Article

The US National Defense Authorization Act has approved an increase of over 30,000 military personnel across various branches in 2025, with the Army expanding by 11,700 to a total of 454,000, and the Navy by 12,300 to reach 334,600. The Air Force and Space Force will also see modest increases, while reserve components will grow significantly, contributing to an overall military strength approaching 2.1 million. Despite successful recruitment efforts, the military faces challenges with retention, as 25% of recruits since 2022 have left within two years.