WEBVTT

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Ok . All right . Well , good afternoon ,

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everyone . I'm Major General Pat Ryder

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Pentagon , Press Secretary . Thanks

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very much for joining us for today's

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briefing and update on the Department

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of Defense recruiting efforts . As you

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know , the military US military is the

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strongest fighting force on earth for

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more than 50 years . Our all volunteer

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force has been sustained by qualified

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patriots who stand up to serve and keep

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our republic secure . The Secretary of

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Defense , Austin has said our greatest

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strategic asset is our people . We must

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continue to recruit and retain the best

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that our country has to offer . The

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department remains deeply committed to

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ensuring that every qualified patriot

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has the opportunity to answer the call .

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We're fortunate to have with us today .

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A panel of defense leaders to discuss

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today's recruiting environment and

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preview the service's goals for fiscal

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year 25 . Doctor Katie Helen Dod S

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director of military accession policy ,

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Major General Johnny Davis , commanding

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General United States Army recruiting

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command in Fort Knox at Fort Knox .

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Brigadier General Christopher Amrein ,

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Commander Air Force recruiting service ,

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Rear Admiral James Waters , the Third

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commander Navy recruiting command and

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Major General William Bowers ,

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commanding General Marine Corps

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recruiting command . As a reminder ,

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today's briefing is on the record .

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I'll turn it over to each of our

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panelists for brief opening remarks

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before opening it up to Q and A . And

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please note I will call on reporters

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and try to get to as many of you as

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possible . And with that , I'll turn it

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over to doctor Helen to kick things off .

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Good afternoon . I am Katie Helen , the

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director of a session policy . Thank

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you for inviting me to this media

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roundtable . And I'd like to start uh

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by expressing a special thank you to

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everyone over the past year , from our

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recruiting commanders to our recruiters

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to our mep com personnel who've

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contributed to the success of fiscal

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year 2024 recruiting missions following

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significant shortfalls . During the

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previous years , the military service

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concluded fiscal year 2024 in a much

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improved position compared to this time

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last year . Despite a continuously

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challenging and disinterested

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recruiting market at the end of

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September , the service is enlisted

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just shy of 225,000 new recruits in

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fiscal year 2024 . That's over 25,000

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more than fiscal year 2023 .

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Furthermore , the services had a 35%

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increase in contracts written compared

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to this time . Last year US metcom saw

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a year over year increase of medical

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exam by 48% and the active component

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started fiscal year 2025 with a 10%

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larger starting pool or a delayed entry

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program pool compared to this time last

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year , Os D and the services will

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continue to build off the momentum that

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we've gained in 2024 . Nevertheless ,

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we need to remain cautiously optimistic

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about the future recruiting operations

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as we continue to recruit in a market

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that has low youth propensity to serve

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limited familiarity with military

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opportunities , a competitive labor

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market and a declining eligibility

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among young adults . More specifically ,

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we've observed over the last decade , a

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growing divide between military and

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civilians , data indicate that many of

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today's youth are not interested in

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military service and have many

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misperceptions about what life is like

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as a service member . Additionally ,

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for the first time since this metric

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has been tracked , the majority of

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youth have never even considered

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military service as an option that is ,

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it's not even on the radar . This

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divide has been brought about by a

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confluence of many factors including

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the shrinking military footprint and

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declining veteran presence across

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society . Young Americans now have

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fewer direct ties to a family member or

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a close friend who has served in the

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military . For example , in 1990 40% of

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our young adults had a parent who

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served that's down to 15% . Today . In

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the past , those direct ties were key

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to conveying the boundless

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opportunities and experiences that are

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gained from military service . And

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without these personal connections , we

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find fewer young adults are familiar

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with . The benefits of service .

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Further complicating our recruiting

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challenges is the low number of youth

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who are qualified for military service .

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Data show nearly 77% of youth between

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the ages of 17 and 24 are not qualified

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for military service without some type

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of waiver . This is where programs like

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our medical asses , records , pilot or

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MP and service member prep courses have

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been helpful to expand the market , but

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we also seek to expand the market by

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reconnecting with young adults and

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their influencers on the value

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proposition of service . For instance ,

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the next generation of Americans to

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serve should know that there has never

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been a better time for them to choose

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military service . You today seek a

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larger purpose in their lives and

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desire jobs where they have greater

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participation in decision making and

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can create a direct tangible impact .

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Military service offers all of this

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service provides new perspectives , a

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sense of purpose , the opportunity to

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take on great responsibilities and

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challenge the status quo service

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members find personal fulfillment in

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serving in every part of the world .

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Responding with bills to truly make a

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difference . Military service has more

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than 250 occupations where each person

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will be individually challenged to

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reach their peak potential by providing

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a path to success . The military

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represents one of the most educated

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organizations in the world across all

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ranks . We provide our service members

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with competitive pay packages and

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benefits such as retirement savings and

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health care along with unprecedented

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opportunities for continued education

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and training . We offer these things

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that the young adults today look for

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when choosing a career , but in many

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respects , they just don't know it too

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often . The military is falsely seen as

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an alternative to college or an option

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of last resort . We are working to

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reframe this narrative so that

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Americans understand that military

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service is a pathway to greater

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education and career opportunities

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while defending democracy and the

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freedoms we hold dear . This is why the

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joint advertising market research and

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studies program has launched the

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digital calling answer campaign to

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build familiarity and with the value

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proposition of military service to nest

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with the services specific campaigns .

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Further the departments there tomorrow

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adult influencer media campaign targets

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parents , educators and other relevant

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adult influencers to build advocacy for

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military service . Moreover , we have

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collaborated with our education

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partners through our military

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enlistment data to access to lift

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students or a metals working group with

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uh state education agencies to develop

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a strategy and a plan to share military

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data with states in order to provide

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credit to public high schools ,

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military readiness . In addition to

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college and career readiness . We've

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also partnered with our fellow national

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service agencies like AmeriCorps and

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Peace Corps to help amplify a mes

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message of service because like

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military service , there's been a

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decline in propensity for national

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service opportunities . So we are

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working a whole of government solution

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while we're here to talk about

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recruiting efforts . Today , we also

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wanna celebrate the 225 the 225 100,000

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young adults who've been listed in

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fiscal year 2024 through a spirit of

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selfless service . We continue to build

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and maintain the world's most capable

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military . Uh Thank you for having me

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and thank you for your continued

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efforts to better understand and the

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depart and support the department's

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recruiting mission . I look forward to

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your questions . Watch your legs . Well ,

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good , good afternoon , everyone . I'm

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Johnny Davis . Uh US army recruiting

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commander and thank you , Doctor Helen

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and fellow recruiting commanders uh for

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taking the time to be here . As

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mentioned , the US army recruiting

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command exceeded our fiscal year 2024

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recruiting mission with more than

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55,000 future soldiers going to basic

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combat training . Additionally , our

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dedicated recruiters capitalized on

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those momentum and surpassed the fiscal

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year uh 24 delayed entry program

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mission of 5000 contracting . More than

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11,000 future enlistments for fiscal

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year 25 . This is a great start and a

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very positive momentum . Achieving

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these goals helps ensure our army has

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the personnel needed to meet in

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strength numbers established by

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Congress . Just over a year ago . The

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fierce competition for talented

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Americans and the need to modernize

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recruiting efforts led the secretary of

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the army to announce recruiting as the

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army's number one priority and the need

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for recruiting transformation . In the

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past year , we've witnessed historic

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changes that generated incredible

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positive momentum for us in the army .

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This really started in February 2024

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after about a year of putting a many of

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these initiatives together . Uh and ,

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and it hasn't slowed down our hard

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working recruiters hold of army support

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and transformation initiatives made our

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fiscal year 24 success possible . We

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know we are , we are not out of the

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woods yet , but we remain steadfast to

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mission success this year and beyond .

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So as I look back on the past year , I

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think there are two main contributors

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to the success . We're seeing our

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investment in the recruiting force and

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their families and the whole of army

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investment in recruiting . We know the

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importance of putting people first and

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starting this investment with adapting

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our recruiter assessment and selection

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processes in incorporating recruiter

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feedback . We also revamped training at

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the recruiting college and added two

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weeks to our army recruiting course to

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focus on people and quality of life .

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Our people week brings recruiters and

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their families virtually together to

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pre prepare them for the demands of

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life away from military installations .

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Our senior leaders supported recruiters

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with historic incentives in fiscal year

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24 recruiter incentive pay continues

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authority to promote sergeants who

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graduate the army recruiting course to

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staff sergeant . These are all

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volunteers . Over 927 have been

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promoted , meritoriously promote up to

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100 and 50 qualified sergeants and

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staff sergeants to next grade and

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promote fully eligible sergeants and

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staff sergeants who enlist 24 future

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soldiers to basic combat training in a

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12 month period . As of today , we have

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21 promotions in this category . In

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addition to the investment and

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professional development of our people ,

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we continue to leverage our soldier

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referral program where soldiers from

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around the globe in every formation

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have an opportunity to contribute to

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recruiting efforts . This program is a

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little more than 20 months old and

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we've already received more than 77,000

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referrals from soldiers resulting in

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5000 contracts and many more in the

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pipeline . The army addressed the

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medical backlog and served over 60

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medical providers to 33 select military

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entrance processing stations across the

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country . Increasing enlistment for the

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army Army Reserve and our sister

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services . Our wonderful providers

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completed 6000 more physicals as

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compared to last year . The army is

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paving away in other avenues for young

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Americans to serve a first of its kind

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life accelerating program started in

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2022 . The future soldier prep course ,

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invest in young men and women helping

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them unlock their potential and achieve

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academic and fitness readiness for

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military service with a graduation rate .

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Over 90% in both academic and physical

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tracks with recruiting transformation .

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Marketing efforts are even getting

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better throughout fiscal year . 24 our

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teammates at the Army Enterprise

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Marketing Office built upon the be all

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you can be campaign while synchronizing

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marketing and advertising efforts to

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reach expanded audiences and connect ,

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connect with more prospects , interest

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in military service . Our recruiting

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staff and innovation team have been

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hard at work to transform the

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enterprises prospecting efforts and

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adapt to market expansion . We continue

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to look beyond the high school market

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and in fiscal year 24 had an average

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enlistment age of 22 years and four

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months and this is going up also one of

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every five enlistee has some college or

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is a college graduate . Our increased

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usage of digital job boards and roll

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out of the go recruit mobile app ,

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which was a recruiter recommendation .

