Don’t tell Trustee Scott Yenor: Females Drive Army recruitment

File this post under things not to tell University of West Florida Trustee Scott “Damn Independent Women” Yenor.

Female Recruits Drive Army’s Success in Meeting Enlistment Goals

In a significant shift in military recruitment patterns, the U.S. Army achieved its ambitious recruiting targets for the first time in several years, largely attributed to a substantial increase in female enlistments. According to internal service data, female recruitment for active duty saw an impressive 18% surge in 2024, with nearly 10,000 women joining the ranks, while male recruitment showed a more modest 8% increase.

• The surge in female recruits comes at a crucial time when the Army faces ongoing challenges in recruiting male candidates, who have seen a dramatic 22% decline in enlistment numbers since 2013 – dropping from 58,000 to 45,000 recruits annually.

WHY? Justice Department data indicates that women are significantly less likely to have criminal records, accounting for only 30% of juvenile arrests. Additionally, women are increasingly outpacing men in higher education, with recent Pew Research data showing that nearly half of women aged 25-34 hold bachelor’s degrees, compared to 37% of their male counterparts.

• The increase occurred without any targeted recruitment strategy focusing on women. The Army’s marketing materials and social media presence continue to predominantly feature male service members, with men appearing two to three times more frequently than women, especially in speaking roles.

MALE PROBLEM: Academic standards have become a significant barrier for many potential recruits, particularly among male candidates. This has led to the establishment of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course in 2022, a pre-basic training program designed to help candidates meet the required academic and physical standards. Notably, approximately 70% of participants in this preparatory course are men.

Studies indicate that boys are falling behind girls in various academic categories, including reading and writing, with these achievement gaps often beginning in elementary school and widening over time. The disparities are particularly pronounced among male minorities.

WHAT MAY WORRY YENOR: The changing face of Army recruitment also has implications for military leadership. As more women enter service and demonstrate high levels of qualification, they are increasingly ascending to senior leadership positions, gradually reshaping the traditional military hierarchy.