October 30, 2024
The Department of Defense released the Fiscal Year 2024 Recruiting and Retention Report today. The report provides an assessment of the services’ ability to attract and retain the size and quality of military personnel required to meet national security strategy objectives.
Key Findings:
- The Department met its overall recruiting goal for Fiscal Year 2024.
- The Army and Marine Corps missed their active-duty recruiting goals, while the Navy and Air Force exceeded theirs.
- The active-duty retention rate remained stable compared to Fiscal Year 2023.
- The Reserve and National Guard components faced challenges in meeting their recruiting and retention targets.
Challenges:
- The current recruiting environment is highly competitive due to a shrinking pool of eligible candidates, increased competition from the private sector, and negative perceptions of military service.
- Changes in youth demographics, such as a declining birth rate, further exacerbate recruiting challenges.
- Economic factors, such as high inflation and low unemployment, make military service less appealing to some potential candidates.
Initiatives:
The Department is implementing a number of initiatives to address these challenges, including:
- Increasing advertising and outreach efforts: Engaging with potential recruits through digital platforms, social media, and community events.
- Expanding referral programs: Incentivizing service members and veterans to refer qualified candidates.
- Improving the military lifestyle: Offering competitive pay and benefits, providing quality education and training opportunities, and addressing quality-of-life issues.
- Bolstering the image of military service: Communicating the value and benefits of military service to the public.
Secretary Austin’s Statement:
“I am grateful for the service of our men and women in uniform and the sacrifices they make to protect our nation,” said Secretary Austin. “This report highlights the challenges we face in attracting and retaining the talent we need to maintain our military readiness and execute our national security strategy. We are committed to working with Congress and other stakeholders to implement innovative solutions to these challenges and ensure that we have the military force required to deter and defend against threats to our security.”
Additional Information:
The full Fiscal Year 2024 Recruiting and Retention Report is available on the Department of Defense website: www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3521921/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-the-fiscal-year-202
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