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Uh have improved our efforts immensely .

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We started recruit 360 pilot , a new A

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I prospecting experiment that utilizes

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machine learning and A I assisted lead

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identification to enhance recruiter

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efficiency and focus on quality over

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quantity . So we're trying to get

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beyond the old days of high school

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lists and use A I to help us refine the

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uh lead market of our qualified uh

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applicants , our investment in people

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and army's investment and recruiting

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mate . Fiscal year 24 a success . There

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are no words to express how proud I am

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of the hard working recruiters that

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crushed it in every community .

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Compared to fiscal year 23 these young

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men and women increase productivity by

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43% and outstanding improvement . As we

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hit start 25 we will continue to invest

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in the people maintain momentum ,

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transform the enterprise and innovate

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our workforce . The secretary announced

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earlier this month , the army's

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enlistment goal for fiscal year 25 is

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61,000 future soldiers with a delayed

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entry program target of 10,000 . Our

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recruiters are already kicking it in

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high gear in fiscal year 25 and they're

12:44.511 --> 12:46.760
doing very well right now again .

12:46.770 --> 12:48.770
Thanks again for your time . I look

12:48.770 --> 12:50.881
forward to your questions . I'll turn

12:50.881 --> 12:52.881
it over to my , my good friend , uh

12:52.881 --> 12:55.159
Brigadier General , a AMRY . Of course ,

12:55.159 --> 12:57.309
be all you can be . Thank you , sir .

12:58.369 --> 13:00.591
Ladies and gentlemen , good afternoon .

13:00.591 --> 13:02.702
I'm honored to speak on behalf of the

13:02.702 --> 13:04.536
Air Force recruiting service and

13:04.536 --> 13:06.758
provide you with an update of where the

13:06.758 --> 13:06.669
Air Force and Space Force stand as we

13:06.679 --> 13:09.599
concluded fiscal year 2024 and look to

13:09.609 --> 13:12.669
our fy 25 goals . I'm proud to say that

13:12.679 --> 13:14.901
we have met our recruiting goals for fy

13:14.901 --> 13:17.012
24 across all components , the active

13:17.012 --> 13:19.290
duty Air Force Air Force Reserve , the ,

13:19.290 --> 13:21.346
the Air National Guard and the Space

13:21.346 --> 13:23.012
Force . This is an incredible

13:23.012 --> 13:25.123
achievement , particularly in today's

13:25.123 --> 13:27.290
challenge recruiting environment where

13:27.290 --> 13:29.346
we face declining youth population ,

13:29.346 --> 13:31.123
lack of familiarity and intense

13:31.123 --> 13:33.346
competition from the private sector . I

13:33.346 --> 13:35.512
want to start by expressing my sincere

13:35.512 --> 13:37.568
appreciation for all the hard work ,

13:37.568 --> 13:39.623
dedication and commitment from every

13:39.623 --> 13:39.580
member of the Air Force recruiting

13:39.590 --> 13:41.534
service to include our reserve and

13:41.534 --> 13:43.830
guard partners who were instrumental in

13:43.840 --> 13:46.007
us achieving our department of the Air

13:46.007 --> 13:48.118
Force goals , there was no one single

13:48.118 --> 13:50.520
element which got us across the line uh

13:50.530 --> 13:52.697
this year , but rather a broader shift

13:52.697 --> 13:54.530
in how we approach recruitment ,

13:54.530 --> 13:56.752
multiple levers such as barrier removal

13:56.752 --> 13:58.859
incentive adjustment , increasing

13:58.869 --> 14:01.570
medical uh review support and a home

14:01.599 --> 14:03.655
focus on recruiter development . All

14:03.655 --> 14:05.655
played a critical role to our total

14:05.655 --> 14:07.599
force recruiting successes . As we

14:07.599 --> 14:09.766
closed out this fiscal year , this was

14:09.766 --> 14:11.932
a blend of Department of the Air Force

14:11.932 --> 14:14.155
Headquarters , senior support from S AM

14:14.155 --> 14:16.266
R half a one Space Force , S one half

14:16.266 --> 14:18.900
SJSG , not to mention Secretary Kendall

14:18.909 --> 14:20.965
General Alvin and General Saltzman .

14:20.989 --> 14:22.822
Additionally , air education and

14:22.822 --> 14:25.045
training command commander , Lieutenant

14:25.045 --> 14:27.156
General Robinson has been a zealot on

14:27.156 --> 14:29.433
barrier removal and resourcing support .

