Washington is backing a significant expansion of US military personnel this year, authorizing an increase of more than 30,000 troops across the armed forces, Military Times reported.
The National Defense Authorization Act, signed last month, gives the US Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security permission to enlarge their forces.
Under the plan, the US Army and Navy will see the largest gains.
The army will add 11,700 active-duty soldiers, bringing its total to 454,000, while the navy will increase by 12,300 to 334,600.
The US Air Force will add 1,500 personnel, bringing its total to 320,000, and the Space Force will expand by 600, reaching a total of 10,400 members.
Under the initiative, the increase will also cover reserve components.
The US Marine Corps Reserve will add 1,500 members, the US Air Force Reserve will add 500, and the US Army National Guard will add 3,000.
The Coast Guard Reserve aims for 8,500 personnel, an increase of more than 600.
In total, the reserve and National Guard forces combined will exceed 772,000 personnel, pushing overall US military strength to nearly 2.1 million.
Recruiting Efforts
Recruiting for US military positions accelerated in late 2025.
Last year, the US Army reported its strongest monthly recruiting performance since 2010, surpassing a December 2024 peak when the service averaged nearly 350 enlistments per day.
Moreover, the US Coast Guard exceeded its fiscal 2025 recruiting targets, reaching levels last seen in 1991.
The service enlisted 5,204 active-duty personnel, 121 percent of its goal of 4,300, marking the second consecutive year it met or exceeded its recruiting objectives.
However, 2025 data also highlighted retention challenges, with internal US Army records reportedly showing that nearly one in four new recruits leave the service within two years of enlistment.
About 25 percent of soldiers who joined since 2022 have not completed their initial eight-year contracts.
