US Navy Coming in 7,000 Sailors Short of 2023 Recruiting Goal

Shortfall part of a general trend among armed services, attributed to a range of factors, including a competitive job market to perceptions of politization.

U.S. Navy sailors conduct flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in the western Pacific Ocean on May 2, 2017. Sean M. Castellano/US Navy via Getty Images

The U.S. Navy expects to be 7,000 new sailors short of its annual recruiting goal when the fiscal year ends this month.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti announced that the service is on track to miss its fiscal year 2023 goal—ending Sept. 30—to bring in 37,700 active duty enlisted sailors. The service also aimed to recruit 2,528 active duty officers, 8,200 reserve enlisted sailors, and 1,940 reserve officers.