Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

Quite a difference when leadership emphasizes being combat ready instead of trans bull*****

I still wouldn't join. The dems will reimplement all of the same garbage again when they get power back in 4-8 years.

Just had lunch with a hs student and his father, a substantial portion of the graduating class at his school is going into one of the military branches. Apparently the incentives are pretty good.

Is the top brass still woke?

"You mean I can join a masculine meritocracy under the umbrella of civilian leadership who won't squander my life?! Where do I sign?" - young men

jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

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The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

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The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

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Trump was elected Nov 5. So 7 of the 8 months were 'under' Trump....

agracer said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

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The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

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Trump was elected Nov 5. So 7 of the 8 months were 'under' Trump....

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But didn't assume office until the end of January. And ignores the fact that Army recruiting has been trending up for almost 3 years now.

Teslag said:

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agracer said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

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Trump was elected Nov 5. So 7 of the 8 months were 'under' Trump....

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But didn't assume office until the end of January. And ignores the fact that Army recruiting has been trending up for almost 3 years now.

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You can't seriously be arguing that military recruiting wasn't negatively impacted from 2021 thru 2024. You know good and well that Army recruiting "trending up" is intellectually dishonest as end-strength numbers were woefully short of requirements. There is always a recruiting uptick during economic downturns. That's about all you can argue here.

92AG10 said:

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Teslag said:

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agracer said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

---

Trump was elected Nov 5. So 7 of the 8 months were 'under' Trump....

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But didn't assume office until the end of January. And ignores the fact that Army recruiting has been trending up for almost 3 years now.

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You can't seriously be arguing that military recruiting wasn't negatively impacted from 2021 thru 2024. You know good and well that Army recruiting "trending up" is intellectually dishonest as end-strength numbers were woefully short of requirements. There is always a recruiting uptick during economic downturns. That's about all you can argue here.

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Through 21 to 23 I can't argue that. From 23 to 25 I can. In 2024 we exceeded our recruiting goals. Our recruiting really started to improve towards the end of 2023. In 2024 my unit and our sister unit were both overstrength in every MOS, even the difficult ones to recruit for. We have also experienced much better retention in the past couple of years as well.

Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

---

Right, cuz nobody cares who their boss is going to be when their life is on the line...good grief.

Teslag said:

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agracer said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

---

Trump was elected Nov 5. So 7 of the 8 months were 'under' Trump....

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But didn't assume office until the end of January. And ignores the fact that Army recruiting has been trending up for almost 3 years now.

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You're clearly confused. Was thing good? trump. Was thing bad? Biden.

Just like the markets. When they're up it's all trump's doing, when they're down it's Biden's fault.

Easy math. Thank you dear leader.

(psst, the slipping economic outlook is the answer, not who the leader is, like you said)

American Hardwood said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

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The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

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Right, cuz nobody cares who their boss is going to be when their life is on the line...good grief.

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Almost 80% of Army MOS's are non-combat. A significant number are even reservists. Most join for free college, a way out of no options, or other benefits. Oddly enough, even under Biden we didn't have much issue with combat arms recruiting. The hard part has been filling the MOS that require higher ASVAB's, long AIT's, and specialized. We are even filling those now, albeit with much higher bonuses.

American Hardwood said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

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Right, cuz nobody cares who their boss is going to be when their life is on the line...good grief.

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This might make sense if someone plans on only 4 years in the service...

I think it's probably the guarantee of a paycheck, housing, community, education, healthcare, retirement, va benefits, prestige, meaning, travel, etc.

EDIT: Really not shocking to hear that those with higher scoring ASVABs haven't wanted to join until the bonuses improved. Pay people or they'll go somewhere else that does in the civilian world. If you can barely sign your name, welcome to 11

Teslag said:

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92AG10 said:

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Teslag said:

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agracer said:

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Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

---

Trump was elected Nov 5. So 7 of the 8 months were 'under' Trump....

---

But didn't assume office until the end of January. And ignores the fact that Army recruiting has been trending up for almost 3 years now.

---

You can't seriously be arguing that military recruiting wasn't negatively impacted from 2021 thru 2024. You know good and well that Army recruiting "trending up" is intellectually dishonest as end-strength numbers were woefully short of requirements. There is always a recruiting uptick during economic downturns. That's about all you can argue here.

