The United States Army has successfully met its recruiting objectives for 2026 ahead of schedule. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced this achievement during a commencement speech at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He expressed satisfaction with the recruiting progress, stating, “Recruitments are up across the joint force.” This marks the second consecutive year of record recruitment.
In 2025, the Army had set a target of 61,000 recruits and exceeded this by recruiting 62,050 personnel, according to the Pentagon. As of now, 61,500 new soldiers are ready to be trained, a development that will strengthen the Army’s size in the coming years.
Command Sgt. Maj. Danny Basham highlighted the significance of this achievement, emphasizing the commitment and strength of those who chose to join the military.
“The men and women who chose to serve our nation are actively showing their commitment to something larger than themselves,” Basham said.
During his speech, Hegseth criticized previous military policies that focused on diversity goals. He suggested that such approaches were not in line with the values of West Point, asserting the academy’s commitment to merit-based success.
“These ideas are what get people killed. Diversity is not our strength. Unity is our strength,” Hegseth stated, receiving applause from the audience.
He also acknowledged the graduating cadets, reminding them of the dangerous work ahead. He emphasized the importance of being purpose-built for high-intensity conflicts and underscored the need for readiness in any situation, reinforcing the military’s role in delivering justice.
In his address, Hegseth touched upon faith, citing a verse from Isaiah: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ and I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.'” He encouraged cadets to seek divine guidance in all circumstances, referencing public figure Charlie Kirk.
The speech came as the U.S. considers resuming military actions against Iran, with tensions in the Middle East brought into focus by recent operations like Epic Fury. Hegseth highlighted the readiness expected of U.S. forces, noting the Army’s recent rapid deployments to the Middle East.
In a lighter moment, Hegseth joked about the friendly rivalry between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, saying, “I know the Army loves sinking the Navy,” referring to operations that involved American Army units using HIMARS.
President Donald Trump plans to hold a conference call with Arab leaders to discuss a draft agreement with Iran, expressing uncertainty about whether a favorable deal could be achieved.
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