14:29.433 --> 14:31.322
Our success is a testament to our

14:31.322 --> 14:33.156
collective effort and unwavering

14:33.156 --> 14:35.322
commitment to bringing in the best and

14:35.322 --> 14:34.919
brightest talent into our Air Force and

14:34.929 --> 14:37.119
Space Force . I need everyone to know

14:37.130 --> 14:39.074
the Department of the Air Force is

14:39.074 --> 14:41.130
still hiring . We have full and part

14:41.130 --> 14:43.186
time opportunities and more than 100

14:43.186 --> 14:45.074
and 30 specialties , several with

14:45.074 --> 14:47.241
bonuses we put in place new incentives

14:47.241 --> 14:49.186
and modern day modernized outdated

14:49.186 --> 14:51.186
policies beginning in the spring of

14:51.186 --> 14:53.074
2023 bringing in a larger pool of

14:53.074 --> 14:54.852
qualified applicants . As of 30

14:54.852 --> 14:57.059
September , more than 10,000 total

14:57.070 --> 14:59.469
force airmen and Guardians join the Air

14:59.479 --> 15:01.423
Force or Space Force due to policy

15:01.423 --> 15:03.535
changes and incentives implemented by

15:03.535 --> 15:05.368
the Air Force's recruiting cross

15:05.368 --> 15:07.423
functional team by eliminating these

15:07.423 --> 15:09.146
barriers . We've optimized our

15:09.146 --> 15:10.979
recruitment requirements without

15:10.979 --> 15:12.535
sacrificing the quality and

15:12.535 --> 15:14.701
capabilities of our recruits . Some of

15:14.701 --> 15:16.590
the changes that have expanded as

15:16.590 --> 15:18.701
session opportunities attracting high

15:18.701 --> 15:20.812
quality youth include reinstating the

15:20.812 --> 15:23.146
enlisted college loan repayment program ,

15:23.146 --> 15:25.312
modifying the body composition program

15:25.312 --> 15:27.201
to the baseline dod instruction ,

15:27.201 --> 15:28.923
revising the tattoo policy and

15:28.923 --> 15:31.035
continuing uh the Air Force THC pilot

15:31.035 --> 15:33.146
that does not disqualify high quality

15:33.146 --> 15:35.146
applicants if they test positive on

15:35.146 --> 15:37.201
their initial test and negative on a

15:37.201 --> 15:39.312
follow on test during the application

15:39.312 --> 15:41.479
process . In 2024 I adjusted the legal

15:41.479 --> 15:43.590
permanent resident requirement in the

15:43.590 --> 15:45.812
Air Force from 10 years to two years to

15:45.812 --> 15:47.812
align with dod allowances . We also

15:47.812 --> 15:49.701
reviewed our medical policies and

15:49.701 --> 15:51.868
processes . The implementation of Mh S

15:51.868 --> 15:51.440
Genesis and the health information

15:51.450 --> 15:53.460
exchange complicated the medical

15:53.469 --> 15:55.390
accession process by increased

15:55.400 --> 15:57.559
workloads in reviewing potentially

15:57.570 --> 15:59.760
disqualifying conditions in applicants

15:59.770 --> 16:03.270
versus the pre Mh Mh S Genesis . This

16:03.280 --> 16:05.280
created a large increase in medical

16:05.280 --> 16:07.280
waiver request and caused applicant

16:07.280 --> 16:09.113
waiting time for waiter waiver ,

16:09.113 --> 16:11.336
adjudications to increase significantly

16:11.799 --> 16:15.219
late last fall . A frs added 63 medical

16:15.229 --> 16:17.118
administrator contractors to help

16:17.118 --> 16:19.173
gather and screen supporting medical

16:19.173 --> 16:21.173
records , increasing efficiency and

16:21.173 --> 16:23.285
allowing for recruiters to focus more

16:23.285 --> 16:25.118
on face to face engagements with

16:25.118 --> 16:26.840
applicants . Additionally , we

16:26.840 --> 16:28.951
bolstered recruiter training and made

16:28.951 --> 16:31.173
adjustments to goal methodologies . The

16:31.173 --> 16:33.173
Department of the Air Force has not

16:33.173 --> 16:34.896
changed its high standards nor

16:34.896 --> 16:34.739
compromised the caliber of our

16:34.750 --> 16:36.806
applicants rather , we have expanded

16:36.806 --> 16:38.583
the opportunities for qualified

16:38.583 --> 16:40.806
individuals to join our ranks . We have

16:40.806 --> 16:42.917
partnered with military affiliated or

16:42.917 --> 16:44.694
organizations to leverage their

16:44.694 --> 16:46.750
presence and manpower in communities

16:46.750 --> 16:48.917
across the country . The Air and Space

16:48.917 --> 16:50.972
Force Association or A FA has become

16:50.972 --> 16:52.972
one of our trailblazing partners in

16:52.972 --> 16:55.028
this effort . As this is an exciting

16:55.028 --> 16:57.028
opportunity to build our recruiting

16:57.028 --> 16:56.859
network beyond our traditional

16:56.869 --> 16:59.036
recruiting force . This year , we have

16:59.036 --> 17:01.036
also launched a similar partnership

17:01.036 --> 17:03.036
with civil air patrol which has the

17:03.036 --> 17:05.147
potential to expand our reach and add

17:05.147 --> 17:07.147
another 30,000 members to our total

17:07.147 --> 17:09.088
Force Outreach network . As we

17:09.098 --> 17:11.154
celebrate the success , we must also

17:11.154 --> 17:14.029
turn and focus to the future . Fy 25

17:14.038 --> 17:16.094
brings with it an increased enlisted

17:16.094 --> 17:19.448
recruiting goal of 32,500 for the

17:19.458 --> 17:22.149
regular air force and a space force

17:22.159 --> 17:25.139
increase by 30% . Additionally , air

17:25.149 --> 17:27.205
force reserve requirements will also

17:27.205 --> 17:29.958
increase from 7200 to 7600 . Achieving

17:29.968 --> 17:31.912
these goals depends on our ongoing

17:31.912 --> 17:33.912
commitment to investing in both our

17:33.912 --> 17:36.079
recruiters and the resources they need

17:36.079 --> 17:38.246
to succeed . The Department of the Air

17:38.246 --> 17:39.912
Force allocated more than 370

17:39.912 --> 17:42.024
additional recruiting personnel based

17:42.024 --> 17:44.135
on manpower studies , ran reports and

17:44.135 --> 17:46.670
the A etc A nine analysis . Air force

17:46.680 --> 17:48.902
recruiting service is in the process of

17:48.902 --> 17:50.902
rapidly on boarding these personnel

17:50.902 --> 17:52.958
with deliberate placement uh in , in

17:52.958 --> 17:55.180
and around the United States as we move

17:55.180 --> 17:57.347
forward . These goals set before us in

17:57.347 --> 17:59.890
fy 25 are ambitious but we believe they

17:59.900 --> 18:02.359
are achievable . Make no mistake . We

18:02.369 --> 18:04.480
cannot take our hand off the throttle

18:04.480 --> 18:06.480
and we must remain laser focused on

18:06.480 --> 18:08.770
mission in the end , deterring or

18:08.780 --> 18:11.069
winning future f conflicts in a time of

18:11.079 --> 18:13.380
consequence starts right here at home

18:13.390 --> 18:15.390
by winning in co in the competition

18:15.390 --> 18:17.689
space for talent with continued

18:17.699 --> 18:19.410
innovation , dedication and a

18:19.420 --> 18:21.810
relentless commitment to our excellence .

18:21.819 --> 18:23.986
We will bring in the talent of our Air

18:23.986 --> 18:26.829
Force be that reg a guard or reserve as

18:26.839 --> 18:28.950
well as the space force and what they

18:28.950 --> 18:30.728
need to meet the challenges for

18:30.728 --> 18:32.839
tomorrow . Thank you . I welcome your

18:32.849 --> 18:35.170
questions . Aim high and semper supra ,

18:35.520 --> 18:37.550
sir . Over to you . Awesome , good

18:37.560 --> 18:39.893
afternoon . I'm rear admiral Jim Waters .

18:39.893 --> 18:42.116
I'm Commander Navy Recruiting command .

18:42.116 --> 18:43.949
It's a privilege to be here this

18:43.949 --> 18:45.893
afternoon to talk about the navy's

18:45.893 --> 18:48.004
recruiting efforts over the last year

18:48.004 --> 18:50.400
and to outline uh some of our goals for

18:50.410 --> 18:53.569
fiscal year 2025 we know that to remain

18:53.579 --> 18:56.010
the most capable navy in the world , we

18:56.020 --> 18:57.939
must recruit the best of America

18:58.170 --> 19:00.380
building pathways for all qualified

19:00.390 --> 19:03.099
Americans who choose to serve our

19:03.109 --> 19:06.890
nation . Fiscal year 2024 was a year of

19:06.900 --> 19:08.733
significant achievement for navy

19:08.733 --> 19:11.020
recruiting due to the hard work and

19:11.030 --> 19:13.060
dedication of our recruiters , our

19:13.069 --> 19:15.609
leadership and support teams across the

19:15.619 --> 19:18.229
country . Together , we contracted

19:18.239 --> 19:21.859
40,978 active component ,

19:21.869 --> 19:24.180
enlisted sailors into the navy against

19:24.189 --> 19:27.430
a goal of 40,600 . This was no small

19:27.439 --> 19:29.328
feat and I wanna take a moment to

19:29.328 --> 19:31.229
recognize the front line navy

19:31.239 --> 19:33.540
recruiters who worked tirelessly to

19:33.550 --> 19:35.390
meet our goals . They did an

19:35.400 --> 19:37.719
outstanding job navigating a highly

19:37.729 --> 19:41.650
competitive recruiting market and

19:41.660 --> 19:43.716
their efforts are a testament to the

19:43.716 --> 19:45.493
Navy's commitment to building a

19:45.493 --> 19:48.709
talented mission ready force . This

19:48.719 --> 19:51.349
success didn't happen by chance . It

19:51.359 --> 19:53.526
was the result of strategic changes we

19:53.526 --> 19:56.030
made to adapt to the current recruiting

19:56.040 --> 19:58.630
environment . Key adjustments included

19:58.640 --> 20:00.807
increasing the number of recruiters by

20:00.807 --> 20:04.030
approximately 800 removing bureaucratic

20:04.040 --> 20:06.670
barriers to rapid decision making and

20:06.680 --> 20:08.859
contracting . When we take care of our

20:08.869 --> 20:10.813
recruiters , they take care of the

20:10.813 --> 20:13.329
mission because we recognize that

20:13.339 --> 20:16.050
today's recruits are engaging online

20:16.060 --> 20:17.949
more than ever . We ramped up our

20:17.949 --> 20:21.170
presence on social media expanded our

20:21.180 --> 20:23.780
e-sports efforts and employed creative

20:23.790 --> 20:26.010
talent in our award winning Sailor

20:26.020 --> 20:28.719
versus youtube series . Additionally ,

20:28.729 --> 20:30.840
our marketing and advertising efforts

20:30.840 --> 20:33.530
focused on real authentic stories from

20:33.540 --> 20:36.180
actual sailors , addressing perceived

20:36.189 --> 20:39.219
barriers , concerns and key motivators

20:39.250 --> 20:42.319
related to joining another major

20:42.329 --> 20:44.560
initiative in fiscal year 2024 for the

20:44.569 --> 20:46.510
Navy was the establishment of our

20:46.520 --> 20:49.430
recruiting operation center or Rock ,

20:49.449 --> 20:52.040
which is proven invaluable . The Rock

20:52.050 --> 20:54.589
consolidated our data and analytic

20:54.599 --> 20:57.270
capacity into a single source of truth

20:57.660 --> 20:59.959
to continuously assess and improve

20:59.969 --> 21:02.699
recruiting practices . This emphasis on

21:02.709 --> 21:05.359
shared learning and best practices is

21:05.369 --> 21:07.425
helping our recruit , our recruiters

21:07.425 --> 21:09.760
meet their goals and it will continue

21:09.770 --> 21:12.130
to play a key role as we move forward

21:12.140 --> 21:15.900
in 2025 . Finally , we streamlined our

21:15.910 --> 21:17.910
medical waiver process to make well

21:17.920 --> 21:21.040
informed decisions in 0 to 3 days .

21:21.349 --> 21:23.640
Giving recruiters and candidates , the

21:23.650 --> 21:26.829
opportunity to act quickly as we turn

21:26.839 --> 21:29.489
our attention to fiscal year 2025 . I

21:29.500 --> 21:31.667
wanna note that while we're coming off

21:31.667 --> 21:33.778
a successful year , we are not taking

21:33.778 --> 21:36.170
our foot off the gas . Our goal for

21:36.180 --> 21:38.479
fiscal year 2025 is to build on our

21:38.489 --> 21:42.089
momentum and recruit another 40,600 new

21:42.099 --> 21:44.359
sailors which reflects the growing

21:44.369 --> 21:47.180
needs of the Navy as we continue to

21:47.189 --> 21:48.800
modernize and strengthen our

21:48.800 --> 21:51.650
capabilities . The road ahead won't be

21:51.660 --> 21:54.890
without obstacles . As my uh fellow

21:54.900 --> 21:56.956
recruiting commanders have noted the

21:56.956 --> 21:59.239
labor market remains competitive and

21:59.250 --> 22:02.250
military service is one of many options

22:02.260 --> 22:04.900
available to young Americans today to

22:04.910 --> 22:06.966
stand out . We'll continue to refine

22:06.966 --> 22:09.890
our message , positioning the navy as a

22:09.900 --> 22:11.956
premier opportunity for professional

22:11.956 --> 22:14.780
development , education and service to

22:14.790 --> 22:17.020
the nation and while mindful of

22:17.030 --> 22:19.609
evolving societal expectations ,

22:19.619 --> 22:22.060
especially with regards to work life

22:22.069 --> 22:24.739
balance and career flexibility . We

22:24.750 --> 22:26.472
will continue to highlight the

22:26.472 --> 22:28.639
opportunity for each young American to

22:28.639 --> 22:31.010
forge a better version of themselves in

22:31.020 --> 22:33.300
America's Navy . In the end , I'm

22:33.310 --> 22:35.199
optimistic about the year ahead .

22:35.390 --> 22:37.680
Fiscal year 2025 will bring its own set

22:37.689 --> 22:39.911
of challenges . But with the strategies

22:39.911 --> 22:42.078
we've imple implemented and the talent

22:42.079 --> 22:44.949
we have in place . I'm confident we

22:44.959 --> 22:46.848
will meet our goals . Thank you .

22:50.760 --> 22:52.982
Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen ,

22:52.982 --> 22:54.816
fellow military leaders . It's a

22:54.816 --> 22:57.020
pleasure to appear before you today to

22:57.030 --> 22:59.197
provide an update of your Marine Corps

22:59.197 --> 23:01.363
recruiting efforts . Your Marine Corps

23:01.363 --> 23:03.459
exists to fight and win our nation's

23:03.469 --> 23:05.219
battles and our performance in

23:05.229 --> 23:07.790
recruiting speaks for itself . Our

23:07.800 --> 23:10.079
combat heritage is embedded within

23:10.089 --> 23:12.311
Marine Corps recruiting command's DNA .

23:12.680 --> 23:14.291
And we share the same fierce

23:14.291 --> 23:16.540
competitive spirit to win as those

23:16.550 --> 23:18.760
marines who've gone before us . No

23:18.770 --> 23:21.040
matter the challenge . Over the past

23:21.050 --> 23:23.290
several decades , the Marine Corps has

23:23.300 --> 23:25.300
made institutional investments into

23:25.300 --> 23:27.319
recruiting to ensure that we are

23:27.329 --> 23:29.551
resourced with the very best commanders

23:29.551 --> 23:31.890
and marine recruiters to accomplish

23:31.900 --> 23:34.390
this demanding mission . This has been

23:34.670 --> 23:36.890
and will continue to be our greatest

23:36.900 --> 23:39.130
source of strength as we face . What

23:39.140 --> 23:41.251
some refer to as the most challenging

23:41.251 --> 23:43.196
recruiting environment . Since the

23:43.196 --> 23:45.362
inception of the all volunteer force ,

23:45.530 --> 23:47.752
Marine recruiters will continue to meet

23:47.752 --> 23:49.641
the expectations of our nation by

23:49.641 --> 23:52.199
holding true to our warriors ethos and

23:52.209 --> 23:55.069
our core values of honor , courage and

23:55.079 --> 23:57.540
commitment . We compete for the very

23:57.550 --> 24:00.359
best young people in every zip code in

24:00.369 --> 24:02.349
our nation and our , our marine

24:02.359 --> 24:04.589
recruiters are actively attracting and

24:04.599 --> 24:07.069
inspiring young men and women of

24:07.079 --> 24:08.949
character . Eager to take up the

24:08.959 --> 24:11.750
challenge of earning the title Marine .

