The Army National Guard has met its fiscal 2026 recruiting target of 37,155 Guardsmen, extending its recruiting streak to three consecutive years as the active-duty Army also surpassed its annual target months ahead of schedule.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
The Army National Guard has reached its fiscal year 2026 recruiting goal of 37,155 Guardsmen, marking the third consecutive year the service component has met its annual target.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the milestone Friday, several days before the federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30.
“Proud to announce that the Army National Guard achieved its FY 2026 recruiting mission of 37,155 guardsmen yesterday,” Hegseth posted on X. “This marks the third year in a row that the ARNG has hit this achievement and the FIRST time it has achieved this level of sustained recruiting success since FY 2013.”
Hegseth added that the Army National Guard is positioned for another successful recruiting year in fiscal 2027.
His announcement continues a broader run of recruiting gains across the Army.
The active-duty Army reached its own fiscal 2026 recruiting goal in May, approximately four months before the end of the fiscal year. The service signed contracts with more than 61,500 future soldiers, according to Army Public Affairs.
That achievement followed another early recruiting success in fiscal 2025, when the Army brought in 62,050 new soldiers against a goal of 61,000. Army recruiting officials said the service increased accessions by 12% compared with the previous year and reached its contract target by June.
The Army said its 2026 recruiting effort included expanded outreach, career incentives and an increased emphasis on attracting recruits for critical technical specialties.
“I’m incredibly proud of our U.S. Army Recruiters,” Brig. Gen. Sara Dudley, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Division, said when the active-duty goal was announced in May. “Their dedication to recruiting the best, most qualified talent is the reason we achieved this momentous milestone.”
The Army National Guard’s separate achievement brings its three-year recruiting streak to a level Hegseth said the component has not sustained since fiscal 2013.
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