A SURGE IN FEMALE ENLISTMENTS IN 2024 HELPED THE ARMY REACH ITS RECRUITING GOAL
It’s been tough to get new Soldiers. Regardless of the approach or incentives, the U.S. Army has been having recruitment issues in recent years. However, a turn of the tide hit Army recruitment in 2024 that would see the largest branch of the military hit its goals. However, for an issue so important to a branch so big, the Army hasn’t really looked at different demographics traditionally when it comes to its recruitment efforts. Many are calling for a change going forward. One of the core reasons is that the Army recruiting numbers in 2024 were as good as they would thanks to a specific demographic—women.
Army Recruitment 2024 Hits Goals Thanks to Female Recruits
For the first time in many years, Army recruitment in 2024, hit its goals and women are to be thanked.
In a world dominated by men, it’s the almost 10,000 women who signed up to serve as a Soldier that bolstered the numbers providing an 18% increase from the numbers in 2023.
Army recruiting in 2024 for men only increased by 8% in comparison, continuing the trend of difficulties in attracting eligible men to join the military.
At the same time, it's also a key point the Army should continue to look at—young men may be struggling to meet the criteria of what’s needed to be a Soldier, but women are not.
Why Female Recruits May Have the Upper Hand
Female applicants may have an advantage over males in the Army’s recruiting pool due to lower criminal record rates, with women accounting for just 30% of juvenile arrests.
Since 2013, male enlistments have dropped by over 20%, from 58,000 to 45,000, while female recruits are increasing despite minimal changes in the Army's recruiting strategy.
The Army’s social media and ad campaigns predominantly feature men, often two to three times more than women. Furthermore, men are more commonly given speaking roles in these marketing materials.
This rise in female recruits suggests a shifting dynamic in military enlistment trends.
"It's not about pandering to women, it's about creating a professional environment accessing the best talent, where we've been undervaluing pursuing women," said Katherine Kuzminski of the Center for a New American Security.
Education and Eligibility
Additionally, women are outpacing men in higher education, with nearly half of women aged 25-34 holding bachelor’s degrees compared to 37% of men.
There are almost 5,000 new recruits enlisting as a Soldier who have higher education compared to 2023—a 14% increase. College degrees are the norm these days for enlisted Soldiers, particularly those moving into leadership.
This is a problem for attracting male recruits who are eligible for service, as academic standards continue to be a significant barrier many men fail to meet.
A high school diploma and strong ASVAB scores, which assess math, science, and language skills, are required for anyone enlisting; however, many continue to produce falling test scores.
The COVID-19 pandemic made things even worse as test scores have taken a hit against normal standards.
To help improve these test scores and recruitment, the Army introduced the Future Soldier Preparatory Course back in 2022 with the goal of helping ineligible applicants meet academic or body fat standards.
Overwhelmingly, people qualified for the course, roughly 70% of participants, are men compared to females indicating a clear difference in who struggles to take the entrance test.
Unfortunately for men, when looking at the overall educational landscape throughout the U.S., women are doing better academically in virtually every category—men who are minorities face even greater disparities.
Can Army Recruitment 2024 be a Wake-Up Call?
Even if the Army recruiting goals for 2024 are met, the branch still has to address the glaring problem that its recruiters aren’t looking at demographics when soliciting volunteers.
Officials have clarified that the move isn't about meeting vague diversity goals but about strategically targeting potential applicants who are more likely to qualify for service.
With more women enlisting and the pool of eligible male candidates shrinking, women are increasingly advancing through the ranks and assuming senior leadership positions.
Hopefully, the lessons to be learned during Army recruitment in 2024 will help the branch improve its efforts moving forward.
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