24:12.010 --> 24:14.010
While we welcome all qualified and

24:14.020 --> 24:16.076
motivated applicants to take up this

24:16.076 --> 24:18.290
challenge , we refuse to lower our

24:18.300 --> 24:20.467
standards . We understand that to meet

24:20.467 --> 24:23.810
the high almost mystical expectations

24:23.819 --> 24:25.986
that the American people have of their

24:25.986 --> 24:28.097
Marine Corps that we must continue to

24:28.097 --> 24:30.319
attract and inspire young men and women

24:30.319 --> 24:32.486
of character who desire to live a life

24:32.486 --> 24:35.510
of significance by becoming a US Marine .

24:36.150 --> 24:39.410
Despite our success in fisk year 24 we

24:39.420 --> 24:41.642
continue to face the same challenges as

24:41.642 --> 24:43.809
the other services , historic lows and

24:43.809 --> 24:46.031
qualification rates , low propensity to

24:46.031 --> 24:48.439
serve a challenging labor market and a

24:48.449 --> 24:50.979
fragmented media landscape continue to

24:50.989 --> 24:52.822
have a compounding effect on the

24:52.822 --> 24:55.020
recruiting environment to combat these

24:55.030 --> 24:57.086
conditions . Marine Corps recruiting

24:57.086 --> 24:58.974
command will do what Marines have

24:58.974 --> 25:01.500
always done , innovate , adapt and win .

25:01.750 --> 25:03.969
As such . We are focused on my

25:03.979 --> 25:06.869
priorities of one training , the most

25:06.880 --> 25:08.824
proficient recruiting force in the

25:08.824 --> 25:11.030
world . Two manning , all of our

25:11.040 --> 25:13.959
recruiting sectors , three securing

25:13.969 --> 25:16.136
resources to support our people in the

25:16.136 --> 25:17.910
field . And four adapting our

25:17.920 --> 25:19.864
geographic lay down to reflect the

25:19.864 --> 25:21.976
changing demographics of our nation .

25:22.310 --> 25:24.959
And we're moving out at speed to make

25:24.969 --> 25:27.250
these organizational changes as we

25:27.260 --> 25:29.500
attack in the fisk gear 25 we will

25:29.510 --> 25:31.566
continue to reinforce and expand the

25:31.566 --> 25:33.677
trust of the American people in their

25:33.677 --> 25:35.566
Marine Corps positively shape the

25:35.566 --> 25:37.677
future of the Marine Corps and enable

25:37.677 --> 25:39.732
our Marines and their families to be

25:39.732 --> 25:41.843
happy and successful . I look forward

25:41.843 --> 25:44.177
to answering your questions . Thank you ,

25:44.177 --> 25:46.288
Semper Fidis . Thank you very much to

25:46.288 --> 25:48.232
all of our panelists today . We'll

25:48.232 --> 25:50.454
start with associated press lita blur .

25:50.454 --> 25:52.621
Thank you . Uh Thank you all for being

25:52.621 --> 25:54.732
here . Um I don't know , Doctor Helen

25:54.732 --> 25:56.788
if you can answer this or if this is

25:56.788 --> 25:58.843
each one of you needs to answer . Um

25:58.843 --> 26:00.954
I'm wondering about bonuses . Can you

26:00.954 --> 26:03.010
tell me how much overall the defense

26:03.010 --> 26:05.177
department has increased the amount of

26:05.177 --> 26:07.232
money it's providing to the services

26:07.232 --> 26:09.399
for bonuses and other sort of monetary

26:09.399 --> 26:11.399
um enhancements for the services to

26:11.399 --> 26:13.780
provide for recruiting last year over

26:13.790 --> 26:15.790
this year , if you can give sort of

26:15.790 --> 26:17.623
overall or services need to , to

26:17.623 --> 26:19.645
provide their own . And then uh I

26:19.805 --> 26:22.574
waters for the , for the Navy , can you

26:22.584 --> 26:25.285
uh say whether or how closely the Navy

26:25.295 --> 26:28.175
is tracking the cat fours that you have

26:28.185 --> 26:30.352
been bringing in over the last year or

26:30.352 --> 26:32.407
so to determine whether or not there

26:32.407 --> 26:34.629
are any increased disciplinary or other

26:34.629 --> 26:36.915
issues with that sort of larger chunk

26:36.925 --> 26:38.869
that you've , that the Navy's been

26:38.869 --> 26:40.869
bringing in that the other services

26:40.869 --> 26:43.489
have not done . So I'll actually uh

26:43.500 --> 26:45.611
open it up to the services to talk to

26:45.611 --> 26:48.500
on , on bonus incentives . Yeah , ma'am .

26:48.510 --> 26:50.510
I don't have the exact amount , but

26:50.510 --> 26:53.380
this is one of the areas that the uh in

26:53.390 --> 26:55.500
terms of transformation should we do

26:55.510 --> 26:57.566
the same thing that we've been doing

26:57.566 --> 26:59.732
every year ? So we're looking at a , a

26:59.732 --> 27:03.469
potential pilot to weigh bonus versus

27:03.479 --> 27:05.439
station of choice . And what we're

27:05.449 --> 27:08.660
seeing is applicants are moving towards

27:08.670 --> 27:10.979
the station of choice with that has

27:11.849 --> 27:14.189
garnered savings . I don't have the

27:14.199 --> 27:17.189
final amount , but it is a sizable when

27:17.199 --> 27:19.250
you , you look at the , the total

27:19.260 --> 27:22.150
number of applicants and let's say it ,

27:22.160 --> 27:24.493
it could be an estimate from , you know ,

27:24.493 --> 27:27.819
3 to 5 or $6000 each . So that's one of

27:27.829 --> 27:29.551
the areas that when we look at

27:29.551 --> 27:31.300
transformation . How can we do

27:31.310 --> 27:33.477
something different ? And I think it's

27:33.477 --> 27:35.588
yielding , I mean , what we're seeing

27:35.588 --> 27:37.810
is applicants prefer uh duty station of

27:37.810 --> 27:41.540
choice over money and I'll follow up uh

27:41.550 --> 27:43.717
with my colleague , we can get you the

27:43.717 --> 27:45.883
specific number . Uh What we do though

27:45.883 --> 27:49.500
is , um is that the , the incentive

27:49.510 --> 27:52.810
options that are there ? Um They do and

27:52.819 --> 27:55.209
can flex throughout the requirements

27:55.219 --> 27:57.410
from the Air Force specifically . Um A

27:57.420 --> 27:59.619
FS CS or Air Force specialty codes .

27:59.750 --> 28:01.861
And so , um , you know , what we have

28:01.861 --> 28:04.219
seen is a , uh , is a shift in my time

28:04.229 --> 28:07.290
a little over a year , um , focusing on

28:07.300 --> 28:09.939
some of the most high demand , um , and ,

28:09.949 --> 28:12.171
and low density jobs that are out there

28:12.171 --> 28:14.282
specifically in our special warfare ,

28:14.282 --> 28:16.569
uh , atmosphere for the , for those ,

28:16.579 --> 28:19.229
uh , air Force specialty codes . And so ,

28:19.239 --> 28:21.709
um , you know , in , in , in many cases ,

28:21.890 --> 28:24.719
uh , several A FS CS are all eligible

28:24.729 --> 28:26.951
for a bonus , but the structure of this

28:26.951 --> 28:29.589
is , is , is always flexing based on ,

28:29.810 --> 28:32.219
um , the , uh , the highest , um , or

28:32.229 --> 28:34.859
the most demand A Fs CS right now for

28:34.869 --> 28:37.091
us that is special warfare and a lot of

28:37.091 --> 28:39.530
our , um , open and mechanical , uh ,

28:39.540 --> 28:41.969
uh , a Fs CS ma'am . Yes . So , like

28:41.979 --> 28:44.250
the other services we , uh , look at

28:44.260 --> 28:47.420
each rating , uh , to specifically

28:47.430 --> 28:50.530
allocate , uh , enlistment bonuses . Uh ,

28:50.540 --> 28:52.670
but the short answer to your primary

28:52.680 --> 28:54.458
question is there hasn't been a

28:54.458 --> 28:57.689
significant change in the bonus amount ,

28:58.040 --> 29:01.020
uh , going from 24 to 25 . And with

29:01.030 --> 29:03.252
respect to the C fours , we're tracking

29:03.252 --> 29:05.197
that closely . Uh We've seen no uh

29:05.197 --> 29:07.660
increase in attrition , no increase in

29:07.670 --> 29:09.837
disciplinary actions . And I attribute

29:09.837 --> 29:12.280
that mainly to the fact that every

29:12.359 --> 29:15.000
recruit that comes into the Navy meets

29:15.010 --> 29:17.229
the standard for the rating to which

29:17.239 --> 29:20.180
they are assigned . So the , the cat

29:20.189 --> 29:23.540
four is from the A FQT which is four

29:23.550 --> 29:26.390
parts of the A VB . Each rating has a

29:26.400 --> 29:28.900
very , is a combination of scores from

29:28.910 --> 29:30.966
the , from those four plus the other

29:30.966 --> 29:33.132
six parts of the A S VA B and that has

29:33.132 --> 29:35.400
never changed . So a cat four sailor

29:35.410 --> 29:38.739
that comes in with an A FQT of 22

29:38.750 --> 29:41.839
that's gonna go be a uh machinist mate ,

29:41.959 --> 29:44.579
meets all of the line requirements for

29:44.589 --> 29:46.700
that machinist mate and always has we

29:46.700 --> 29:50.380
have not changed that and , and ma'am ,

29:50.390 --> 29:52.279
the Marine Corps does not rely on

29:52.279 --> 29:54.334
bonuses to attract and inspire young

29:54.334 --> 29:56.446
men and women of character to take up

29:56.446 --> 29:58.612
the challenge of becoming marines that

29:58.612 --> 30:00.834
said we do have some new incentives for

30:00.834 --> 30:02.946
some new career fields . Uh This year

30:02.946 --> 30:05.112
we have $15,000 bonuses for electronic

30:05.112 --> 30:07.112
uh maintenance , cyber , and crypto

30:07.112 --> 30:08.834
operations and information and

30:08.834 --> 30:11.001
communication , tech , career fields .

