Air Force Recruitment Soars to 15-Year High, Officials Say

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested the resurgence of interest in military service is fueled by a renewed emphasis on combat readiness and discipline.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet lands on the tarmac during a military aviation exhibition at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, India, on Feb. 13, 2025. Idrees Mohammed/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Air Force recruitment has surged to its highest level in 15 years, top military officials say.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin announced on March 3 that recruiting numbers over the past three months—December through February—were the strongest in a decade and a half.