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Through 21 to 23 I can't argue that. From 23 to 25 I can. In 2024 we exceeded our recruiting goals. Our recruiting really started to improve towards the end of 2023. In 2024 my unit and our sister unit were both overstrength in every MOS, even the difficult ones to recruit for. We have also experienced much better retention in the past couple of years as well.

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The numbers don't agree with you. Just because a relatively small reserve component unit was full doesn't mean the Total Army force structure wasn't way short.

The only reason the Army hit its recruiting goal last year was because DoD slashed the mission from 65,000 in FY 2023 to only 55,000 in FY 2024. If you move the target close enough, you'll eventually be able to hit it.

BTW, the 2025 mission was 61,000, which was achieved in only 8 months. The last year the Army sniffed 61,000 was..........wait for it.......2020.

That goal post moving of yours still ignores the fact that FY24 recruiting was 12.5% higher than it was in FY23. So yes, regardless of goal, recruiting was already trending up before Trump was elected or took office.

And as already pointed out, half of that 8 months of FY25 recruiting occurred under Biden.

Trump saves Brayden and Aiden from the draft!

Teslag said:

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That goal post moving of yours still ignores the fact that FY24 recruiting was 12.5% higher than it was in FY23. So yes, regardless of goal, recruiting was already trending up before Trump was elected or took office.

And as already pointed out, half of that 8 months of FY25 recruiting occurred under Biden.

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The 2024 recruiting totals were up less than 10% over 2023 but still left a shortfall of almost 15,000 soldiers. That's a Division sized hole in the formations.

FYI: Big Army's 2024 recruiting number was also 5% smaller than it was back in 2021. You remember, the year that Trump was responsible for the first four months?

You don't occupying the high ground here.

Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

---

December 2024 was the highest month in 15 years. Since December, all units, reserve or active, have been at 100% plus recruitment numbers (one was at 99.97%) other than Army reserve each month after Trump's election. This was NOT true during FY 2024, including the allegedly strong overall recruiting months of that year.

Source: https://prhome.defense.gov/M-RA/Inside-M-RA/MPP/PR/

Don't let the media tell you the numbers are similar or would have happened anyway. That's total BS.

As far as economic causes, the armed forces weren't hitting these numbers this fast during past economic lulls. There's absolutely NO evidence of your (bolded) assertion.

Teslag said:

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jt2hunt said:

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Not surprising at all when you have someone with a backbone as a leader. Restoring common sense the military seems to work in recruitment.

---

The current Fiscal recruiting year for the Army began October 1, 2024 so a lot of the recruiting was done under Biden's term. They Army also exceeded it's goal for Fiscal 2024 as well.

This has less to do with who is president than it does a worsening economy. When private jobs get hard to find people often turn to military service. Doesn't hurt that we are also throwing bonuses out like crazy again.

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As someone with 2 sons who are 18 and 21 this is laughable. It's about Trump not the economy on this one.

Quote:

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Don't let the media tell you the numbers are similar or would have happened anyway. That's total BS.

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I don't need the media, the command's recruiting and retention office is next to mine. It has been trending up for the past few years and I can see it with my own eyes.

Quote:

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December 2024 was the highest month in 15 years.

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And who was president then?

"If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." - Sun Tzu

Recession indicator

So couldn't you theorize that the recruiting may have ticked up because people knew the Biden admin was leaving and Trump was entering ? I am not discounting that other employment options may not have been as available and I believe that is also a factor btw. It can be some of each.

Teslag said:

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Quote:

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Don't let the media tell you the numbers are similar or would have happened anyway. That's total BS.

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I don't need the media, the command's recruiting and retention office is next to mine. It has been trending up for the past few years and I can see it with my own eyes.

Quote:

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December 2024 was the highest month in 15 years.

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And who was president then?

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So your assertion is that all these people wanted to enlist under Biden, but did not or were unable to the previous 46 months, so then they all rushed out to enlist in his last full month of president?

And it had nothing to do with the man that just won the election and was going to be their commander in chief?

halfastros81 said:

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So couldn't you theorize that the recruiting may have ticked up because people knew the Biden admin was leaving and Trump was entering ? I am not discounting that other employment options may not have been as available and I believe that is also a factor btw. It can be some of each.

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This.

My stepson joined the AF in 2023. He really needed the discipline and he has the opportunity to go to school for Cyber security, now. His goal. But he went in for a decent job, with bennies and a future.

Not everything is about Trump. Good Lord.