30:11.001 --> 30:13.168
But again , we don't rely primarily on

30:13.168 --> 30:15.670
bonuses . Thank you all . Yes , ma'am .

30:16.280 --> 30:18.979
IP one . Thanks so much for doing this .

30:18.989 --> 30:20.878
I have a quick follow up . I just

30:20.878 --> 30:23.211
wanted to make sure I have this correct .

30:23.211 --> 30:25.211
So the Army and the Air Force Space

30:25.211 --> 30:28.040
Force is increasing their goal for 2025

30:28.099 --> 30:30.043
Navy staying the same . And then I

30:30.043 --> 30:32.266
didn't hear Major General Bowers , what

30:32.266 --> 30:34.377
the Marine Corps was doing for 2025 .

30:34.377 --> 30:36.599
Our goal is increasing by approximately

30:36.599 --> 30:38.821
1800 Marines . Ok . 1800 Marines . Ok ,

30:38.821 --> 30:40.988
great , thanks . And then , um , seven

30:40.988 --> 30:43.055
um , Doctor Helen , you mentioned

30:43.064 --> 30:45.265
declining eligibility and I was just

30:45.275 --> 30:47.331
wondering if there were any specific

30:47.331 --> 30:49.108
efforts to get after that . And

30:49.108 --> 30:51.386
specifically in terms of previous drug ,

30:51.386 --> 30:53.608
drug use , I know there was a provision

30:53.608 --> 30:55.608
in the 25 NDA A that would stop the

30:55.608 --> 30:58.875
services from requiring someone to um

30:58.885 --> 31:00.996
test for marijuana before enlisting .

31:00.996 --> 31:02.941
You know , what does the dod think

31:02.941 --> 31:04.829
about that provision if you could

31:04.829 --> 31:06.718
provide any more guidance there ?

31:06.718 --> 31:08.829
Certainly . Um Yeah , when we look at

31:08.829 --> 31:10.829
eligibility , um based on estimates

31:10.829 --> 31:13.729
about uh 23% of youth are eligible to

31:13.739 --> 31:15.795
enlist without a waiver , that's for

31:15.795 --> 31:17.850
any of our , our various standards ,

31:17.850 --> 31:20.072
whether they medical dependents moral .

31:20.072 --> 31:22.406
Um So with regards to medical standards ,

31:22.406 --> 31:24.072
it's something the department

31:24.072 --> 31:26.239
continually looks at . Um and looks at

31:26.239 --> 31:28.406
advance . This is a medical assignment

31:28.406 --> 31:30.628
science , looking at the data for those

31:30.628 --> 31:30.305
who've come in with waivers to see if ,

31:30.314 --> 31:32.592
if we can refine the medical standards .

31:32.592 --> 31:36.104
We've also um instituted a , a Medical

31:36.114 --> 31:38.935
Asess Records pilot where for at this

31:38.944 --> 31:42.334
point now , 5051 conditions that used

31:42.344 --> 31:44.875
to have most of them had any history of

31:44.885 --> 31:46.944
a particular condition . Uh We're

31:46.954 --> 31:49.176
testing the feasibility of reducing the

31:49.176 --> 31:51.343
time frame for those conditions . A DH

31:51.343 --> 31:53.510
D has actually been um one where we've

31:53.510 --> 31:55.732
seen a lot of individuals come in under

31:55.732 --> 31:57.732
that mark condition . Um We've also

31:57.732 --> 31:59.954
seen great success as we talked through

31:59.954 --> 32:02.176
the future Sailor , future Soldier prep

32:02.176 --> 32:03.898
course , um to invest in those

32:03.898 --> 32:06.065
individuals with potential to get them

32:06.065 --> 32:08.176
to whether it be the body composition

32:08.176 --> 32:10.343
or , or some of our academic standards

32:10.343 --> 32:12.510
as well . Um , with regards to drugs ,

32:12.510 --> 32:14.676
um , certainly , uh marijuana is still

32:14.676 --> 32:17.010
uh prohibited for federal employees and ,

32:17.010 --> 32:19.176
and we'll have to follow a continue to

32:19.176 --> 32:22.319
follow federal law . Let's go to Haley .

32:22.400 --> 32:24.400
Thank you . Thank you all for doing

32:24.400 --> 32:26.122
this . Um , Doctor Helen , you

32:26.122 --> 32:28.122
mentioned that , uh , for the first

32:28.122 --> 32:30.289
time since the metric has been tracked

32:30.289 --> 32:32.511
that there is a percentage of youth who

32:32.511 --> 32:34.400
are not even considering military

32:34.400 --> 32:36.456
service . Can you say how long for ,

32:36.456 --> 32:35.910
how long has that metric been tracked ?

32:35.920 --> 32:37.864
Um I'll have to go back and double

32:37.864 --> 32:40.031
check but I , I think it's uh mid like

32:40.031 --> 32:42.719
2010 or so . So roughly like at least a

32:42.729 --> 32:45.007
decade , at least a decade . Yes . Yes .

32:45.007 --> 32:47.942
Um , and then , uh , I , I , I

32:47.953 --> 32:49.786
apologize , I don't remember who

32:49.786 --> 32:51.897
mentioned MH S Genesis , but that was

32:51.897 --> 32:54.064
uh curious kind of what you've seen as

32:54.064 --> 32:56.120
the trend of that . I know that that

32:56.120 --> 32:58.175
was a pretty significant issue for a

32:58.175 --> 33:00.175
lot of recruiters and a lot of , uh

33:00.175 --> 33:02.397
recruits of just the challenges that Mh

33:02.397 --> 33:04.620
S Genesis presented . So , can you kind

33:04.620 --> 33:03.822
of talk through ? Are you still seeing

33:03.833 --> 33:05.777
those challenges ? Are those being

33:05.777 --> 33:08.000
addressed ? What does that sort of look

33:08.000 --> 33:10.055
like ? And uh now that we've kind of

33:10.055 --> 33:09.843
gotten further away from its

33:09.853 --> 33:11.772
implementation . So yes , when we

33:11.782 --> 33:14.004
rolled out MS CH Genesis , which is the

33:14.004 --> 33:16.171
department's electronic Health Records

33:16.171 --> 33:18.282
system , and when we rolled it out at

33:18.282 --> 33:20.226
uh across mep com that provided us

33:20.226 --> 33:22.171
access to the verifiable uh health

33:22.171 --> 33:24.338
records , um which meant we now have a

33:24.338 --> 33:26.504
lot of information on our young adults

33:26.504 --> 33:28.576
to assess them against our medical

33:28.586 --> 33:30.642
standards . Um that did increase our

33:30.642 --> 33:32.753
workloads , given the sheer volume of

33:32.753 --> 33:34.919
information that was available through

33:34.919 --> 33:37.086
those health information exchange . Um

33:37.086 --> 33:39.086
But we've been able to implement um

33:39.086 --> 33:41.142
technical solutions . One of the key

33:41.142 --> 33:43.253
ones was instituting natural language

33:43.253 --> 33:45.364
processing um to go through and , and

33:45.364 --> 33:47.530
pick out key elements that have helped

33:47.530 --> 33:49.642
us reduce the time frame . Um We also

33:49.642 --> 33:51.864
overhauled recently our whole prescreen

33:51.864 --> 33:53.975
process . So that's the process where

33:53.975 --> 33:56.086
we're reviewing the documentation and

33:56.086 --> 33:55.709
then giving them the approval of our

33:55.719 --> 33:58.239
applicants uh to , to go to the various

33:58.250 --> 34:00.719
meps um through our overhaul of the

34:00.729 --> 34:04.219
process . Now , 80% of our applicants

34:04.229 --> 34:06.229
are cleared to go to MP S within 48

34:06.229 --> 34:08.062
hours of starting that prescreen

34:08.062 --> 34:10.280
process . Um And then for those 20%

34:10.290 --> 34:12.012
that have more complex medical

34:12.012 --> 34:13.957
histories , we've reduced the time

34:14.043 --> 34:16.265
frame where it used to be about 29 days

34:16.265 --> 34:18.434
on average to get them to uh Florida

34:18.444 --> 34:20.483
map maps . We're now down to below

34:20.493 --> 34:22.660
seven . So we're continuing to improve

34:22.660 --> 34:25.604
our processes . And with MS H Genesis ,

34:25.614 --> 34:27.783
we're able to leverage technology more

34:27.793 --> 34:29.983
to automate more processes . Um But

34:29.993 --> 34:31.993
we've also brought in more staff as

34:31.993 --> 34:34.160
well and working to increase the staff

34:34.160 --> 34:36.271
to address the workload . All right ,

34:36.271 --> 34:38.382
let's go to the phones here , Heather

34:38.382 --> 34:40.549
Manigo us N I News . Great . Thank you

34:40.549 --> 34:42.382
so much . So , I guess one of my

34:42.382 --> 34:44.437
biggest questions that I'm trying to

34:44.437 --> 34:44.340
still figure out when I'm talking about

34:44.350 --> 34:46.629
recruiting , is it that there are a lot

34:46.639 --> 34:48.870
more people who are propense to serve

34:48.879 --> 34:51.540
right now or is it that the different

34:51.550 --> 34:53.494
services have found that they were

34:53.494 --> 34:55.494
having roadblocks preventing people

34:55.494 --> 34:57.717
from enlisting ? I , I guess I'm trying

34:57.717 --> 34:59.606
to figure out are there just more

34:59.606 --> 35:01.606
people interested in that's who you

35:01.606 --> 35:03.828
tapped into or was there a problem with

35:03.828 --> 35:05.883
the way the services were recruiting

35:05.883 --> 35:08.106
that created the service is not meeting

35:08.106 --> 35:09.828
the goals the past two years ?

