NAVY RECRUITMENT GOALS FOR 2024 ARE SHOWING POSITIVE SIGNS

Change is in the water for America’s naval fleet. Navy recruiting goals have been missing the mark for years, often falling short during a time when the need for more Sailors is growing stronger and stronger. However, leadership is now pointing to a new trend that should make the Navy recruiting goals of 2024 a success. The turnaround is being attributed to both the efforts brought forth from recruiting personnel as well as new processes that are improving results.

Navy Recruitment Goals are Finally Headed in the Right Direction

It’s been a well-discussed topic. Navy recruiting goals have not been doing well for years for a number of reasons, yet there is finally some hope.

The Navy is expecting to hit its goals for 2024 after projections of 40,600 recruits by the end of September, according to Rear Adm. Jim Waters, the leader of the branch’s recruitment efforts.

This is the best recruitment year since 2020, according to Rear Adm. Waters, with the Navy averaging over 4,000 contracts per month to bring a total of 36,776 Sailor recruits—over 30,300 have already started boot camp.

How Sailors Righted the Ship

One of the reasons the Navy was able to overcome previous recruitment challenges is that the branch staffed its recruitment command with more personnel. Nearly 100% of the positions have been filled.

However, filling roles was only part of the improvements, as the Navy also provided workers with incentivized goals that inspired culture to generate more output.

Furthermore, for a while, the Navy missing recruiting goals came down to partially not knowing how the process was going all along.

Tracking its efforts, monitoring progress, and finding ways to improve were not as accurately maintained in previous years compared to how things are being run now.

These issues were further exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic causing multiple social, health, economic, and political issues for the Navy to deal with.

Better tracking systems are helping the Navy understand how to push recruits through if they had minor health issues or simply needed a waiver, therefore, speeding up the process for everyone.

The Navy also has invested in its recruitment with millions of dollars being poured into advertisement campaigns at high-profile events, along with providing attractive enlistment bonuses to help gain more recruits.

Navy Recruitment Goals Bolstered by Policy Changes

When the Navy misses recruiting goals for as long as it did, leadership understands that change is inevitable.

This is part of what has happened recently, as larger investments and better systems are helping out, but changes in policies are also making the life of a Sailor more attractive to recruits.

There are now exceptions for those with tattoos, positive drug/alcohol tests, and those with single-parent statuses. The Navy has also raised its maximum enlistment age to 41 from 39.

Recruits who may not fare well on the entry exam are now provided a path to service, and there are more resources through pre-boot camp schools to help boost both academic and physical skills before entry.

All of these new recruits are making the Navy now scramble to find enough Sailors to train them. The Navy recruitment goals are being met and the timing couldn’t be better.

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