Navy Station Great Lakes, Ill. - Oct. 2015: Chief Navy Counselor Rita Johnson, assistant director of recruit quality assurance team, watches as new recruits listen to an in-processing presentation as they begin their first week at Recruit Training Command. Navy Basic training is an eight-week program intended to introduce recruits to military life and prepare them for the fleet. (Navy photo by MCS 1st Class Latrice Jackson) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffThe Navy appears to be on a trajectory to meet recruiting goals for fiscal year 2025, which ends Sept. 30.
The U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) Press reported that the service attracted slightly more than 14,000 new sailors since the fiscal year began last Oct. 1. Should the recruitment rate remain on track, it would mark the second straight year that the service would meet recruiting goals. In fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the service’s recruiting efforts fell short.
The Navy hopes to attract 40,600 recruits in fiscal 2025, USNI reported. Doing so would set end strength at 332,300.
The article also noted that as of one year ago, the Navy was concerned that recruiting goals would not be met. The worries turned out to be unfounded, largely because the service took steps to address issues that were hindering the effort. The slow medical waiver process was streamlined, for example. Recruiting billets were fully staffed, and the Future Sailor Preparatory Course helped attract new sailors.
Rear Adm. James Waters, commander of Navy Recruiting Command, told USNI that procedural changes which helped recruiting efforts would remain in place.
The changes in the medical-waiver process, for example, are seen as key accelerators in the approval process. What had been taking days or weeks had been reduced to a day or so, thus eliminating backlogs.
“[The] ability to make those quick and informed decisions continues into [fiscal year 2025] and is a key enabler of our recruiting process,” Waters said.
Common conditions that may qualify for a waiver include asthma, certain vision issues like myopia or hyperopia, and a history of minor orthopedic injuries such as healed fractures. Other waiverable conditions might include eczema, and a history of mental health issues, such as mild depression or anxiety, provided they have been treated successfully and do not pose ongoing challenges.
The Air Force also announced recently persons with conditions such as asthma, hearing loss and food allergies may be allowed to serve in the Air Force and Space Force, under a new policy change. The service’s accessions center believes the move could open the door for an additional 600 applicants per year.
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