35:09.828 --> 35:11.883
Certainly , I can jump in and then ,

35:11.883 --> 35:11.620
and then turn it over . But when we

35:11.629 --> 35:13.840
look at on aggregate , our measure of

35:13.850 --> 35:16.072
propes propensity , which is a snapshot

35:16.072 --> 35:18.183
in time when someone takes a survey ,

35:18.183 --> 35:20.840
we have seen stability in a low uh

35:20.850 --> 35:23.280
metric for propensity . We're about 10%

35:23.354 --> 35:25.521
of young adults are , are motivated to

35:25.524 --> 35:27.524
serve that has not changed over the

35:27.524 --> 35:30.294
past few years . Um What we are seeing

35:30.304 --> 35:32.584
is propensity growing at an individual

35:32.594 --> 35:34.816
level , right ? When our recruiters get

35:34.816 --> 35:37.415
out there and make contact um with the

35:37.425 --> 35:39.647
individual , they can grow propensity ,

35:39.647 --> 35:41.929
one person at a time . Uh That's where

35:41.939 --> 35:43.883
we , where I believe we are seeing

35:43.883 --> 35:45.883
success is uh is the operations and

35:45.883 --> 35:47.995
what we've been able to get back into

35:47.995 --> 35:50.161
communities where when you think about

35:50.161 --> 35:52.328
what happened during COVID , we had to

35:52.328 --> 35:54.495
pull out of communities for almost two

35:54.495 --> 35:56.550
years . It takes time to get back in

35:56.550 --> 35:58.772
and develop those relationships again .

35:58.772 --> 36:00.939
But again , I think this is what we're

36:00.939 --> 36:00.610
seeing is a testament to our recruiting

36:00.620 --> 36:02.620
commanders and the hard work of our

36:02.620 --> 36:04.787
recruiters . Yeah , Doctor Hill , if I

36:04.787 --> 36:06.731
could add , uh , you're absolutely

36:06.731 --> 36:08.676
right . I , I think not having our

36:08.676 --> 36:10.889
superstar recruiters in high schools

36:10.899 --> 36:13.949
across the nation . Uh for two , some

36:13.959 --> 36:16.389
2.5 years has certainly had an impact

36:16.399 --> 36:18.455
in really bringing awareness and the

36:18.455 --> 36:20.566
face to face interaction really helps

36:20.566 --> 36:23.790
to fill knowledge gaps about the , you

36:23.800 --> 36:25.911
know , for , in our case , the United

36:25.911 --> 36:28.899
States Army . And so that awareness is

36:28.909 --> 36:31.209
also impacts , you know , their desire

36:31.219 --> 36:33.120
to say , well , should I consider

36:33.129 --> 36:35.340
service ? We have a declining veteran

36:35.350 --> 36:38.340
population . Yeah , I grew up , uh and

36:38.350 --> 36:40.350
you know , with a family of uh many

36:40.350 --> 36:42.739
veterans in Wisconsin who either served

36:42.750 --> 36:44.959
in World War Two or Korea or Vietnam

36:44.969 --> 36:47.025
and they were all there to answer my

36:47.025 --> 36:49.025
questions now , with the decreasing

36:49.025 --> 36:51.191
veteran population that is also really

36:51.191 --> 36:53.413
impacting . I think that knowledge base

36:53.413 --> 36:55.820
and propensity of those , those up and

36:55.830 --> 36:57.830
coming uh qualified , uh you know ,

36:57.840 --> 37:01.610
military uh servicemen and women . And

37:01.620 --> 37:03.842
I , if I could add , I think with uh uh

37:03.842 --> 37:05.959
Doctor Helen's comments on , um , you

37:05.969 --> 37:07.969
know , 30 years ago , uh if you ask

37:07.969 --> 37:10.247
somebody , if they had a family member ,

37:10.247 --> 37:12.469
45 hands would go up and if you ask now

37:12.469 --> 37:14.636
it's somewhere between , you know , 10

37:14.636 --> 37:18.330
and 12 or so . Um And so , and it is

37:18.340 --> 37:20.396
what it is . But what I would say is

37:20.396 --> 37:22.750
one of the focus areas and , and uh for

37:22.760 --> 37:25.840
um for the Air Force and Space Force is

37:25.850 --> 37:27.909
uh is building back that familiarity

37:27.919 --> 37:29.919
because over time that created this

37:29.919 --> 37:32.030
lack of familiarity and then you have

37:32.030 --> 37:34.252
these exacerbating incidents like COVID

37:34.252 --> 37:36.308
that , that materialized . But , but

37:36.308 --> 37:38.370
this has been a focus point . And um

37:38.379 --> 37:40.546
and I know that , uh you know , we all

37:40.546 --> 37:42.768
spoke to this uh last fall as well as ,

37:42.768 --> 37:44.823
as all of the services are really uh

37:44.823 --> 37:46.657
focusing on that um that lack of

37:46.657 --> 37:48.768
familiarity and getting back out into

37:48.820 --> 37:50.987
the uh the public and getting it one ,

37:50.987 --> 37:52.987
whether it's one person , one touch

37:52.987 --> 37:55.209
point at a time , uh that General Davis

37:55.209 --> 37:57.209
said , um or expanding social media

37:57.209 --> 37:59.320
campaigns uh to , to meet the uh this

37:59.320 --> 38:01.376
generation where they are . Um But ,

38:01.376 --> 38:03.399
but I think that for the Air Force

38:03.409 --> 38:05.576
aspect of it , it is a deliberate line

38:05.576 --> 38:08.649
of effort for us is is expanding um

38:08.659 --> 38:11.219
that total force outreach or recruiting

38:11.229 --> 38:13.750
network to be able to build back that

38:13.760 --> 38:16.590
familiarity uh into America . Thank you .

38:17.000 --> 38:19.111
Yeah , I think it's important in this

38:19.260 --> 38:23.030
to not equate low propensity

38:23.239 --> 38:26.709
with high anti military sentiment .

38:27.169 --> 38:30.840
It's really an expression of lack

38:30.850 --> 38:33.189
of knowledge , lack of familiarity to ,

38:33.199 --> 38:36.389
to play off my uh shipmate here . Um

38:37.179 --> 38:40.919
And , and I think to answer uh a little

38:40.929 --> 38:43.096
bit more of the , of the question that

38:43.096 --> 38:46.379
was asked uh to say this

38:46.389 --> 38:48.580
reflects an increased number of

38:48.590 --> 38:50.646
recruiters . I mean , the navy added

38:50.646 --> 38:52.534
recruiters , other services added

38:52.534 --> 38:54.757
recruiters . And it also reflects the ,

38:54.757 --> 38:57.610
the recognition that we , we need to

38:57.620 --> 39:00.350
increase propensity one American at a

39:00.360 --> 39:03.159
time . It's that prospecting work

39:03.169 --> 39:05.814
that's done by recruiters to go out not

39:05.824 --> 39:07.824
only in the schools , but at career

39:07.824 --> 39:11.274
fairs and uh making phone calls , uh

39:11.284 --> 39:14.155
social media connections , all of it to

39:14.165 --> 39:17.594
build that human to human relationship

39:17.804 --> 39:19.915
that leads to a young American

39:20.044 --> 39:22.354
recognizing the value of service and

39:22.364 --> 39:25.840
then making a commitment to it . Let's

39:25.850 --> 39:27.906
go back out to the phone here , Jeff

39:27.906 --> 39:30.139
Shi Task and purpose . Uh Thank you a

39:30.149 --> 39:33.149
question for Doctor Heland about um the

39:33.159 --> 39:36.000
medical session records , pilot or MP .

39:36.129 --> 39:38.351
Uh So as you mentioned , it's now up to

39:38.351 --> 39:41.550
about uh 51 conditions . Do you uh

39:41.560 --> 39:44.639
foresee this as the start of something

39:44.649 --> 39:46.929
that becomes permanent , a change to

39:46.939 --> 39:50.070
military accession regulations uh that

39:50.179 --> 39:52.340
uh makes it easier for people with

39:52.350 --> 39:54.189
previously disqualifying medical

39:54.199 --> 39:56.366
conditions to enlist without having to

39:56.366 --> 39:58.532
get a waiver first . Thank you . Yes .

39:58.532 --> 40:00.477
So the the whole intent of this is

40:00.477 --> 40:02.699
right , a pilot to test the feasibility

40:02.699 --> 40:04.810
if we can shorten these time frames .

40:04.810 --> 40:06.810
Um And with the data , then to make

40:06.810 --> 40:10.050
that decision to then modify um our ,

40:10.060 --> 40:12.282
our medical asses standards . So that's

40:12.282 --> 40:14.338
where we're in right now , that that

40:14.338 --> 40:16.227
pilot phase largely we are seeing

40:16.227 --> 40:18.004
positive results . Um and we'll

40:18.004 --> 40:19.893
continue to monitor the data . So

40:19.893 --> 40:21.949
ultimately , again , um to make that

40:21.949 --> 40:24.060
decision to uh about these conditions

40:24.060 --> 40:26.282
on whether we can build them into our ,

40:26.282 --> 40:29.459
our uh standards instruction . Let's go

40:29.469 --> 40:31.739
out to Steve Benyon military times .

40:33.419 --> 40:35.641
Hey , appreciate y'all for doing this .

40:35.641 --> 40:37.752
Uh quick question for uh the services

40:37.752 --> 40:39.697
minus the Army and Navy . Uh Those

40:39.697 --> 40:42.520
services have seen a lot of uh good

40:42.530 --> 40:44.560
early data on the prep courses . Uh

40:44.570 --> 40:46.760
Nearly a quarter of the army recruits

40:46.770 --> 40:50.070
uh in fy 24 did one of those uh prep

40:50.080 --> 40:53.449
courses as , as the uh Air Force or

40:53.459 --> 40:55.959
Marine Corps looking into establishing

40:55.969 --> 40:58.760
uh their version of that and Space

40:58.770 --> 41:01.989
Force as well . Thank you . Yeah ,

41:02.000 --> 41:04.167
absolutely . Thanks for the question .

