Recruiting is up. Now the US military wants to grow the force by another 44,500 troops.

Recruits graduate from Air Force basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, January 8, 2026.

Ismael Ortega/ US Air Force

• The Defense Department wants tens of thousands more troops as recruiting rebounds after years of shortfalls.
• Services hit recruiting goals early, and now there is a push to expand force size.
• That push comes as demands rise across the Pacific, the Middle East, and at home.

The military wants to grow by 44,500 troops next year...