41:04.167 --> 41:06.649
Um from a holistic perspective across

41:06.659 --> 41:08.659
the Department of the Air Force for

41:08.659 --> 41:10.548
recruiting , uh I would offer the

41:10.548 --> 41:12.770
answer is no , uh there's not , there's

41:12.770 --> 41:14.492
not the overarching compelling

41:14.492 --> 41:16.715
requirement that we've seen . However ,

41:16.715 --> 41:16.399
I would say that for our special

41:16.409 --> 41:19.790
Warfare um uh uh accession pipeline ,

41:19.800 --> 41:21.510
we do have a very deliberate

41:21.520 --> 41:23.742
development uh program for them . So as

41:23.742 --> 41:27.340
folks identify , uh or are interested

41:27.350 --> 41:30.610
in the special warfare , uh uh Air

41:30.620 --> 41:32.870
Force specialty codes , um , there is a

41:32.879 --> 41:35.169
very deliberate development program ,

41:35.260 --> 41:38.030
uh , both , um , from a , uh , you know ,

41:38.040 --> 41:40.189
from a mental resiliency , uh

41:40.199 --> 41:43.110
standpoint , but also a very in depth

41:43.120 --> 41:45.064
uh training , uh physical training

41:45.064 --> 41:46.898
regimen to prepare them for that

41:46.898 --> 41:49.580
pipeline . Yes . In the Marine Corps ,

41:49.590 --> 41:51.423
we are not looking at starting a

41:51.423 --> 41:54.370
special program for future marines . We

41:54.379 --> 41:56.490
have the delayed entry program that's

41:56.490 --> 41:59.129
working very well for us . All right ,

42:00.010 --> 42:03.479
Louis , thank you . Um Number one . How

42:03.489 --> 42:05.545
cold is this room for you guys right

42:05.545 --> 42:09.199
now ? Because I I am freezing . Um

42:09.850 --> 42:11.961
I , I just wanna follow up on Steve's

42:11.961 --> 42:13.961
question here because it was almost

42:13.961 --> 42:16.183
related exactly to that . But I'm gonna

42:16.183 --> 42:18.350
direct my question to the army and the

42:18.350 --> 42:20.461
navy about the future sailor , future

42:20.461 --> 42:22.683
soldier prep . Course . Can you confirm

42:22.683 --> 42:24.628
the numbers uh of how many of your

42:24.628 --> 42:26.350
recruits this year uh actually

42:26.350 --> 42:28.572
participated in that ? And having heard

42:28.572 --> 42:30.628
the other two services , why did the

42:30.628 --> 42:34.300
navy choose to follow what the army uh

42:34.310 --> 42:36.699
program was ? Um It was it based on

42:36.709 --> 42:38.820
their success uh or what did you find

42:38.820 --> 42:41.290
that ? Yes , we did have a base that

42:41.300 --> 42:43.520
really needed . That was a motivated

42:43.530 --> 42:45.863
individuals who wanted to join the Navy .

42:45.863 --> 42:48.479
We just needed that extra uh incentive

42:48.489 --> 42:50.711
to and then I have a follow up . Yeah ,

42:50.711 --> 42:52.860
so , so thanks for that and the uh I

42:52.870 --> 42:54.981
don't have the exact numbers in front

42:54.981 --> 42:57.148
of me uh for how many went through for

42:57.148 --> 42:59.037
the two future sailor prep course

42:59.037 --> 43:01.219
physical or academic . Uh but but the

43:01.229 --> 43:03.459
reason that we followed the army on

43:03.469 --> 43:05.802
this was because of their great success .

43:05.802 --> 43:08.389
I mean , uh General Davis talked about

43:08.399 --> 43:10.739
the percentages . It was a wonderful uh

43:10.750 --> 43:13.439
example and what we found especially

43:13.449 --> 43:16.479
for uh on the side of future sailor

43:16.489 --> 43:18.656
prep course physical , which allows us

43:18.656 --> 43:20.767
to bring some folks in that are above

43:20.767 --> 43:24.550
body fat standards uh by up to 6% and ,

43:24.560 --> 43:27.199
and have them work with our uh re

43:27.209 --> 43:30.510
recruit division commanders . Um We had

43:30.520 --> 43:34.199
a lot of highly qualified , like

43:34.209 --> 43:36.810
nuclear trained operator , qualified uh

43:36.820 --> 43:39.810
individuals that couldn't quite get

43:39.820 --> 43:42.669
there . Uh And so when we saw that the

43:42.679 --> 43:45.139
army was using that , uh we took it on

43:45.149 --> 43:48.949
and we're a , we're 100% successful on

43:49.370 --> 43:53.280
getting folks through that . Uh course ,

43:53.290 --> 43:55.689
we have a few that have tapped out

43:55.699 --> 43:57.921
because they just , this isn't for me ,

43:57.921 --> 44:00.610
but anybody that was working toward

44:00.750 --> 44:03.489
that body fat standard has made it and

44:03.500 --> 44:05.556
is in recruit training . And what we

44:05.556 --> 44:08.570
found is those sailors

44:09.020 --> 44:12.100
are committed in a way that's above and

44:12.110 --> 44:15.179
beyond the average that's in recruit

44:15.189 --> 44:17.300
training , command . And many of them

44:17.300 --> 44:19.356
have gone on to leadership positions

44:19.356 --> 44:21.578
within their recruit divisions . Future

44:21.578 --> 44:23.411
sailor prep course , academic uh

44:23.411 --> 44:27.360
allowed us to uh provide an opportunity

44:27.510 --> 44:30.419
for young Americans to expand the

44:30.429 --> 44:32.560
opportunities within the Navy . As I

44:32.570 --> 44:34.810
mentioned before , every rating , all

44:34.820 --> 44:36.876
of them are based on individual line

44:36.876 --> 44:38.876
scores . And so by giving them some

44:38.876 --> 44:40.987
more academic training in recognition

44:41.280 --> 44:44.070
that much of America had challenges

44:44.350 --> 44:48.280
with COVID in schools to , to increase

44:48.290 --> 44:50.379
that opportunity and give them the

44:50.389 --> 44:52.739
opportunity to have more choice and we

44:52.750 --> 44:55.070
can fill other ratings that we wouldn't

44:55.080 --> 44:57.449
have otherwise . Uh That's why we

44:57.459 --> 45:00.870
followed the army . Yeah , if I could

45:00.879 --> 45:04.750
uh answer uh the data . So future prep

45:04.760 --> 45:08.379
course for us is about 2021 months . Uh

45:08.389 --> 45:11.469
total number of graduates we're

45:11.479 --> 45:13.239
approaching uh 28 over

45:13.250 --> 45:17.070
28,188 . Now that's , that's

45:17.080 --> 45:19.191
just more than compo one . So now I'm

45:19.191 --> 45:21.413
when I talk about that number as active

45:21.413 --> 45:24.229
duty , Army Reserve and National Guard .

45:24.239 --> 45:26.560
So they all benefit uh in the total

45:26.570 --> 45:28.626
army uh with the future soldier prep

45:28.626 --> 45:31.639
course for us from last year's mission

45:31.649 --> 45:34.830
of 55,000 over 10,000 ,

45:34.840 --> 45:38.050
326 graduated the course we already

45:38.060 --> 45:41.540
have another uh pending

45:41.840 --> 45:44.679
uh uh shipped already to uh Fort

45:44.689 --> 45:47.979
Jackson , about 1500 another , you know ,

45:47.989 --> 45:50.211
3000 over the next , you know , quarter

45:50.211 --> 45:52.340
so into the new year . So we are

45:52.350 --> 45:54.350
filling all of the seats because of

45:54.350 --> 45:56.639
demand . So let me go back to why we're

45:56.649 --> 45:59.330
seeing the success when we saw the

45:59.340 --> 46:02.810
during COVID the the drop in tests uh A

46:03.080 --> 46:06.020
va by like 10 points . That's the

46:06.030 --> 46:08.229
segment and it wasn't , you know ,

46:08.239 --> 46:10.239
recruiting command was actually our

46:10.239 --> 46:12.183
training and doctrine command . Uh

46:12.183 --> 46:14.295
Lieutenant Gervais , uh and team that

46:14.295 --> 46:16.295
said , hey , the army has done this

46:16.295 --> 46:18.406
before . We saw this drop . Why don't

46:18.406 --> 46:20.510
we go uh and try to invest in that

46:20.520 --> 46:23.790
segment . And some , I mean , half of

46:23.800 --> 46:26.850
them were within five points of a uh

46:26.860 --> 46:29.610
fully meeting , you know , three bravo

46:29.620 --> 46:32.010
or alpha , which allows to open up many

46:32.020 --> 46:34.939
job opportunities . And so that's what

46:34.949 --> 46:37.116
we invested in . And that's why we see

46:37.116 --> 46:39.739
this trans formation success . Some of

46:39.750 --> 46:42.929
them are testing out within uh two

46:42.939 --> 46:45.850
weeks . Uh and to some of them are

46:45.860 --> 46:47.916
testing to the highest category . So

46:47.916 --> 46:50.027
now every job in , in the army is now

46:50.027 --> 46:52.919
open to them just from uh classroom ,

46:52.929 --> 46:55.600
not , um you know , from an outside

46:55.610 --> 46:59.320
agency . Of course , the camaraderie uh

46:59.330 --> 47:02.820
like students , the uh physical

47:02.830 --> 47:05.580
fitness , uh academic training every

47:05.590 --> 47:08.620
day is I think is building this , uh

47:08.629 --> 47:10.962
this great cohort of future uh soldiers .

47:10.962 --> 47:13.669
Now , would I recommend everybody take

47:13.679 --> 47:15.679
an opportunity and visit the future

47:15.679 --> 47:17.901
soldier ? Of course , if they , if they

47:17.901 --> 47:20.068
haven't , uh down in Fort Jackson , it

47:20.068 --> 47:19.969
will be an eye opener . I've been many

47:19.979 --> 47:22.300
times . It is , uh I love it . It's a ,

47:22.310 --> 47:24.532
it's a great course . My follow up is ,

47:24.532 --> 47:26.909
do you , do you plan to expand the

47:26.919 --> 47:30.330
course as it continues to get one in

47:30.340 --> 47:33.909
five , so new recruits in and , and

47:33.919 --> 47:36.086
also what do you attribute the rise in

47:36.086 --> 47:38.197
age to you said that your average age

47:38.197 --> 47:41.229
now is 22.32 years , four months . So I ,

47:41.239 --> 47:43.270
I don't know in terms of expansion

47:43.280 --> 47:45.447
because we want to go after that labor

47:45.447 --> 47:47.979
market or expanded market , the segment

47:48.070 --> 47:50.850
that is , you know , within 10 points

47:50.860 --> 47:53.860
or that , that whatever the 21 to uh to

47:53.870 --> 47:57.270
30 we think they can test up . Uh So I

47:57.280 --> 47:59.620
don't think we're gonna expand that

47:59.629 --> 48:01.573
based on what we're seeing . Now ,

48:01.573 --> 48:04.300
let's go to the uh this expanded market .

48:05.010 --> 48:07.232
What , what I'm hearing from recruiters

48:07.232 --> 48:10.629
is that um many are , you know ,

48:10.639 --> 48:12.861
graduating high school and are going on

48:12.861 --> 48:15.649
to college and , and maybe that's not

48:15.659 --> 48:17.800
for them . Uh And , and what our

48:17.810 --> 48:19.850
recruiters are doing is really

48:19.860 --> 48:22.629
beginning to focus on that . Uh That

48:22.639 --> 48:24.790
segment of the population is really

48:24.800 --> 48:27.149
starting to pay off . Why are they

48:27.159 --> 48:30.669
focusing on that ? Because when we were

48:30.679 --> 48:32.949
short , in terms of what we're bringing

48:32.959 --> 48:35.389
in to the army , we needed to fill

48:35.399 --> 48:37.343
training seats . So basic training

48:37.459 --> 48:40.000
battalions can be filled and we weren't

48:40.010 --> 48:41.843
filling them . So our recruiters

48:41.843 --> 48:43.732
weren't going to the high schools

48:43.732 --> 48:45.899
because they won't ship until the next

48:45.899 --> 48:45.830
year . So they're going directly into

48:45.840 --> 48:49.229
the labor market and that uh has

48:49.239 --> 48:53.159
really b uh uh really blossomed for us

48:53.169 --> 48:55.280
over the last two years . And I wanna

48:55.280 --> 48:57.929
say to our recruiters job well done ,

48:57.939 --> 49:00.429
let's get , let's stay at it . Uh And

49:00.439 --> 49:03.189
this the current delayed entry program .

49:03.370 --> 49:05.929
It , the , the , I think the average

49:05.939 --> 49:09.350
age is about 22 years and five months .

49:09.360 --> 49:12.750
So it's , it , I see it uh going up uh

49:13.020 --> 49:15.159
and the high school market as we see

49:15.169 --> 49:17.310
the student , you know , population ,

49:17.320 --> 49:19.320
let's say decline over time , we're

49:19.320 --> 49:21.429
going to have to expand it into the

49:21.439 --> 49:23.439
labor market or the some college or

49:23.449 --> 49:26.540
college market . We talk about one more .

49:26.719 --> 49:30.320
Yes , sir , John Seward notice um on

49:30.330 --> 49:32.386
the prep courses for both services ,

49:32.389 --> 49:34.389
what are you all seeing in terms of

49:34.389 --> 49:36.879
retention after initial contract ? Um

49:36.889 --> 49:39.649
and then uh a similar sort of related

49:39.659 --> 49:41.820
follow up for all services , which is

49:42.530 --> 49:44.197
in terms of finding qualified

49:44.197 --> 49:46.030
applicants , where does physical

49:46.030 --> 49:48.141
fitness rank uh as far as challenge .

49:50.870 --> 49:54.409
So as far as the um future

49:54.419 --> 49:58.139
Sailor uh prep course ,

49:58.600 --> 50:02.290
um the physical

50:02.300 --> 50:05.600
fitness part of it has been um , it ,

50:05.610 --> 50:07.777
it is something of a challenge to make

50:07.777 --> 50:09.888
sure that we , we've got the right uh

50:09.888 --> 50:13.510
fitness for uh folks uh joining the

50:13.520 --> 50:15.750
Navy . Uh but it's not one that's

50:15.760 --> 50:18.340
insurmountable and the physical part ,

50:18.350 --> 50:20.128
the future sailor prep course ,

50:20.128 --> 50:22.350
physical has given us uh the ability to

50:22.350 --> 50:24.461
really uh get after that , especially

50:24.461 --> 50:28.350
in our um are ratings that require a

50:28.360 --> 50:32.310
much , much higher end uh ASVAB score

50:32.320 --> 50:36.159
uh to get after . So for the army uh

50:36.169 --> 50:38.260
army Research Institute is tracking

50:38.270 --> 50:40.548
every graduate . So you need more time .

50:40.548 --> 50:42.770
It's about 20 months old . We do have a

50:42.770 --> 50:45.080
large number of graduates and what we

50:45.090 --> 50:47.090
want to do longitudinally is really

50:47.090 --> 50:49.689
find out from an academic perspective .

50:49.699 --> 50:53.389
If that uh it impacts retention uh as

50:53.399 --> 50:55.455
they go on to the first duty station

50:55.459 --> 50:57.681
for the fitness , that's a , I mean , a

50:57.681 --> 50:59.903
really good question and we're thinking

50:59.903 --> 51:01.959
through that because we know that in

51:01.959 --> 51:03.959
the uh future soldier prep course ,

51:04.060 --> 51:07.439
they lose about 1.2% body fat a

51:07.449 --> 51:09.560
week . And what we wanna make sure is

51:09.560 --> 51:12.330
we keep tracking them as they move on

51:12.340 --> 51:15.159
to uh their first duty station and ,

51:15.169 --> 51:17.336
and figure out in terms of retention .

51:17.336 --> 51:19.447
So are they continuing on this , this

51:19.447 --> 51:21.447
right path or do they , are they uh

51:21.447 --> 51:23.502
going down or are they going up ? So

51:23.502 --> 51:25.447
that's what we're , we're tracking

51:25.447 --> 51:27.558
because we , we really need that data

51:27.558 --> 51:29.391
to figure out , hey , is this so

51:29.391 --> 51:31.613
transformational that we need to look ,

51:31.613 --> 51:33.280
you know , other uh expansion

51:33.280 --> 51:35.225
opportunities ? So I think some of

51:35.225 --> 51:37.280
that's because of the length of time

51:37.280 --> 51:39.225
that we've been running the future

51:39.225 --> 51:40.947
sailor prep course hasn't been

51:40.947 --> 51:43.113
significant enough to really get after

51:43.113 --> 51:45.336
that . But I can say that our attrition

51:45.336 --> 51:47.336
rates in boot camp and a school for

51:47.336 --> 51:49.558
this cadre , both physical and academic

51:49.558 --> 51:52.159
are on par . There's no change for that

51:52.169 --> 51:54.113
group relative to the rest of it .

51:56.610 --> 51:58.639
Where does physical fitness rank in

51:58.810 --> 52:00.921
terms for the Air Force ? I mentioned

52:00.921 --> 52:02.977
in my opening statement that uh over

52:02.977 --> 52:05.032
the over the past year , we adjusted

52:05.032 --> 52:07.032
the Air Force actually had a higher

52:07.032 --> 52:09.143
than dod standard and we aligned with

52:09.143 --> 52:11.254
the DOD standard . Um , since then we

52:11.254 --> 52:13.919
brought in over 5800 airmen , uh ,

52:13.929 --> 52:16.520
under that dod standard , we've had one ,

52:16.570 --> 52:19.610
wash out of , uh , BMT for physical

52:19.620 --> 52:22.199
fitness reasons . And so , um , so I

52:22.209 --> 52:24.098
think it's , you know , from that

52:24.098 --> 52:26.098
standpoint . Um , and , and the , I

52:26.098 --> 52:28.209
will tell you , we get the question a

52:28.209 --> 52:27.939
lot . Hey , have you changed the

52:27.949 --> 52:30.199
standard ? Well , the PFT standards

52:30.209 --> 52:32.542
have not changed for our basic training .

52:32.542 --> 52:34.542
And uh and that , that small policy

52:34.542 --> 52:37.560
adjustment uh offered uh 5800 very high

52:37.600 --> 52:39.850
quality folks to come into our service

52:39.860 --> 52:42.138
and we lost one person for it . Thanks .

52:42.939 --> 52:44.939
Thanks for the question . So Marine

52:44.939 --> 52:47.310
Corps recruit training is 13 weeks long .

52:47.320 --> 52:49.376
It is the toughest , most physically

52:49.376 --> 52:51.487
demanding of the entry level training

52:51.487 --> 52:53.598
of the services . So physical fitness

52:53.598 --> 52:55.598
is therefore very important to us .

52:55.598 --> 52:57.764
This is the value of our delayed entry

52:57.764 --> 53:00.090
program . We like every applicant to

53:00.100 --> 53:03.560
spend at least 30 days in the delayed

53:03.570 --> 53:05.570
entry program . So we can work with

53:05.570 --> 53:07.792
them , they can work with the recruiter

53:07.792 --> 53:09.848
and we can get them in good physical

53:09.848 --> 53:11.737
shape to improve their chances of

53:11.737 --> 53:13.626
success at recruit training . The

53:13.626 --> 53:15.681
delayed entry program has additional

53:15.681 --> 53:17.681
benefit for us while these kids are

53:17.681 --> 53:19.737
getting in good shape , working with

53:19.737 --> 53:19.330
their recruiters , they bring their

53:19.340 --> 53:22.419
friends along and 25% of our contracts .

53:22.429 --> 53:24.600
One out of four comes from a referral

53:24.610 --> 53:27.340
from the delayed entry program . Our

53:27.350 --> 53:31.159
marines love the opportunity to have a

53:31.169 --> 53:33.113
delayed entry program to work with

53:33.113 --> 53:36.040
their own little squad or platoon of

53:36.050 --> 53:39.149
recruits . And this gets to propensity .

53:39.520 --> 53:41.187
You know , we like to replace

53:41.187 --> 53:44.520
propensity with inspired . So if only

53:44.530 --> 53:48.260
9% of the population is propensed , 91%

53:48.290 --> 53:50.530
is just waiting to be inspired . What a

53:50.540 --> 53:52.540
golden opportunity . So this is the

53:52.540 --> 53:54.596
value of our delayed entry program .

53:57.250 --> 53:59.194
All right , ladies and gentlemen ,

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thank you so much . I really wanna say

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thank you to our distinguished defense

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leaders , panelists today . Uh as they

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talk about uh our efforts to improve uh

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our recruiting and service goals for

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fiscal year 25 . Thank you very much .

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This concludes our press briefing .